Air con quote
Moderator: martauto
I was quoted $1,200.00 to get the aircon on my 1984 323i sorted. The E30 wiki states that there is a conversion kit that allows you to re gas the system with the newer(non cfc) refrigerant. Has any one tried this? Are the kits still out there?
My 1991 318i had the conversion to R134A...I think it is called....a few years ago.
All the local aircon shop did was replace some jets or valves think.
The system works fine enough for our hot weather but I have seen many posts that say that the E30 will never be as cool with R134A as it was with the original refridgerant.
Cost me about $400.00 which included a re-conditioned compressor and a new evaporator and dryer as the originals were all faulty. Your quote seems a bit high!
I have a slight leak in the system which needs re-filling about every two years at roadside stands for only about $15.00
All the local aircon shop did was replace some jets or valves think.
The system works fine enough for our hot weather but I have seen many posts that say that the E30 will never be as cool with R134A as it was with the original refridgerant.
Cost me about $400.00 which included a re-conditioned compressor and a new evaporator and dryer as the originals were all faulty. Your quote seems a bit high!
I have a slight leak in the system which needs re-filling about every two years at roadside stands for only about $15.00
Last edited by Billwill on Tue Jan 07, 2014 9:07 am, edited 1 time in total.
I stumbled on this a while ago.
http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=246743
Hope will help
http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=246743
Hope will help
E30 Touring
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Grrrmachine
- E30 Zone Wiki / Team Member
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You don't need anywhere near the number of O-rings mentioned in that article though.
'89 325i Touring | Touring Resto Thread | In-Dash Screen install
The original procedure for converting from R12 to R134a involved among other things, removing the compressor to drain it of oil because the R12's mineral oil was not compatible with R134a's PAG oil.
Well now there is ester oil which is compatible with both of the above so this is now used instead and no need to drain the mineral oil.
Your quote seems a bit high, maybe it included replacing a holed condenser?
Even so, if its a bit old and crusty it's worth replacing along with the drier receiver if the system has not been working for some time.
The R134a retro fit kit from BMW includes a coupe of schrader valves, a drier receiver, some new seals and a single pressure switch to replace the original dual pressure switches and is about £130.
The reciever drier and valve are available from ECP cheaper than BMW, then buy the seals and pressure switch from BMW.
As someone has said, an R134a gassed system is not as effective as an R12 system but it works well enough.
Well now there is ester oil which is compatible with both of the above so this is now used instead and no need to drain the mineral oil.
Your quote seems a bit high, maybe it included replacing a holed condenser?
Even so, if its a bit old and crusty it's worth replacing along with the drier receiver if the system has not been working for some time.
The R134a retro fit kit from BMW includes a coupe of schrader valves, a drier receiver, some new seals and a single pressure switch to replace the original dual pressure switches and is about £130.
The reciever drier and valve are available from ECP cheaper than BMW, then buy the seals and pressure switch from BMW.
As someone has said, an R134a gassed system is not as effective as an R12 system but it works well enough.