Aircon re-gassing/servicing in Essex/London

[Steviec]

Can anyone recommend an aircon company in Essex or London, the one I used to use has closed down.

I think my car is still set up for R22 gas though.

[Templ8e30]

Can anyone recommend an aircon company in Essex or London, the one I used to use has closed down.

I think my car is still set up for R22 gas though.

If it's still on the old R12 gas you'll really struggle to get anyone to touch it. R12 was banned in the early 90's for automotive use.

You can buy the retro-fit kit from BMW for about £90 to convert it to the new R134a, the system will then have to be evacuated and refilled with new oil and gas.

Cheers,

Iain T

[Steviec]

Do you know what the kit comprises of and is it a DIY job?

[old_skool]

Stevie, find a specialist and ask them if they can fire it back up on R49. That should be perfectly acceptable.

[Templ8e30]

Do you know what the kit comprises of and is it a DIY job?

Yes, it is DIY. I converted my touring last year.

The kit comprises:

Drier
New style pressure switch
Port adapters
Oil/gas charge measurements stickers
O-rings for the drier

The compressor needs to be removed and turned upside down to drain off all the old oil (it's incompatible with the new gas). The new switch needs to be wired onto one of the old swicth plugs, the other one (if your old system had 2 switches like mine) needs to be shorted out.

I paid £40 to have the system evacuated and re-oiled and gassed.

Still ice-cold a year later

Cheers,

Iain T

[stitch-626]

how do you tell the differance?
i've got aircon in the touring and its icey cold but for future referanc and when i need to get the system replenished.
cheers ian

[old_skool]

how do you tell the differance?
i've got aircon in the touring and its icey cold but for future referanc and when i need to get the system replenished.
cheers ian

Have you got a blue BMW sticker on the turret (or anywhere else in the engine bay) that would denote R134a use.

[stitch-626]

how do you tell the differance?
i've got aircon in the touring and its icey cold but for future referanc and when i need to get the system replenished.
cheers ian

Have you got a blue BMW sticker on the turret (or anywhere else in the engine bay) that would denote R134a use.

dunno i'll have a look tomorrow

cheers

[Steviec]

Thanks for the info, ive put a post up for zimmerbimmer.

[old_skool]

Stevie, before you go spending money on a retrofit kit, I would visit a specialsit and get them to look at it. Chances are you can utilise R49 gas, retain the same pressure switches and HP/LP ports and maybe just have a new dryer and a vac and regas.

Even if it is converted to R134a then you DON'T need the BMW kit, all the specialists will have access to Hella A/C components and their is a hella dryer that is identical to the BMW item but for two thirds of the price. Guess why, because hella make it for BMW.

Don't waste your cash, go to a specialist first and get some free advice before spending.

[Steviec]

Cheers mate, I would go to a specialist but I dont know of any. Looks like its just going to be a gamble out of the yellow pages.

[old_skool]

What about this guy:

http://sitebuilder.yell.com/sb/show.do? ... 0742000020

?

[Steviec]

Thats who I used to use and I drive past there every day but it always looks shut up. Ill try the number on that website in the morning.

[gazza]

iain or anyone else do you have the bmw part nos for the coversion kit i need one too and roughly what is the cost

[Templ8e30]

The part number is 82319067394, costs about £90.

Bear in mind that any Bosch R12 compressor is incompatible with the new R134a, only the Seiko Seiki R12 compressor is compatible.

Cheers,

Iain T

[Steviec]

Ive been intouch with one company who claim that you can just put RS24 gas in it?
Has anyone else used this in theirs?