Retrofitting Air Condition?

[Jim320i]

Had a little look on the Wiki and tried to search for a guide but no luck.

I did read fitting Air Con is a pain in the arse? How much of a pain? I have the full set up from a breaker ready to go into my chromie. I really would like to get it in and while she is off the road, timing is perfect...

Any advice on fitting it? Or is there anyone local to LE9 7SE that has experience fitting these and want to come help?

How long should it take to do? Keep in mind I need to retro fit 13 OBC & cruise control at the same time, but they dont look too hard...

The car isnt on the road so I cant drive it to anyone else I would have been asking that

Want to get it all fitted and hopefully resprayed before she goes back on the road

[Rav335uk]

I wouldn't bother Jim fitting it to your car.






































































































Give it to me.

[Jim320i]

I sent you one for christmas Rav, you didnt get it?!

And my car needs it, its not got much else going for it

[Brianmoooore]

Just a matter of bolting parts in and connecting up a few wires, but be aware that some parts don't last well if disconnected, and the whole thing will need gassing up afterwards.

[bss325i]

Be prepaired to replace most of the components as its all 20+ year old scrap.

I've have done A/C retro fits and it never works out cheap.

[Jim320i]

Always good news

I'll get the other one out and see how 'involved' it is, taking pictures on the way so I know to do the reverse when installing. Would be good to get an article on the Wiki. Just dont want to get part was through and then not know what the hell im doing

[bss325i]

I have load of pics and know the E30 a/c system inside out but i don't have time to write an article just yet.

[B7]

As barry says to do it properly, buying the 2nd hand kit of parts it the cheap bit. I looked into it for my car but it looked like coming to a fortune. Condensers, driers, conversion kits from R12 to R134 and thats not all.

[B7]

As barry says to do it properly, buying the 2nd hand kit of parts it the cheap bit. I looked into it for my car but it looked like coming to a fortune. Condensers, driers, conversion kits from R12 to R134 and thats not all.

[bmwe30mtech]

The few retro-fits I have done for myself and friends have cost £750-£1000 in parts to do correctly and last for years.

Remember your car is a pre-facelift, and facelift fuse box wiring is not directly compatible, also the main plug on the heater box loom will be different (unless you removed it from a pre-facelift breaker).

[Jim320i]

Both cars a are prefacelift so hopefully that will save hassle.

First thing is to remove the kit and see how hard that was. It needs removing regardless but it depends on how much I have to take my own car to peices. Plus I dont want to be spending £750 on the thing though!

[bmwe30mtech]

You can do it a lot cheaper, depends how far you want to go. Typically:

Used kit - £200
New radiator - £150
New condensor - £100
New fittings - £50
R134a conversion kit - £150
Gas - £50

= £700

Air-con front valance + spraying £Depends

Add on any pipes which need replacing, just depends on the condition of the old set.

[Jim320i]

Luckily I have the used kit... The Radiator looks in very good order too, im assuming I'll need a new condensor regardless, and im assuming the R134a conversion kit is now some sort of regulation or they cant do owt with it?

What a ball ache it must be to fit Air Con to a E30

[capri_rob]

It is for the few days in the year when you'll actually use it

[Jim320i]

Yup, and knowing me, I wont use it as it will make my fuel consumption higher But its an optional extra that I want

[B7]

you need the 134 kit as R12 is now illigal you use I believe. You may get away with finding someone with some R12 stock willing to do it but I doubt it.

[bss325i]

Forget about using R12.

Also, the fans are very common for seizing so you can add £100 for a good used on or £280 for a new one.

If the system has been exposed for some time then corrosion will set in inside the metal pipe work and expansion valve and render them scrap.

These are not cheap!

Also, forget the facelift/prefacelift terminology to differentiate between to different types of A/C wiring as you can get pre facelift cabrio's up to oct '90 which will be the same as facelift saloons.

To differentiate between the two types of wiring you should always go on build date. Sept '87 being the change over.