Swap for AC Compressor and Brake booster?

[Automaton]

Hi

Importing the AC compressor is too expensive, (saw an ad by Pete selling the tropicalized radiator and AC kit, but shipping would bankrupt me, given the weight + size, customs duty, etc. to Mumbai)

Someone else has the Brake booster for a good price but will not ship to India.

Is there a straight swap for the compressor and the brake booster from any manufacturer or any other car brand? Or from later model BMWs?

For the AC, I will get the receiver dryer, and other parts here. But need some help/ideas to fit a correct compressor and the booster.

thanks

[hennared323i]

If by brake booster you mean the brake master cylinder with vacuum assist then there are several alternatives - check out the M5x swap section.

Fraid I've got no idea about the AC compressor but would assume that a compressor of similar specs should be localy available and fitting should just be a question iof bracketry, geometry and an appropriate drive belt.

Might be worth dropping Cotswald BMW a line with your VIN no to see if they can furnish any details

[GooneriC]

Why dont you try a freight forwarder.. pretty sure there would be quite a few in UK with links to India. Postage costs for front struts for example to Barbados would have been £180-200 . Through a forwarder who consolidates shipments i would pay about £50-80 .

[Automaton]

Found this info:

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/archive ... 77771.html

"ron1999
07-26-2010, 04:53 AM

E30 uses V Belt driven AC compressor, E36 uses serpentine drive AC compressos -
so the answe to your Q is no.

but

pre 1993 E36 may also have V Belt driven AC compressor which can work with your E30.

So here you have it, hope that helps."

So now the slim chance of finding a pre1993 E36.
The one rusting with me, is late 1993.



Always thought that AC parts would be easy to find...

[Speedtouch]

Could you not simply remove the serpentine belt pulley and fit a V-belt one instead?

[Automaton]

As you may have gathered, I have zero technical knowledge, zero ability to work on the cars and no parts / part shops to experiment with. Truly f-ed.

[Speedtouch]

Removing a pulley is hardly rocket science! You need to wrap a belt around the pulley and clamp it in a vice to stop the pulley turning, then undo the nut on the end of the shaft.

Then it's a matter of pulling off the pulley - sometimes, it may just pull off by hand, or you may need to use a tripod-type pulley, or gently lever it from behind using a pry-bar or similar, taking care not to bend the pulley.

[pacerpete]

E36 bits are not compatible and the amount of time you will spend trying to reinvent the wheel , even at Indian labour rates is pointless.
You need a M10 specific compressor. Have you still got the correct M10 compressor bracket that is bolted to the block and is it unmolested ? if not or it has been butchered, you will need the correct bracket , mounts and adjusting bracket as well.
The main issue you are facing in trying to source these parts here is that virtually no UK M10 powered cars had A/C . Have you tried US Ebay? New / refurbished A/C parts can be sourced there cheaper than anywhere else and everything sold there had A/C. Or alternately , a bit closer to home ,South Africa. Most if not all of their M10 engined cars would have had A/C.

I am fairly certain that a M20 compressor and pipework will not be compatible with your M10 engine. REAL OEM is your friend , though necessarily gospel in terms of what will and will not fit/ work.
As you need the A/C to work and you are obviously not scared of spending , I personally would only use a recon or new compressor , especially with the shipping and aggro involved.

[maxfield]

Removing a pulley is hardly rocket science! You need to wrap a belt around the pulley and clamp it in a vice to stop the pulley turning, then undo the nut on the end of the shaft.

Then it's a matter of pulling off the pulley - sometimes, it may just pull off by hand, or you may need to use a tripod-type pulley, or gently lever it from behind using a pry-bar or similar, taking care not to bend the pulley.

Not as easy as that with a air con pump as they have a compressor on the front.

[pacerpete]

Removing a pulley is hardly rocket science! You need to wrap a belt around the pulley and clamp it in a vice to stop the pulley turning, then undo the nut on the end of the shaft.

Then it's a matter of pulling off the pulley - sometimes, it may just pull off by hand, or you may need to use a tripod-type pulley, or gently lever it from behind using a pry-bar or similar, taking care not to bend the pulley.

Not as easy as that with a air con pump as they have a compressor on the front.

Not on a Morris Minor they don't !

[Speedtouch]

Exactly, and in India, they all drive Hindustan Ambassadors, based on the Morris Oxford. Good old no-nonsense quality first engineering.

[Automaton]

Exactly, and in India, they all drive Hindustan Ambassadors, based on the Morris Oxford. Good old no-nonsense quality first engineering.

The average street scene, not too many Ambassadors around any more

[Automaton]

Will check Ebay USA again, saw remanufactured compressors for about $150.

Pelican Parts sells all the other bits new.

A friend may be visiting London 1st Week of March, so that's an option, provided he agrees to carry stuff back.

Had another AC guy check the set up so he is going to share what is possible with his market knowledge.

Pete: will ask AC guy to check if the bracket is altered or original.
GooneriC: Have written to a London based freight forwarder for a quote, thanks for the tip.

Lots of hunting and juggling around to do

[Speedtouch]

The average street scene, not too many Ambassadors around any more

I think maybe you're exaggerating somewhat! A quick Google search reveals it to look more like this:

http://tinyurl.com/pver38x

[Automaton]

That's Danny Boyle's version of Mumbai, show only the eyesores.
EDIT: Sorry that's all over India's streets and bazaars.

This is the normal search for Mumbai:
https://www.google.co.in/search?q=Mumba ... 0&bih=1014

Anyway, I'm digressing from the more important stuff.

[Grrrmachine]

My M20 engine came from an E34, but I fitted an E30 aircon kit to it with no issues. Looking at RealOEM, the compressor for an E30 engine really is E30 only, but the E34 compressor comes back as E34, E32, E30 and E24. Part number 64528385712.

Specifically, you're looking for either a SS-148DW5 or SS-811PB4, both made by Seiko. They can be had in Poland for about 15 quid!

And here's a list of all the other manufacturers of the same part:

http://www.autopartoo.com/oem/partscros ... h=SS148DW5

[Automaton]

That's a great piece of info.

[Grrrmachine]

Just clocked your sig; your car's a 316, not an M20-engined car. But searching for the right compressor on RealOEM gives a similar part number (64528385713) which also fits the 325i, so it seems either will work.

This compressor also works with E23, E24, E28, E32 and E34, so there's loads of BMWs out there for you to source parts from. The key point is getting the right mounting bracket for your engine, which is likely dealer-only.

[pacerpete]

If I was in the OPs situation , I would NOT be wasting my time and money with second hand compressors. Buy the RIGHT parts , get them fitted and enjoy working A/C .

From my experience, I reckon that 85 % of the cars on the road with these compressors fitted do NOT have functioning A/C . Maybe the compressor is goosed? the condensor ? the evaporator? Who knows.

Some of us in Europe do not mind fitting scrap until we get lucky but when said (heavy) scrap has to be transported half way around the world , it really is a folly.

[Automaton]

After reading all opinions and much debate here, the cost effective and practical solution was to find a compressor that fit the modified bracket.

Yes it had been modified.

So we consulted with another AC guy who happens to be more resourceful and he has fixed up a new OEM system (non-BMW) but one that will go with the current bracket, engine, etc.

Compressor and belts fitted, looking for a condenser that will fit in our space.

Fingers crossed that it works.