M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS
DISCUSSION => General Topics => Topic started by: ClayW on April 06, 2011, 12:44:26 PM
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Is there any advantage to upgrading the A/C compressor on an M42?
I'm transplanting an M42 into my `67 1600 (http://www.tx02.blogspot.com) and my donor motor did not come with a compressor. Since my A/C system will be almost entirely custom, i wonder if there are any complaints or drawbacks to the compressor that bolts up to the M42. Alos, has anyone used something common, like a Sanden 508?
Thanks!
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You'd probably be just fine with a new compressor plus a larger condenser. The only drawbacks from the factory compressor are that it may blow warm air in traffic. Once the car is at speed it should be capable of keeping it cool inside the cabin.
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The only real issue I've seen with the factory compressor is mainly a function of age-if you do run a custom compressor, something with a variable load response would improve efficiency. Also, the original ones are optimized for r12. I think the optimal flow characteristics are different for r134a.