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DISCUSSION => General Topics => Topic started by: Quincy56 on August 18, 2008, 08:55:33 AM

Title: Swapping AC Compressor pulley?
Post by: Quincy56 on August 18, 2008, 08:55:33 AM

I got a replacement compressor.  It looks the same as the old one except it has a different pulley.  Can I swap them?

Old Compressor

(http://home.comcast.net/~Quincy56/Oscar/OldComp.jpg)

New compressor

(http://home.comcast.net/~Quincy56/Oscar/NewComp.jpg)

Title: Swapping AC Compressor pulley?
Post by: dude8383 on August 18, 2008, 09:37:15 AM

I'm pretty sure you can, you will have to remove the clutch on the compressor.

That looks like its from an E36 that already has serpentine belts.

Title: Swapping AC Compressor pulley?
Post by: Quincy56 on August 18, 2008, 09:18:23 PM

The person I bought it from said it would fit a 91 318i.  If it is just a matter of swapping the pulleys, that isn't a big deal.  I haven't taken the old one out yet..

I figure early E36s probably use the same compressor, but obviously different belts.

Thanks

John

Title: Swapping AC Compressor pulley?
Post by: dude8383 on August 19, 2008, 03:57:17 PM

Yeh I believe they were the same...just make sure everything lines up!

Title: Swapping AC Compressor pulley?
Post by: Quincy56 on August 20, 2008, 04:54:07 PM

I haven't yet got the pulley off, but I took it to an AC shop and he said my pulley is bad, not my clutch as I thought.  The two compressors look almost identical.  So any way to just get a new pulley?

BTW, I was expecting the car to not have any pressure, but when I pulled the compressor out I was shocked with a huge volume of R12.  Sorry ozone layer.

John

Title: Swapping AC Compressor pulley?
Post by: christophbmw on August 23, 2008, 12:51:23 PM

your new compressor is for R-134 if its from an E36, so a conversion will have to be done. And whoever sold you that compresor was lying it is not for a '91 318i, all the E30's had v-belts, not ribbed belts.