Author Topic: Anyone done this A/C switch out? (Read 3599 times)

nomad · « **on:** April 11, 2007, 03:21:41 PM »

http://home.earthlink.net/~frankie66/cars/diy/E30_compressor.html

Anyone done this switchover to get the A/C working again?
I have a '91 that I just got and the A/C doesn't work at all. I was thinking of this. Should I take it to a shop first and see if they can just do a cheaper retrofit with the o-rings etc or is it about the same to do a complete swap out like this?

Any other ideas?

Wizard · « **Reply #1 on:** April 11, 2007, 06:04:09 PM »

My A/C wasn't working when I bought my car....After checking it seems that our cars have a r-134a compatible compressor...All I changed was the dryer (the unit behind the pass. side headlight) and bought the r-134a kit at Wal-mart. Has been working great ever since (Over a year now)....No problems at all except my temp switch in the side of the radiator was bad...If your front aux fan is not working the A/C will not cool well at all....

nomad · « **Reply #2 on:** April 11, 2007, 07:53:30 PM »

What dryer did you get? Are you taking about a kit of o-rings that just go on the hoses? I'll have to check that out...

Wizard · « **Reply #3 on:** April 12, 2007, 02:57:38 AM »

The dryer is #18 on Realoem:
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=AF93&mospid=47305&btnr=64_0742&hg=64&fg=60
I think I picked one up a new one for around $25 on Ebay.
And I didn't change any O-rings....Just the High and Low pressure fittings which are in the Wal-mart kit.

Alpine003 · « **Reply #4 on:** April 12, 2007, 11:04:02 AM »

Quote from: Wizard;23612

The dryer is #18 on Realoem:
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=AF93&mospid=47305&btnr=64_0742&hg=64&fg=60
I think I picked one up a new one for around $25 on Ebay.
And I didn't change any O-rings....Just the High and Low pressure fittings which are in the Wal-mart kit.

I've always wondered about these R134 conversions. So you didn't use any rings but just the hi/lo pressure fittings? I've seen some cheaper kits that just contain the fittings and nothing else. Do you know if the R134 chemical makeup will destroy any existing factory o rings or not?

I'm probably going to be doing this when summer hits.

Wizard · « **Reply #5 on:** April 12, 2007, 05:42:17 PM »

I am not sure how fast the o-rings last if and when the r-134 would destroy them. It has been about a year with mine and everything is OK so far...The way I look at it, if the o-rings are going to be destroyed I will replace them then. r-134 is fairly cheap so if I lose it all not really a big deal...

D. Clay · « **Reply #6 on:** April 12, 2007, 08:40:28 PM »

I just put R-134 in it and ran it. I figured the compressor wasn't going to last that long anyway. It's had R-134 in it for 3-1/2 years. All that was changed was the fittings in the line.

Alpine003 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 12, 2007, 11:00:14 PM »

Quote from: D. Clay;23653

I just put R-134 in it and ran it. I figured the compressor wasn't going to last that long anyway. It's had R-134 in it for 3-1/2 years. All that was changed was the fittings in the line.

Thanks, I'll probably just change the fittings. Did you also change your dryer?