Air conditioning from e36 in e30

[bozzicek]

Hi,
I am new bere, but I am checking forum for years...
I bought 1990 e30, and I am doing complete restauration. I have m42 engine from e36, nad also compressor on it.
I am thinking to trying install e36 air conditioning in e30. Is this possible? Did anybody already done this?
What should I modify?

[DesktopDave]

I'm interested in this too. I'm not sure, but I'd guess that the copressors are very compatible. You might need to have a new high pressure and low pressure hose made to fit the new ports on the E36 compressor, or you might luck out and find that they're the same. I'd just take a few measurements, then take the E30 hoses and the compressor to a decent A/C shop to have custom lines created. I wouldn't think it'd cost much.

I do know that those R134 screw-on adapters don't work with the E30 hoses. The high-pressure line will get tagged by the hood hinge.

Are you doing a refrigerant conversion like to R134a at the same time, or is it staying R12?

[bozzicek]

Hi,
my car is without A/C, but because I can get all A/C parts from e36 for a small money I thought maybe somebody alreday done that? Because I am new in this world...

[DesktopDave]

I'd suspect at a minimum you'll need the E30 aux fan and electrical harness. I'm sure you'll need the E30 hard lines that run along the fender to the evaporator in the HVAC box. I'm pretty sure the HVAC and A/C boxes are the same between the A/C and non-A/C cars, but the HVAC panel might be different. I have a bunch of E30 parts if you need them, including an HVAC box, harness and the A/C dash panel.

I'd take some time studying the diagrams for the E30 OEM A/C and the E36 donor A/C (at Realoem.com or BMWFans.info) to see what you can modify or re-use, and what you'll need to buy. Based on my research, you'll need an upgraded condenser in the E30 if you go with R134a, along with an R134 expansion valve and new dryer and the viton o-ring kit.

[bozzicek]

DesktopDave, thx for advise, I found complete air condition from e30 on ebay, so my problem is solved...Regarding your parts, probably I will need some parts, but I am not sure if you are able to send parts to me for reasonable costs, becuase I live in Europe (Slovenia).

[bozzicek]

Hi, I am still looking for ideas how to solve my problem...Seller told me that a/c which I should buy is not working...Is it possible to put together HVAC and harnes from e30, and all other parts from e36?