Author Topic: Swapping AC Compressor pulley? (Read 3199 times)

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

New compressor

dude8383 · « **Reply #1 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.

Quincy56 · « **Reply #2 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

dude8383 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 19, 2008, 03:57:17 PM »

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

Quincy56 · « **Reply #4 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

christophbmw · « **Reply #5 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.