evaporator to compressor hose repair... any wisdom?

[jiggapoo]

A buddy of mine took his '95 M60 into the shop and was quoted $751 for repair of the evap. to compressor hose. I looked up the hose price, about $190 + core retail. The shop quoted 4 hours of labor because the evap. requires dash removal. I'm not sure what other parts are in the mix to boost the price to $751 (drier, oil, I assume).

Questions:

1. Last time we checked (last week when it started blowing warm) low and high side pressures were equal, about 50 psi. Prevailing wisdom suggests a compressor needed. We had fully charged it two weeks before. Would a leaky hose cause this? When a system discharges through a leak does the system always equalize like this? (I can't remember.)

2. Has anyone done this repair before and if so, what difficulties did you run into? I've removed an e38 dash on a 750 many times. And I've replaced most A/C parts, including the evap. on an e38. However, I've never specifically replaced this hose and from what I understand it runs through the firewall.

3. What else (normal maintenance / replacement) would you do with the dash removed on a 150k '95 740iL while you've dug back to the evap.?

4. I figured I could have a mom & pop place do the evacuation and oil / recharge since that seems pretty cut and dry. Any wisdom against this on an M60?

Thanks...

[jiggapoo]

I think folks are on vacation...

[BMW5868]

Does the compressor engage and run? The pressures at rest will be the same. If the compressor is running and both hi & low pressures are the same then it would indicate a compressor problem. If you have done a e38 750 it pretty much the same, the hose is nothing special once youve i can be of more help. dug in to the evap core. If u give me prod date and model. M60 were either e32 or e38

[jiggapoo]

Does the compressor engage and run? The pressures at rest will be the same. If the compressor is running and both hi & low pressures are the same then it would indicate a compressor problem. If you have done a e38 750 it pretty much the same, the hose is nothing special once youve i can be of more help. dug in to the evap core. If u give me prod date and model. M60 were either e32 or e38
Yep, the compressor kicks in, sure enough. You can *feel* the power drain as well as see it spinning. I posted it in the 7-series forum because it's an M60 740iL (1995). Production date I'm not sure of but realoem lists the same hose up to 09/1997.

I actually told him to just go ahead and let the shop fix what they diagnosed. I'm a little worried that it won't fix the problem, though.

[BMW5868]

Does the compressor cycling on & off rapidly? If so sign of low refrigerant. I wouldnt be changing that hose for 4 hrs and does that include the evac & recharge? I gather the hose is leaking and it just low on charge? What is the Pt# of the hose. I can check it out on LTG.

[jiggapoo]

Nope, no cycling. I can get it to come on and stay on. It's low on refrigerant, I'm pretty sure of that. The price does include the evac. and recharge (a "drive out" price). Part # is 64538370632 and before BMWCCA discount the BMW Store has it at $183.

[BMW5868]

Its a e38 model, this a/c line connects to the block connector coming from the evapotar and connects at the firewall, it is not necessary to take anything apart inside. The line calls for 2.2 hrs. + 1.0 for evac & recharge + 1.0 for leak & performance test. Being a '95 the hose connectors at the firewall might be a issue. They used a steel pin to locate the line and they have a habit of seizing in the line. Anyways if you remove the engine cover u should be able to see the connection on the r/s of the heater core lines on the firewall.