AC questions

[Roderic E34T]

Okay, here's the deal.

On my E34 525i with M50 I should have AC. But the condensor is broke.

Now I'm buying a E34 530i with M60 engine as a parts car.

What I want to do, is replace the complete AC system. My old AC has the old freongas (R12) and the 530i has the new type R134a.

Now I can replace the heaterunit in the dashboard, but is it nessecary?

And how about the compressor? What would be the main difference? Cause for the 530i and the 525i they have different P/N in ETK.

[Eric Clark]

If you are going through the hastle of replacing the heater core then use a new unit. Any reputable junk yard should tell you the same unless they just want to make a sale. I'd also use a new condenser since they can take quite a beating. You can get a heater core for about $150 new and a condenser for $100 here in the US. I never saw the point in replacing a failed 10+ year old part with another 10+ year old part.

[Roderic E34T]

I'm not from the US. ;)

And overhere it's more then 100 dollars for a condensor.

And as I have the parts car, where the AC is working fine, I was just thinking that I could replace the whole system.

Just was wondering if I should go thru the hassle of getting the dashboard out.

[Eric Clark]

I did the heater core on my last E34 and will be doing it on this one soon. I'd only go through the hastle if I was installing the new unit.

[attack eagle]

AFAIK : the condensor is where the real changes in most vehicles are to compensate for the less efficient r134a. The drier and compressor are changed because of the different and incompatible oil used.

IF you are going to be disassembling the system, I suggest swapping the hoses to the 95's barrier hoses and getting new 134a o-rings for them.
EDIt: just realized m60 not m50. IF they are the same change em... IF they aren't see if a shop can make you up some for less than Stealer. Might as well do it once and do it all.