I have slow leak in my A/C. Will need to replace parts. In case if you had same - please let me know what was it.
1. Compressor
2. 2 flex hose$$$
3. Condencer
4. Evaporator.
Thanks.
Oleg.
Last edited by perelet; 05-03-2013 at 10:53 PM.
none of the above.
It is usually the o-rings that give out, especially after 20+ years....
'93 850Ci - Mineralweiß Metallic
2001 740iL - Titansilber
ALPINA B7 -Alpinweiß III
...the price of cool ain't cheap!
Steffen, thanks.
#6, #7 & #8? What locations are most suspect-able?
Oleg.
Last edited by perelet; 05-14-2017 at 06:50 PM.
6, 7, 8...all locations can potentially leak
perelet, what are the last 7 digits of your VIN?
Last edited by olinjohnston; 01-21-2013 at 11:21 PM.
Correct - ALL the o-rings. They really need to be replaced as a complete set, especially after all these years. No sense only doing the ones you "think" might be at fault - remember, they are ALL the same age...
'93 850Ci - Mineralweiß Metallic
2001 740iL - Titansilber
ALPINA B7 -Alpinweiß III
...the price of cool ain't cheap!
Found few more #7,8,9,10
Are those reachable by removing glovebox and side pass side panel?
Oleg.
Last edited by perelet; 05-14-2017 at 07:05 PM.
I used a complete O-ring kit (assortment) that had more than enough to do the job, and it cost far less than sorcing each o-ring from BMW (By the way, some of the sizes are not quite correct in the listing on Realoem. It is best to just match them up as you go.
'93 850Ci - Mineralweiß Metallic
2001 740iL - Titansilber
ALPINA B7 -Alpinweiß III
...the price of cool ain't cheap!
Is there part # for o-ring set?
PS. Interesting I have 911 (time trial/track car) of same vintage and there compressor was leaking. Also a bit younger (my daily driver) jeep wrangler and flex hoses leaked on it.
Oleg.
Last edited by legoman67; 01-22-2013 at 12:08 AM.
Current:
- 09 335i MSport, FBO.
- 98 Euro M3, Estoril Blue
- 04 M3, Carbon Black, 6 Speed Coupe
- 06 M5, Black on Black, Full Leather.
- 73 3.0CS, Tagia Green, 5 speed M30b35 converted
Ex's: 1984 325e, 1988 325IX, 1992 525I, 1995 540i/6, 2002 330i, 2005 330xi, 1992 850i, 2003 330i #1, 2003 330i #2, 2002 330ci, 2004 330ci, 2007 328CI, 2007 335i, 2001 M3, 2006 M5 6 speed
There are five different sizes and cheap. I just ordered a bunch of each size from Autohaus.
Had leaks at the condenser fitting:
and one of the braze joints at the evaporator:
You could use a florescent dye and look for the leak as shown in the photos above.
Evaporator is removed by removing glove box and sliding out.
Be careful with the temperature sensor probe on the opposite side when you insert the evaporator. With the BEHR unit I put in a couple of weeks ago the hole in the evaporator for the probe was closed off and need to be opened up with an awl.
Having change the evaporator twice, I would not want to do this unless nessesary. Oil film on windshield?
Yes, one of the O-Rings is mis-identified. Can't remember which one.
Condenser...leaked twice. Telltale sign was an oil-spot on the grille.
I bought a set at Harbor Freight the second time around. Just make sure you grab the green ones. The first time I did an o-ring replacement, I blindly went with what realoem had listed. Not only was this expensive, but only when I had everything apart did I find out that I didn't have all the right ones. The Harnor Freight kit will easily do 5 or 6 systems.
'93 850Ci - Mineralweiß Metallic
2001 740iL - Titansilber
ALPINA B7 -Alpinweiß III
...the price of cool ain't cheap!
Replaced o-rings. Will give it few months to see if leak is fixed. In addition to pics posted by Mike Here are some pics/illustrations:
discharge system.
Dryer lines
Remove plastic covers on pass side:
Dryer is there
Undo hex bolts on lines. I removed dryer to have easier access to seals:
next
Condenser lines
Remove plastic cover at top of nose panel.
use long extension and remove bolts:
For me it was hard to reach from top, so I removed front lip:
then unbolted horn:
after that I had access to lines and seals:
Compressor lines
They are accessible from top. Nothing needs to be removed:
Unbolt bolts, remove lines:
Engine compartment coupling
Again, nothing to remove:
expansion valve
A bit of pain to get to...
and then keep removing stuff until you get to it:
getting closer:
To remove screws you'll need torx screwdriver:
And here it is:
Last is torx screw on top of it - also pain to get to. I run out of batteries here ....
After that vacuum the system:
and charge:
Oleg.
Last edited by perelet; 05-14-2017 at 07:21 PM.
PO of my '95 840Ci paid the dealer close to $1,500 to replace the evaporator. The dealer said that it put a sniffer in the dash outlet and detected refrigerant. Sounds like it was probably just the O ring.
1995 BMW 840Ci
1999 Porsche 996 Cabriolet, 6 speed
1974 VW Westfalia P27 Deluxe camper
1974 Mercedes 280C
Last edited by perelet; 01-30-2013 at 12:20 AM.
Has anybody replaced the actual pipework here in this picture? the two pipes and fitting adjoining the AC condensor, mine are quite badly corroded, and id like to replace them, looks like its definitely bumper off, but just not sure yet were the metal pipe ends?! real OEM is just not accurate. Is there another join before the AC compressor?
Update. Little bit more than one month passed. All refrigerant leaked out .
Well, I had dealt with this car for awhile I had doubts that $15 can fix anything on the beast. Time for $$$ again.
Oleg.
Oleg,
Did you try the addition of a can of refrigerant with fluorescent dye and pick up the fluorescent flashlight/yellow goggle kit at a NAPA or PEP Boys to pinpoint the leak? Works quite well. The AC, at least on my '97, works great when everything is in order. And everything except the lines is new.
Mike
Mike, I did. I do see leak at front of compressor. Also almost everybody had to replace evaporator, there was even recall for it on some E31 years.
I'll start with compressor and evaporator and will go slowly from there, avoiding divorce and bankruptcy
Oleg.
Oleg,
Please post the source and price of the compressor and evaporator when you replace them. My AC is fine for now but might as well for a 18 year old car.
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