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Thread: Air Conditioning Retrofit on Euro 1976 E21 320

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2016
    Location
    Sao Paulo, Brazil
    Posts
    4
    My Cars
    1976 Euro320; 1996 Z3

    Air Conditioning Retrofit on Euro 1976 E21 320

    I am planning to install air conditioning on my 1976 Euro E21 320.
    My question: is it necessary to change the HVAC box inside the dashboard to accomodate the A/C evaporator?
    If it is necessary to change the HVAC box, any ideas where to find one? (used, of course)

    Thanks for your help on this.

    292815dc-cf21-4509-a958-80f71694d43f.jpg3770a6fc-88a3-4e3e-a37a-2697b8c036d2.jpg

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Albuquerque, NM
    Posts
    214
    My Cars
    '77 turbo 320i, '07 Subi
    You'll need a replacement center console. there are some on eBay. Get the most complete one you can find.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Vermont
    Posts
    2,588
    My Cars
    81 320i, 98 318ti
    You need an A/C blower/evaporator that goes next to the heater core box under the dash. You need A/C console so it all fits. You also need some additional wiring/switch inside the car.
    Then you need the compressor/bracket, condenser with brackets, aux fan, metal and rubber lines that go inside the car.

    It is a project and if I were you, I'd try to find a complete system to install, even if it needs repairs. Finding each individual part separately is difficult and costly.


    Good luck,
    Max

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    DFW TX USA
    Posts
    1,447
    My Cars
    1983 320I, 1986 325E
    Honestly, I wouldn't go through with this. If I had a non A/C car, I'd leave it that way. The air conditioning systems available are totally underwhelming. I dumped way too much money into my car to fix and figure out how the system works.

    The main issue is a lack of airflow. The fan and box are undersized for the car. On full blast, there isn't much air coming out. In my area, it can't keep up with the sun. I have to turn it off at stop lights or the car overheats. Some days, its a toss up on whether I'll be comfortable with the A/C on or the windows down. However, the system is useful for keeping the windows defrosted when it is raining and very humid.

    If you really want to do this, I think the euro A/C options were better than anything we got in the U.S. Out of all the U.S. units, the Clardy M.F.G unit is probably going to be the easiest one to retrofit.
    Last edited by Thecatmilton; 03-20-2019 at 03:09 PM.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2015
    Location
    Chicago, IL,United States
    Posts
    252
    My Cars
    1977 BMW 320i
    If I were going to add AC, I would look at Vintage Air's "builder series". They specialize in AC retrofits for vintage cars, but specialize in American cars. Even so, the components that they offer might fit well enough. It would not look like a factory system, but it would likely function much better.

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