Air conditioning refresh

[ac427]

The air conditioning on my car is 23 years old. So i would like to refresh it.

The drier is a couple of years old and i have a new condenser.

Has anyone done an A/C refresh?

Did you replace all the pipes seals?

[toy4to]

I need to do the same. Which condenser did you order? Mahle, Nissens? Every video or guide I've watched or read has recommended replacing all the o-rings. I'll be doing that.

[ac427]

I need to do the same. Which condenser did you order? Mahle, Nissens? Every video or guide I've watched or read has recommended replacing all the o-rings. I'll be doing that.

I ordered the Nissens one. I'll be getting the O-rings not from BMW though as it was a rip off price when i checked last time.

I see the aluminium pipes that connect to the condenser are listed. Hopefully just the seals are required rather than the whole pipe?

Did any of the videos you saw detail the removal and refit of the components?

[davidf]

I am curious why you think the a/c system needs to be refreshed. For instance, what are you trying to achieve/gain by replacing working parts? I will admit that on rare occasions, a receiver/drier can come apart internally and send the desiccant throughout the system, but that is rare.

[ac427]

I am curious why you think the a/c system needs to be refreshed. For instance, what are you trying to achieve/gain by replacing working parts? I will admit that on rare occasions, a receiver/drier can come apart internally and send the desiccant throughout the system, but that is rare.

The system was recharged six weeks ago and now it doesn't produce any cold air.

Vibration over time causes the welds to fracture microscopically on the drier ports.

The condenser sits in front of the coolant radiator and get a lot debris flung at it.

My car has done almost 200k miles and apart from the belt and the drier everything is original.

[davidf]

Got it, so it does not work. Then repair is warranted.

[dukeofchen]

No advice but I've had an AC refresh on my list and will probably get around to it when I refresh the radiator.

Something I've been wondering for a while but never seen discussed is how a beat up condenser affects the radiator performance.

Wouldn't the airflow restriction from a mess of bent condenser fins restrict airflow and hence cooling capacity? Especially with how fussy our cars are with radiators and the condenser taking the brunt of road debris.

[ac427]

No advice but I've had an AC refresh on my list and will probably get around to it when I refresh the radiator.

Something I've been wondering for a while but never seen discussed is how a beat up condenser affects the radiator performance.

Wouldn't the airflow restriction from a mess of bent condenser fins restrict airflow and hence cooling capacity? Especially with how fussy our cars are with radiators and the condenser taking the brunt of road debris.

A guy on cutters replaced his condenser at 140k miles and said his radiator was mint because it is shielded by the condenser. The fins on the current radiator are supposed to be a softer metal according to some.

I'll probably leave the radiator alone unless it looks damaged.

[0-60motorsports]

The first you need to do is a pressure test to see if it holds pressure and there are no leaks, if it passes then just replace dryer, condenser and the associated O rings. Refill gas and good to go

[ac427]

The first you need to do is a pressure test to see if it holds pressure and there are no leaks, if it passes then just replace dryer, condenser and the associated O rings. Refill gas and good to go

Are the drier and condenser the only parts that generally break in the AC system?

[0-60motorsports]

Are the drier and condenser the only parts that generally break in the AC system?

Well no not really, you might also need an expansion valve and O rings and worst case scenario dash needs to come out to replace the evaporator. You will still need to replace all the above if you replace the evaporator.

[toy4to]

I ordered the Nissens one. I'll be getting the O-rings not from BMW though as it was a rip off price when i checked last time.

I see the aluminium pipes that connect to the condenser are listed. Hopefully just the seals are required rather than the whole pipe?

Did any of the videos you saw detail the removal and refit of the components?

I found these videos helpful. They components are pretty much the same on the m3 as they are on the non M version.

https://youtu.be/soudxTjEE9U?si=4StyzpsCoynZiSkW

https://youtu.be/ctqKSN41WTw?si=hrSAguff6plNyYws

https://youtu.be/xQRMJ0NoqWs?si=PWehKDJNe8wU2o_u

[ac427]

I found these videos helpful. They components are pretty much the same on the m3 as they are on the non M version.

https://youtu.be/soudxTjEE9U?si=4StyzpsCoynZiSkW

https://youtu.be/ctqKSN41WTw?si=hrSAguff6plNyYws

https://youtu.be/xQRMJ0NoqWs?si=PWehKDJNe8wU2o_u

Thank you Tony. Did you use the BMW O-rings or get them from somewhere else?

[toy4to]

Thank you Tony. Did you use the BMW O-rings or get them from somewhere else?

I haven't gotten to this task yet. It will be a winter project for me.

[ac427]

I haven't gotten to this task yet. It will be a winter project for me.

Funnily enough, i was watching the last video about front end removal yesterday 👍