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AN AIR CONDITIONING SERVICE? There is a lot of hype out there about "drop-in" refrigerants for Air Conditioning systems that originally used R12, also known as Freon. There are several things to be aware of when having your AC system repaired or serviced.
Many people (usually those selling "drop-ins") claim that R134a does not cool as well as R12. While this is fact, the difference is usually so slight that a normal person will not notice. What's wrong with "drop-ins"? The main problem with "drop-in" refrigerants is that they are not compatible with anything. The companies supplying them tell you that you can simply remove the R12 and install their product, which is fine. BUT, no AC service centre in the world will service your system unless they happen to have a dedicated set of recovery equipment for the product you are using. Mixing many of the "drop-ins" with R12 or R134 will result in contaminated stock. Considering that a 30lb can of R12 can cost well over $500, a single car load of a "drop-in" can be a very expensive mistake on the part of the repairer. Some "drop-in" companies supply different attachments for the valves, requiring specific equipment be used. There is a problem with this though, as the fittings simply screw in over the original fittings. For any number of reasons, these fittings may be removed during the vehicles life, bringing back the risk of contamination to service centre's equipment. Some companies simply supply R134a fittings, making the potential for contamination of equipment and stock even greater. Most AC service centres now have refrigerant identifiers. These are analyzers that sniff the refrigerant and report its chemical composition. If it is R12 or R134a, it will tell the operator. If it is something else, it will set off the bells and whistles, and the operator will send the car out of the shop without touching the AC system. This causes a major problem for consumers who have fallen for the cheap "drop-in". There may only be one percent of repair facilities in the country that happen to be using the same refrigerant you have, severely limiting your choices of where to have service performed on your AC system. What should I do? Make the decision, stick with R12, or change to R134a, based on economics. Having R134a in an older car will slightly enhance it's retail value, because it has reduced potential maintenance costs, and make it cheaper for you to own in the future, if you intend to keep it for a long time. Stay away from "mixes", "drop-ins" and "alternatives". They will do you no good and only cause problems. R134a has been made the industry standard. As a result, any reasonably well equipped repair facility in the world will have the equipment and knowledge to repair and service your AC system. You will never have to worry about being sent away from a repair shop in the middle of a heat wave with inoperative AC simply because you opted for a slightly cheaper "alternative" to R134a. Any downsides of converting to R134a? There is one downside, already mentioned. Many systems will suffer slight loss of cooling efficiency. Unless you live in Death Valley, you will probably not notice. Apparently there may be a health consideration also. One "drop-in" company just came to my attention through an advertisement posted to the newsgroup alt.autos.bmw, claims that R134a "may cause death" and can cause "tumors on testicles". This company, Stay cool distribution (http://coolsales.1coolplace.com/technical_info.html), states this with no referral to actual studies, which may or may not exist, and is using the phrases simply as a method of scaring R134a equipped vehicle owners to change to their product, in addition to the R12 consumers they are enticing with cost comparisons. UPDATE: The above company appears to have changed their URL, as a result of this article perhaps. If you find this company on the internet, please pass on the URL to me and I will update this page. Thanks. Brett UPDATE: Thanks to Steve Weed who passed along http://www.btt.org/FAQ.html. Not entirely sure if this is the same company, but it sure looks like it. You've got to love their installation instructions. "install R-134a valves" WAIT A MINUTE! You're not installing R-134a, why are you using R-134a valves? Easy, 'cause it reduces the cost of installation of their product, making it easier to sell. PITY THE POOR BASTARD RUNNING THE REPAIR SHOP THAT GETS HIS R-134a A/C EQUIPMENT RUINED BY THIS CRAP WHEN A CAR COMES IN FOR AN A/C REPAIR. Do you suppose these fools selling this stuff will send the shop owner a $10,000 check to replace his ruined equipment? NOT A HOPE! What they neglect to tell you that, as the driver of an R134a equipped vehicle, you are more likely to die by a red truck hitting a blue car which in turn bounces off a telephone pole, made of concrete with a Led Zeppelin cover band flyer taped to it, and into a lingerie store window where you are waiting for your mistress' third daughter to buy some black lace panties for your mother, than you are from something related to R134a. You make the decision. BMW retrofit kits for E36, E32, E34 and E31 Vehicles All of the above vehicles have R134a compatible compressors except E32 vehicles produced from September 1987 to June 1989. In these cases, check the part number of your compressor, usually found on a sticker on the side of the compressor. Compare it to the list below. If your compressor does not appear in this list, it may have already been replaced and is probably R134a compatible. 64 52 1 377 940 64 52 1 377 944 64 52 1 377 941 64 52 1 377 947 64 52 1 377 943 64 52 1 385 416 64 52 1 377 946 64 52 1 385 930 64 52 1 386 411 If your compressor is listed on the left, in addition to a new compressor, an adapter cable is needed for the clutch wiring, P/N 64 52 1 386 224. Compressors listed on the right do not need this adapter. All of the above compressors should be replaced with compressor P/N 64 52 8 363 550. All non compatible compressors are produced by Bosch, but not all Bosch compressors are non compatible. Check the part numbers despite your car's production date. If you are not the original owner of your car, you might not know if the compressor has been changed. Older cars, falling within the production range of non-compatible compressors, may have had a newer compressor installed during a past repair. Also, a newer car may have had the compressor replaced with an older used unit at some point. Following are part numbers for the various retrofitting kits. Retrofit kits include a new receiver drier, capacity label, valve adapters and O rings. E36: 82 31 9 067 403 E34/E32: 82 31 9 067 396 E31: 82 31 9 067 402 All: PAG oil, P/N 82 11 1 468 042 BMW retrofit kits for E30, E28, E24 and E23 vehicles The following vehicles DO NOT have R134a compatible AC compressors E30 318i (7/85 - 8/85) 325e, 325i, 325iC (7/87 - 10/88) 325iX, M3 E28 528e (7/85 - 3/87) 535i (7/85 - 12/87) M5 (9/87 - 11/87) E24 All E23 All Following are the part numbers of the compressors that should be replaced. Replacement compressor part number is 64 52 8 363 550. 64 52 1 377 944 64 52 1 377 947 64 52 1 385 416 64 52 1 385 930 64 52 1 386 411 These compressors should also be replaced. These will ALSO require clutch wiring adapter P/N 64 52 1 386 224. 64 52 1 377 940 64 52 1 377 941 64 52 1 377 943 64 52 1 377 946 Following are the retrofit kit part numbers. All kits come with a receiver drier, capacity label, valve fittings and O rings E30: 82 31 9 067 394 E28: 82 31 9 067 401 E24 up to 2/86: 82 31 9 067 397 E24 as of 2/86: 82 31 9 067 398 E23: 82 31 9 067 400 Capacities
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