A/C recharge question: need some concrete information

[Alkasquawlik]

As some of you may know, I'm going down to Socal for the summer and I don't have A/C in my car. In an effort to not burn up, I need to fix the A/C.

It basically blows the temperature of the air outside, so I need a recharge. I know I have R12 in my car, and that I should switch to R134a or whatever it is.
I briefly talked to a friend who did the switch and recharge in his car.
I just need to get the conversion kit and then 2 cans or so of R134a and I should be good?

I've been told numerous things like: I can't do it myself, it's going to cost me about $500 to do it, I can do it myself for $70, it's poisonous.

Can someone set me straight?

[slo325i]

need the same info....

[brandondan1]

e30tech is actually a pretty good source for A/C information.. There's even a subforum for it.

[KenC]

Just recharge it with R12. It costs more, but it's way colder. You also won't have to change your receiver/dryer. Just have a shop hook a vacuum up to it so you know it doesn't leak beforehand.

[Alkasquawlik]

Where can I get R12 and approximately how expensive is it?

My friend said he got a $35 conversion kit from Walmart, and paid like $8 per can for the R134a.

[twright]

I have used the R134 conversion kits. Here's what I found:

1.) If you fill it with R134 and have a leak, it only stays cold for a few days. You need to find out if your system has a leak. I did that with mine by filling it with R134 and paying a shop to look for a leak with their sniffer.

2.) R134 into an E30 does work, but the air conditioner is just barely cold enough to keep the car comfortable on a hot summer day.

[Dirtbleed]

cost me $50 to have it leak tested
$90 to fill with R12.
Should be good for another 20 years. Freezing cold and i live in florida.

[guibo09]

on e30tech, some guy posted the official BMW conversion instructions. they also posted the target temperatures of the air based on outside temperature and humidity. guess what? the r134a was actually 1 degree colder in alot of cases.

i think it's a myth that r12 is colder than r134a. i think the problem lies in improper conversion, leaks, and aging seals/compressor.

[Spaz]

on e30tech, some guy posted the official BMW conversion instructions. they also posted the target temperatures of the air based on outside temperature and humidity. guess what? the r134a was actually 1 degree colder in alot of cases.

i think it's a myth that r12 is colder than r134a. i think the problem lies in improper conversion, leaks, and aging seals/compressor.

It is a myth, I've done multiple conversions and they always blow just as cold...lots of people just don't know how to do it properly.

[guibo09]

It is a myth, I've done multiple conversions and they always blow just as cold...lots of people just don't know how to do it properly.

can you list some common mistakes? my system was converted by the previous owner, however i bought the car and the system was empty (pierced condensor). i dont know how long it's been like this.

my plan is to have the compressor rebuilt, im going to replace all the o-rings i can get to easily, new drier, good used condensor and fan. then have an a/c shop pressure test and fill with r134a and how much lubricant?

any think to flag here?