Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

New A/C compressor?

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

    New A/C compressor?

    My AC has been pretty weak during hot days driving around town this summer. I want to have it taken care of and ready to go before next summer.

    I already have the R-134a conversion. My compressor is a part of the problem I believe, it makes a lot of noise when engaged. I saw that BMA offers a "small body compressor" here is the link, you will also see the other compresssor for refrence. does anyone have experience with this particular compressor? Also I think converting to electric fans and ditching the clutch and aux fan might help too. Any input?: http://www.bmaparts.com/ShopByVehicl...ebuilt&mode=PA
    sigpic

    #2
    I would choose neither of those. The bottom Nippondenso is a reman, but supposedly all Nippondensos are remanufactured by Denso, assuring OK quality. If you have brackets for it, go for it, but that's not likely. The top 'small body' version looks like a really cheap chinese reman, and will most likely not last.

    What I recommend doing, in the interest of cost and reliability-
    I was able to find a conversion bracket to mount a Sanden 508 on my car. I found it at my local A/C parts supplier, and it's a really sweet cast aluminum bracket that comes with spacers and hardware. The Sanden units are the gold standard for A/C compressors, are are reasonably cheap--even new, which is the only way one should buy a compressor--quiet, efficient, incredibly durable, and have very universal mounting configurations. You will need to have the lines modified to connect to the Sanden, but that's not a big deal for a competent A/C shop. Getting the new Sanden, bracket, and modifying lines will come out costing about the same as buying a cheap reman by itself.

    Whatever you pick, definitely keep your mechanical fan. You should check to make sure the clutch is working properly, but ditching it in favor of an electric will not help A/C performance. Your mechanical fan (with working clutch) moves a lot more air than all but the best electric fans at anything over idle.
    sigpic

    Mike

    '91 325i track car. Mostly...

    Comment


      #3
      with this sanden unit did you notice an improvement in performance i.e. colder air, in idling/traffic situations?

      I see your from AZ so I assume ac is important to you

      do you have any pics of your set up so I can get an idea of what brackets to look for?
      sigpic

      Comment


        #4
        I never had a working stock A/C system to compare to, but suffice to say that now, even on a 105+ degree day, I have to turn the A/C down after it has a chance to cool the car down... The Sanden is quiet, and the pressures are ideal. I am also running R-12.

        Even though I built mine as a mostly-track car, I still put a few street miles on it, and I DO have to drive across the desert to get to any tracks, so yeah, I like the A/C, despite the weight penalty. A/C is virtually mandatory in monsoon season here, too, as the humidity makes the weather just plain nasty.

        I'll see if I can get some shots of the bracket. I may even be able to get the vendor info...
        sigpic

        Mike

        '91 325i track car. Mostly...

        Comment


          #5
          I took my stock A/C compressor off the car and I intend to sell it. The system needed to be recharged, but the compressor worked great. I have all the related parts also, even the auxiliar fan (no belt, sorry). PM' me if interested.
          Last edited by Gadea; 10-28-2009, 01:33 AM. Reason: forgot
          1998 528i auto on staggered DSII

          Comment


            #6
            Originally posted by Knockenwelle View Post
            What I recommend doing, in the interest of cost and reliability-
            I was able to find a conversion bracket to mount a Sanden 508 on my car. I found it at my local A/C parts supplier, and it's a really sweet cast aluminum bracket that comes with spacers and hardware. The Sanden units are the gold standard for A/C compressors, are are reasonably cheap--even new, which is the only way one should buy a compressor--quiet, efficient, incredibly durable, and have very universal mounting configurations.
            I'm looking to do this but there are several different Sanden 508 models. Which one did you use?
            sigpic

            Comment

            Working...
            X