AC retrofit

[Dirtboy]

Seeing as my euro 325 didn't come from the factory with AC, how hard would it be to retrofit? Anybody have a complete parts list? I've searched around, including realoem, and couldn't get a complete list together. Also, which parts can I get away with buying used and which ones are better off brand new?

[scottinAZ]

it seems it would be a pain in the ass to retrofit ac. the whole heater box needs to be changed to accomodate the evaporator for the ac. best bet would be to get the whole assembly out of a scrapyard car. this way you can see how it all comes together, and you get all the little ancilliary parts that always get forgotten. installing the rest of the system would be relatively straightforward and somewhat easy. again, getting the parts out of a junker would ensure that the one little part* is gotten




* this is the part that you realise you need only at about midnight the day before the car MUST be functional

[Dirtboy]

Yeah, the problem with that is that I have yet to see an e30 in the junkyard with AC in it. I'm hoping one of these days I'll run into one here, but even finding decent e30's for other parts is getting slim. I'll keep looking though...

[thereisnoyun]

Seeing as my euro 325 didn't come from the factory with AC, how hard would it be to retrofit? Anybody have a complete parts list? I've searched around, including realoem, and couldn't get a complete list together. Also, which parts can I get away with buying used and which ones are better off brand new?

From the top of my head

1.) HVAC box, entire thing
2.) two lines running to engine near hte battery tray
3.) the lines going into compressor and condensor
4.) compressor and bracket
5.) compressor belt
6.) condensor
7.) aux fan
8.) dryer and switch

I dont think its that much of a hassle, if its something you want. There really isnt any fabrication involved its all OEM parts. I mean, ALOT of the ac stuff is really maintenance replacement parts.

The thing is almost all the part if you were to build a reliable AC system would need to be new anyways. I would get new lines, or get them made at AC shop, you need a new dryer, and compressor belt. The other hardwares can be had easily such as compressor, condensor, evaporator, switch, aux fan, can all be had in the states relatively cheaply.