A/C compressors different?

[Mook613]

I know that the E30 came with three different compressors depending on the year.
How do I know which aftermarket compressors would replace the Denso in my car?
Has anybody made a comparison chart?

[spike68]

I discovered this the hard way. I knew e30s came with different brand compressors, but I figured out that even the inlet/outlet ports are even different sizes and location so it's guaranteed your hoses that connect to the compressor will not fit or reach. I am not aware of any chart that labels which e30 came with which compressor. I believe that chart would have to be manufactured date specific as opposed to year make.

Best route is to just stick with the same brand compressor your car came with.

[Mook613]

I have the denso compressor.
It's leaking from the shaft seal and the shaft itself is all corroded and pitted. Want to replace rather than just replace that seal. No way I'm spending $1,200 on a new denso when there are so many aftermarket choices. I just need to know which one to get.

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[ELVA164]

There was no specific pattern.

My advice is to buy a Sanden 508 and have lines made to fit. It was $200 or less for the compressor, but obviously it'll only work if you're going R134. You do also need the bracket to mount it, but I believe they're available for sale.

[Mook613]

The cost to get a Sanden 508, a custom made bracket (nobody sells those anymore) and some custom hoses made would far exceed the $500 that it will cost me for a Four Seasons compressor.
Just a question of finding out if the Four Seasons that I am looking at is the right one for my car.

[jeffnhiscars]

There's a service bulletin that tells you which compressors from which production dates are NOT r134 compatible (7/87-10/88 and what the PNs are. This is based solely on the seals and has nothing to do the design opeeating pressures which is pretty important when converting from r12.

The key then when buying a "replacement" compressor is whether it's merely r134 compatible (i.e. the seals won't dissolve) vs whether it's designed to operate at r134 pressures and of course, how you mount it. My Seltec bracket came off amazon and is made by APG (Air Products Group) and it's true they are NLA (having spoken to them).

So,yes it's a clusterf@$k. Really depends on whether you are ok spending money for adequate vs spending real money for a properly designed system.

[Mook613]

I'm okay with spending a bit if needed. But I emphasize the "if needed" part. If I can swap in a different compressor for a few hundred then fine.
I have already upgraded to a new condenser and swapped out to a better fan. Now it is my compressor that leaked out all of its oil.

Is this the right one to use? (It is a Denso 471-1114)

http://www.jcwhitney.com/denso-ac-compressor-new/p3038667.jcwx?filterid=c21803d17266y1989g2j1

[jeffnhiscars]

A brand new modern r134 rated compressor is about $200....as long as you can mount it

[Mook613]

I need to make sure I have the right mount as well as the right pipes.
Will likely get a used denso and then try to rebuild the broken one for potential use in the future.

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