AC dryer/receiver question for R134a conversion?

[heyzerg77]

I will do a R134 conversion on my 87 325e soon since it's damn hot now,
my Old AC system is not working anyway.
I jsut wonder what kind of AC dryerr/receiver I should consider, Are they all compatible with R134.
Could I put 91 318is's receiver/ dryer in my car (since it gets a window class to see the AC flow)?

Thanks

[bimmerrookie]

You'll need the receiver/drier from an E36 which is compatable with R134. It's only $18.00 at Palican Parts. Also, it uses only a high pressure switch which you can also get at Pelican Parts. I converted mine a couple of weeks ago, which included replacing all o-rings, and my AC blows as cold as 25 degrees. I'm using a compressor from an 85 and have had no trouble so far.

[DSchultz325e]

how much did that whole conversion cost you? i just saw that article the other night and am going to perform the conversion over the winter (its just too damn hot to work on mechanical stuff on my car this time of year). i just need a new compressor.

[bimmerrookie]

I got the compressor from the junk yard. The rest of the parts I ordered online from Pelican Parts. If anyone knows where to get them cheaper let me know. The receiver/drier is part# 64-53-8-391-025 and $18.50 each, the pressure switch part# is 64-53-8-390-971 and was $31.20 each, the expansion valve part# is 64-51-1-466-259 and was $18.75 each, and lastly I just didn't want to guess so I bought an o-ring kit part# 09-9808-200 at $36.40 a kit. It went well, just have patience and be sure to flush all the crap out of the system.

[e30evolution]

as long as you dont break any of the seals you can just put 134a in..... the stuff is cheap so if it leaks out then whatever..... you have to evacuate the system and and make sure to boil all the moisture out.....

if the old system is not working just because it has lost is charge then i would just slap some 134a in and see how it works before i start to replace parts.... if you have access to a machine then you are looking at about $12 in refrigerant?

plus if there is any R12 in your system that stuff is like gold.... worth well of 20x's as much as 134

[HowzeR]

hmm

I just bought a $36 kit from Target.. conversion kit, slapped it in my 88 325is, works perfect, blows ice cold, didnt replace jack sh*t, if it leaks out, then ill recharge it next summer with a whopping $4 can or two of R-134a. The interdynamics kit I used had seal conditioner blah blah for high mileage car... its good stuff.

[clavinZERO]

all i did was replace the reciever-dryer and put new seals on it. as for the other seals n stuff, the "conversion" or "retrofit" seal kits are total crap. the seals are colored different and the color coating wears off to reveal the same old style seal.... RUBBER!!! oooo! so just top of the oil in that thing and pump it with the r134a or whatever. i think you need to get the valve adapters too.

[brodee]

The dryer reallly should be replaced and it's cheap. If you don't then you can get the old oil into the compressor and it will eventually go out on you.

[HowzeR]

oil

the kit I had i believe had PAG oil or something along those lines, anyhow it said its compatable with current oil... if mine goes out.... oh well.... im out $34 LoL.

[brodee]

Ester oil is what you want to use if you have had r12 in it already. That is compatible with both types of freon. Put about 6 ounces in the compressor and 2 in the dryer before installing.

[grlaneriejr]

If you are really worried about the old oil, then pull a vacuum on the system. All you need is a refrigerator compressor motor and rewire it to run backwards, and then some lines.

You really should replace the dryer, but it doesn't matter if it's r12 or r134. The deal with the drier is that if there's any moisture in it, it will blow that crap all over your system. If the system's been open for more than 1 day, it's cheap insurance.

The kits from autozone and all that (the $35 conversion kits) are fine to use, just pull a vacuum on the system to get rid of all the old oil.

hope this helps.

[EverWiser]

If you're replacing R12 with R134a you have to get as much of the old oil out as possible. It's not a matter of the new and old oils being compatible; its a matter of whether the oil will mix with the type of coolant. If it doesn't mix well it won't lubricate the compressor. Also, mineral oil, which is what R12 used turns to a black gooey acid when mixed with R134a. It will eventually destroy your entire system, starting with your compressor. Do some searches on the internet about this conversion...You'll learn a lot.