I need an opinon on A/C matters

[Drewe30e]

Ok, I feel I need to give some background on the situation. I'm planning on graduating from school this coming December and will be in the market for a new car (most likely an e46). However, this summer, I will be commuting to a job in bad D.C. traffic. My A/C has never really worked since I bought the car, which hasn't been a big deal if I'm actually cruising with the windows down.

So, I'm left with the option of fixing my A/C or sacking up and trying to buy an e46 now. I need to replace the compressor (its bad) and would most likely convert everything over to R-134a. The problem is that I don't know if I want to sink the money into this car only to sell it in under a year or just try to get rid of it now and buy the car.

That seems like the logical thing to do, however, if I can wait it out until I graduate, the quality of car that I will purchase will be much nicer. What would you guys do?

[Huff]

A new AC will coast way less than any e46.

[Drewe30e]

Haha, obviously. But would you dump more money into a car that will be sold soon and wait to buy a very nice e46 or sell it now and buy a moderate e46?

Side question: How much will a working A/C increase the value of a 200k mile 325e? Other than the A/C, it runs great and doesn't have any major problems. Full tune-up with timing belt, water pump, etc. done recently.

[blunttech]

Haha, obviously. But would you dump more money into a car that will be sold soon and wait to buy a very nice e46 or sell it now and buy a moderate e46?

Side question: How much will a working A/C increase the value of a 200k mile 325e? Other than the A/C, it runs great and doesn't have any major problems. Full tune-up with timing belt, water pump, etc. done recently.

dude dont be a wuss. i would like to invite you to gods country to nuzzle my sweaty nutsack mid august after ive thrashed my track car. tuff it out and fuck a/c.

[Jean]

or drive to school/work and back in a coolsuit and an ice chest lol

[So Live]

Screw a/c lose the 40lbs or whatever it is and have more fun driving!!!!

[CorvallisBMW]

Figure $150-$200 for a rebuilt compressor, and about $200 for a shop to evacuate/recharge the whole system. Maybe another $20for all the fittings to swap over to R134a, and another $25 for a new receiver/dryer. You should also replace all your o-rings is you're switching coolants, but those are cheap if you do them on your own.

[Wishno87]

wouldn't a cheap working compressor be rather easy to come by since everyone is ripping theirs out? I paid 460 to get mine recharged and retrofitted to the new coolent and a new a/c fan. I would say its worth it because getting stuck in traffic in the summer with no A/C is miserable.

[Drewe30e]

Ha, thanks for the input guys. I guess I'm going with the A/C. All sweaty sacks aside, I don't think I'm going to stick it out in full dress clothes in the middle of VA summer just to "be a man". Also, its not a weight thing, I'm actually thin, I just don't like to sit in sweat for an hour in traffic to get to and from work. I guess I might check around to a refurbished compressor and see how that works out.

Nothing against e30's (I've had mine for 7 years) but this stuff is getting old. I can't wait to get a real job and finally get a car that works.

Also, would you guys suggest that I get a refurbished R-12 compressor or just do the R-134a kit? Most likely I'll have to replace most of the parts because I haven't used the A/C in years...so the parts are most likely dried out.

[WillisE30]

Keep a cooler full of beer next to you and drink heavily, you won't have to worry about working AC very long.

[Maluco]

Tove to Mexas....

[1991 318is]

Keep a cooler full of beer next to you and drink heavily, you won't have to worry about working AC very long.

Or working either!

[emi325i]

I wouldn't put lot of money in a car unless I was gonna keep it. On the other hand, if you're buying an E46 and the A/C goes you'll have to sell the e30 to pay for it.

[Drewe30e]

So what would you guys suggest? Replacing the old R-12 compressor and pay to have a lot of it replaced (I haven't used the A/C in years so everything is probably dry) or upgrading to R-134a? I've read on here that R-134a doesn't do as good of a job as R-12, but if you replace all necessary parts, will it be pretty close?

I'm starting to look around for kits and such because I plan on doing this in a couple of weeks.

[sharky]

I havent had working AC in my E30 for years, maybe 3 or 4 days it sucks, just open the windows and roof and enjoy the sounds. On a side note I bought a Infinity for a DD and having all these working luxury items is nice on longer trips.