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Anyone made their own a/c hoses?

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    Anyone made their own a/c hoses?

    I did a full R134a conversion on my 89 325i last summer including compressor, expansion valve, drier, switch and condenser. I replaced only one hose I believe on account of the others were over a hundred dollars each, only available as BMW authentic parts. The system leaks out over a week or so and the dye/sniffer didn't help. I'll be pulling the motor soon and this will be the time to replace more lines.

    Always game to tool up, I see very nice Mastercool crimpers being sold for the price of one of the three hoses I need to make. Has anyone gone this route?

    Can the hard portions or the lines be re-used, with the appropriate crimps?

    #2
    I cleaned out the metal hoses and took them too a local hydraulic hose shop and they replaced the rubber with barrier hose and crimped the ends for me. Cost me $85 and about 45 minutes of my time. I expected to drop them off and have to come back but they did it right then and there!
    2004 525i Manual - 1985 325E Coupe Manual

    Comment


      #3
      Good service....
      Can you remind me if there are rubber portions to the lines that run inside the car to and from the evaporator?

      Comment


        #4
        Free Shipping - Vintage Air E-Z Clip Refrigerant Hose Kits with qualifying orders of $109. Shop Air Conditioning Hoses and Lines at Summit Racing.


        I've been thinking of buying this kit.

        From website
        A "cool" way to plumb your ride for A/C--Vintage Air E-Z Clip refrigerant hose kits are easy and universal! The complete process from fabricating to crimping can be done by yourself in your own garage. This rugged, lightweight hose has a unique smaller diameter that allows tighter radius bends and a cleaner looking install. And, assembly of the hose and nickel-plated O-ring fittings is easy with the included E-Z cages and clips. Finally, a simpler, better way to route your air conditioning: Vintage Air E-Z Clip universal refrigerant hose kits.
        sigpic

        https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/sho...d.php?t=420591 5.3 LSA build in progress :devil:

        Comment


          #5
          Originally posted by r-mm View Post
          Good service....
          Can you remind me if there are rubber portions to the lines that run inside the car to and from the evaporator?
          Yes, there are rubber lines inside the car between the expansion valve and the firewall.
          2006 GMC Sierra 2500HD 4WD LBZ/Allison
          2002 BMW M3 Alpinweiß/Black
          1999 323i GTS2 Alpinweiß
          1995 M3 Dakargelb/Black
          - S50B32/S6S420G/3.91
          1990 325is Brilliantrot/Tan
          1989 M3 Alpinweiß/Black

          Hers: 1996 Porsche 911 Turbo Black/Black
          Hers: 1988 325iX Coupe Diamantschwartz/Black 5spd

          sigpic

          Comment


            #6
            FWIW, I have a crimp tool. It works well and I’ve used it a number of times. One issue that I have found is that many of the BMW hose line fittings end up being non-standard sizes, so you want to be sure that you have the right size hose and coupling for the job.
            2006 GMC Sierra 2500HD 4WD LBZ/Allison
            2002 BMW M3 Alpinweiß/Black
            1999 323i GTS2 Alpinweiß
            1995 M3 Dakargelb/Black
            - S50B32/S6S420G/3.91
            1990 325is Brilliantrot/Tan
            1989 M3 Alpinweiß/Black

            Hers: 1996 Porsche 911 Turbo Black/Black
            Hers: 1988 325iX Coupe Diamantschwartz/Black 5spd

            sigpic

            Comment


              #7
              Thanks for flagging this - the tool I'm looking at has the size 6,8, 10, 12 Dies. I've yet to measure all the hoses on the E30 - do you think some fall outside the range that would be handled by these?





              Originally posted by nrubenstein View Post
              FWIW, I have a crimp tool. It works well and I’ve used it a number of times. One issue that I have found is that many of the BMW hose line fittings end up being non-standard sizes, so you want to be sure that you have the right size hose and coupling for the job.

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by r-mm View Post
                Thanks for flagging this - the tool I'm looking at has the size 6,8, 10, 12 Dies. I've yet to measure all the hoses on the E30 - do you think some fall outside the range that would be handled by these?

                https://www.amazon.com/MASTERCOOL-71...ustomerReviews
                The standard hoses all appear to follow those sizes. I’ve run across some replacement hoses that were weird. Maybe a metric size?
                2006 GMC Sierra 2500HD 4WD LBZ/Allison
                2002 BMW M3 Alpinweiß/Black
                1999 323i GTS2 Alpinweiß
                1995 M3 Dakargelb/Black
                - S50B32/S6S420G/3.91
                1990 325is Brilliantrot/Tan
                1989 M3 Alpinweiß/Black

                Hers: 1996 Porsche 911 Turbo Black/Black
                Hers: 1988 325iX Coupe Diamantschwartz/Black 5spd

                sigpic

                Comment


                  #9
                  As I recall, one hose under the dash the shop could not help me with. I had to go to BMW for that hose.
                  2004 525i Manual - 1985 325E Coupe Manual

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Thanks guys. Think I'll go this route. Did you all buy hose and fittings from somewhere like this https://coldhose.com/hose-by-foot/st...rier-hose.html

                    I'm seeing barrier hose in the ~$2.50/foot range and fittings in the $5-10 each range.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      I’ve used cold hose before.
                      2006 GMC Sierra 2500HD 4WD LBZ/Allison
                      2002 BMW M3 Alpinweiß/Black
                      1999 323i GTS2 Alpinweiß
                      1995 M3 Dakargelb/Black
                      - S50B32/S6S420G/3.91
                      1990 325is Brilliantrot/Tan
                      1989 M3 Alpinweiß/Black

                      Hers: 1996 Porsche 911 Turbo Black/Black
                      Hers: 1988 325iX Coupe Diamantschwartz/Black 5spd

                      sigpic

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Are the BMW hoses SAE / Inch threading?
                        Did you use Alum or Steel fittings?

                        For instance
                        Alum, SAE threading https://coldhose.com/fittings/oring/...tting-902.html

                        Steel, SAE threading https://coldhose.com/fittings/oring/...tting-900.html

                        Comment


                          #13
                          I sent the 2 hoses above the glove box to a hydraulic shop for upgrading to barrier. $75 included return shipping. You just have to find the right shop
                          Seat Shocks....I have passed the baton to John Christy from Ninestitch. Email John or Garrett at ninestitch1@gmail.com

                          https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/sho...86#post4944786
                          Alice the Time Capsule
                          http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=360504
                          87 Zinno Cabrio barn find 98k and still smells like a barn. Build thread http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/show...20#post3455220

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                            #14
                            Im going full DIY here. Crimper will be here
                            Tomorrow. Just gotta figure the fittings out, will likely buy more than I need.

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Could use someone's help figuring out what the name of the fitting is where a hose connects to a hard line.

                              A photo of the hard lines stripped of the hoses would help too. Are these barbed? Is this just a ferrule such as: https://coldhose.com/specialty-fitti...ividually.html
                              Attached Files

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