zero 1162 Report post Posted July 27, 2016 My wifes e46 320i has had air conditioning problems for some time and I'm finally in a position to get it diagnosed. It is leaking gas somewhere I'm pretty sure as I had it refilled and it worked for a while then got weaker and weaker and then stopped putting out cold air again. Can anyone recommend a person or company who will identify the fault? I have spare parts to fix it, but not the diagnosing equipment to find the fault. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
M3AN 4016 Report post Posted July 27, 2016 (edited) Subscribed. Keep us posted with developments Nathan. I'm in a similar boat. Edited July 27, 2016 by M3AN Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zero 1162 Report post Posted July 27, 2016 Anyone? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andre3000 55 Report post Posted July 28, 2016 Ominous silence usually means "use the search function"... Answered the same question of M3AN's with COOLCAR not so long ago. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zero 1162 Report post Posted July 28, 2016 Having trouble with the search. I did try to search, cause i remember a thread about it but the new software wont let me find old threads. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BM WORLD 1283 Report post Posted July 28, 2016 arctic autos / http://www.finda.co.nz/business/listing/r3y8/arctic-autos-ltd/ 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Matth5 471 Report post Posted July 30, 2016 Bellars Motor Works can do aircon work. They fixed it in my old E46 before. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zero 1162 Report post Posted July 30, 2016 Booked in at coolcar for Monday so I will let everyone know of my experience. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
*Glenn* 854 Report post Posted July 30, 2016 I hope it's Peter @ Ryan Place Manukau Or Dave on The Shore. The only two I would trust / use 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zero 1162 Report post Posted July 31, 2016 Peter at Manukau. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zero 1162 Report post Posted August 1, 2016 So I went to Peter at Coolcar in Manukau and he diagnosed a faulty evaporator pretty quickly. Unfortunately the whole dash has to come out which makes it an expensive job at around $2K, so I will be doing it myself before summer. While I'm in there Peter recommended doing the expansion valve and new o-rings which makes complete sense. Is there any other things that would be wise to replace while I have the dash out? I've got a new hedgehog that I will swap in as they fail often. Should I put a new heater core in too, or are they pretty reliable? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gjm 3258 Report post Posted August 2, 2016 Do the heater core. It's not uncommon for them to fail. Price is something over $200 from a BMW dealer. I'm sure they can be had cheaper elsewhere. I've got a write up on removing the dash somewhere. I'll be referring to it when I do our 320d (when it stops raining long enough!) and will post on my thread. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zero 1162 Report post Posted August 2, 2016 Ok, will replace heater core at the same time. I would hate to have to do it all over again in 6months. What about 5 and 6 here or is that being pedantic; http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=ET16-EUR-10-2002-E46-BMW-320i&diagId=64_0817 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gjm 3258 Report post Posted August 2, 2016 May as well, while you're in there. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zero 1162 Report post Posted January 11, 2017 Thought I better update this thread. I ripped the dash out and installed a new evaporator and valve, a new heater core, a new drying container, and every single seal and oring in the whole system. While I was in there I even removed the front carpet and cleaned that. It was scary having the whole dash out but I took my time and everything went back together fine. On Friday I go back to coolcar to have the system refilled, so fingers crossed. 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zero 1162 Report post Posted January 13, 2017 Well, got back from getting the aircon re-gassed, and it all works perfectly! Thats another big job crossed off the list. 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Massnz 2 Report post Posted February 8, 2017 What did it set you back in the end? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zero 1162 Report post Posted February 8, 2017 24 minutes ago, Massnz said: What did it set you back in the end? Including parts and refilling, maybe around $600 to $700? I replaced everything though, including all filters, seals, orings and belts. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
