Re: summer

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: : This is my first summer with my 80 e12 as well. My AC wasn't blowing cold, but the previous owner had put a new compressor in, and I thought I should give it a try since that most expensive part had already been replaced. I was in San Francisco at the time (just moved to Chicago). I took it to an AC specialist (Gage Automotive), and had them do a pressure test. The system held, so I had it recharged. I assumed that it would be filled with the old R12 stuff. When I got back to the shop, it was blowing nice and cold, and a sticker had been affixed to the engine compartment (very official looking) noting that as of that day, the system was "converted" to R134. Now, I don't know if it's that simple, or if the sticker was bogus, or what, but, 3 weeks later, the system still works great. Total cost $60 for the pressure test, and $150 for the Freon. : : So, maybe they ripped me off, but the system works, but maybe the BMW garage is telling you a fib as well. Perhaps the conversion to R134 is no more complicated than putting in freon? It seems to work for my car. : : As far as the heat into the passenger compartment goes, I experienced the same thing, but only when driving from SF to Chicago and going through the mountains. The coolant temp never even got to the middle of the guage (upgraded cooling system + Red Line Water Wetter), but during the times I had the car near full throttle (up mountain passes), the heat by my right foot was fierce. I think it's just the exhaust getting pretty hot from the extended full throttle. Maybe that helps? : : Good luck. : : : : : this is the first summer that i've had my 80 528i and i have a few climate control questions as i've been cooking on my daily commute. : : : 1) how much would i be looking at for an AC conversion to R134? : : : 2) my sunroof motor does not work. when i unzip the headliner i see two holes in the plastic - are these perhaps a way to manually crank open the sunroof? if so what tools would i need? : : : 3) while driving, heat from the engine flows into the vehicle in by my feet and up through the steering column - is this normal? can this be prevented? : : : any tips would greatly be appreciated -- thanks -- jc : : : ps. glad to see a page like this available again!!! : Maybe this will help the "hot foot" issue. : The heater control valve is in the passenger compartment on the e12s. This is unlike : many of the cars I have owned that had the heater control valve under the hood. : As you are driving up the mountains or doing 130 mph blasts across the plains :) the : engine is sinking heat into the coolant, including the coolant in the lines to the heater\ : control valve even though there is no flow. This would especially make sense if the valve : did not close fully and dumped some coolant into the heater core. : Does that make sense?? : Wietse

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