Nick--Q on S50 swaps

[JST]

The comments on this one are generally positive:

http://bringatrailer.com/2014/05/30/...990-bmw-325is/

But why no A/C? Is it difficult to retain the A/C, or is that something this guy did just because he didn't want the weight?

Maybe I've been living in DC too long, but the idea of going without A/C on anything but a dedicated race car seems simply insane. Even on a trackday car I'd want to keep it.

[Nick M3]

Originally Posted by JST

The comments on this one are generally positive:

http://bringatrailer.com/2014/05/30/...990-bmw-325is/

But why no A/C? Is it difficult to retain the A/C, or is that something this guy did just because he didn't want the weight?

Maybe I've been living in DC too long, but the idea of going without A/C on anything but a dedicated race car seems simply insane. Even on a trackday car I'd want to keep it.

People think that retaining A/C is hard. The reality is that it's quite simple.

At this point, I have gauges, a vacuum pump, and a crimping tool, so I could have AC functional in that car very quickly.

The hard part is basically that the E30 lines don't bolt on to the E36 compressor. You also need to run an extra wire to the DME so that it knows when A/C is activated.

Net-net, if you are not hard core "fur raze!!!!" it isn't especially difficult or costly. It's just an extra step. David (Alex's son), who has my old S50, doesn't seem especially motivated about getting AC working either. (And all he has to do is get a compressor, a couple fittings and some hose, and I'll hook it up for him. Around $100 if it doesn't need other parts.)

[blee]

Originally Posted by Nick M3

People think that retaining A/C is hard. The reality is that it's quite simple.

At this point, I have gauges, a vacuum pump, and a crimping tool, so I could have AC functional in that car very quickly.

The hard part is basically that the E30 lines don't bolt on to the E36 compressor. You also need to run an extra wire to the DME so that it knows when A/C is activated.

Net-net, if you are not hard core "fur raze!!!!" it isn't especially difficult or costly. It's just an extra step. David (Alex's son), who has my old S50, doesn't seem especially motivated about getting AC working either. (And all he has to do is get a compressor, a couple fittings and some hose, and I'll hook it up for him. Around $100 if it doesn't need other parts.)

That makes A/C more complicated than plug-n-play, although the entire engine swap is not exactly PnP either. I would venture that most shadetree swappers don't have the appropriate A/C tools handy; I also have a pump and manifold gauges, but I don't have anything to make my own lines.

[BahnBaum]

Originally Posted by Nick M3

David (Alex's son), who has my old S50, doesn't seem especially motivated about getting AC working either.

Let's revisit his motivation, say, August 31.

Alex

[blee]

Originally Posted by BahnBaum

Let's revisit his motivation, say, August 31.

Alex

If anyone has a spare compressor lying around, let me know. I'd be happy to sell it to him in three months.

[bren]

Originally Posted by BahnBaum

Let's revisit his motivation, say, August 31.

Alex

[Nick M3]

Originally Posted by BahnBaum

Let's revisit his motivation, say, August 31.

Alex

I've been operating on that assumption.

[Nick M3]

Originally Posted by blee

That makes A/C more complicated than plug-n-play, although the entire engine swap is not exactly PnP either. I would venture that most shadetree swappers don't have the appropriate A/C tools handy; I also have a pump and manifold gauges, but I don't have anything to make my own lines.

It's the least plug and play aspect in that it's the one thing that you can't really do aside from the exhaust with your standard set of shade tree mechanic's tools.