Aircond compressor oil.

[awyeah]

I have some unusual performance in my air-conditioner in my 318i. When I am driving the air-con seems to be cooling fine. However "sometimes" when im stalled for quite some time, in bottleneck traffic or jam etc, the cooling is quite less sometimes. Need to get the compressor checked. Could it be a problem with the radiator?

 

[jarance]

I have some unusual performance in my air-conditioner in my 318i. When I am driving the air-con seems to be cooling fine. However "sometimes" when im stalled for quite some time, in bottleneck traffic or jam etc, the cooling is quite less sometimes. Need to get the compressor checked. Could it be a problem with the radiator?

This is normal when trap in a jam. You are idling at 850 rpm. This is low speed for the a/c compressor to work at it most efficient mode. The average rpm of the car is about 2500 to 3000 rpm.

So if you rev the engine speed at stalled position and it get back to cold, I doubt that there is anything wrong.
check the fan for the aircon. It is spinning fast?

 

[bimmerholic]

This is normal when trap in a jam. You are idling at 850 rpm. This is low speed for the a/c compressor to work at it most efficient mode. The average rpm of the car is about 2500 to 3000 rpm.

So if you rev the engine speed at stalled position and it get back to cold, I doubt that there is anything wrong.
check the fan for the aircon. It is spinning fast?

Bro, will the aux fan kick in to higher speed if and only if the temp of the coolant increases to maybe a certain threshold? I realized it went to the highest speed when my fan clutch started to fail (couldn't draw the heat off the radiator despite revving the car). At that point, my clutch fan was running independently off the engine's RPM although my coolant temp showed 95+ deg C (sign of failed clutch fan).

 

[jarance]

Bro, will the aux fan kick in to higher speed if and only if the temp of the coolant increases to maybe a certain threshold? I realized it went to the highest speed when my fan clutch started to fail (couldn't draw the heat off the radiator despite revving the car). At that point, my clutch fan was running independently off the engine's RPM although my coolant temp showed 95+ deg C (sign of failed clutch fan).

That depends on what type of control you have for the aux fan. I think for E36, you have 2 or 3 speed which is control by the power resistors. For E46 on my 325i, the speed is variable. i.e. the speed is proportional to the coolant temperature. The higher the temperature, the higher the speed of the aux fan.

If the clutch fan is failing, your water temperature will be above the MIDDLE mark. Does it show that when you are stationary?

 

[John C]

Mine is not E30, mine is e34 m20b25.. posting in this forum cos it'e the same problem i face with my air cond..

Thanks for your info..

I checked and find that your have microfilter. BTW, yours is E30 right?

here is the partlist. just click on the word 'Microfilter" for more detail of the part.

Microfilter - BMW parts catalog

 

[jarance]

Mine is not E30, mine is e34 m20b25.. posting in this forum cos it'e the same problem i face with my air cond..

Thanks for your info..

Didnt know E34 dont have microfilter.

 

[bimmerholic]

That depends on what type of control you have for the aux fan. I think for E36, you have 2 or 3 speed which is control by the power resistors. For E46 on my 325i, the speed is variable. i.e. the speed is proportional to the coolant temperature. The higher the temperature, the higher the speed of the aux fan.

If the clutch fan is failing, your water temperature will be above the MIDDLE mark. Does it show that when you are stationary?

Yes my temp needle used to go above the middle mark when my fan clutch failed. Not anymore after replacing it.

 

[awyeah]

This is normal when trap in a jam. You are idling at 850 rpm. This is low speed for the a/c compressor to work at it most efficient mode. The average rpm of the car is about 2500 to 3000 rpm.

So if you rev the engine speed at stalled position and it get back to cold, I doubt that there is anything wrong.
check the fan for the aircon. It is spinning fast?

I got the problem fixed earlier today. The air-con fan relay had to be changed along with the wiring. The cooling is great even in traffic and the fan is also faster.

 

[John C]

my mechanic told me my version of m20b25 year 1990 don have but newer version have the micro filter, anyway bring to naidu checked today and he said my air blow is rather weak and need to do some adjustment and need to service the air cond as well, need to revisit him again cos today he's very busy! Haih..

Didnt know E34 dont have microfilter.

 

[John C]

Awyeah: Then i must check out my fan too cos mine also quite warm when in traffic.. Btw how much and where u get it fixed????

Thanks.

I got the problem fixed earlier today. The air-con fan relay had to be changed along with the wiring. The cooling is great even in traffic and the fan is also faster.

 

[awyeah]

Awyeah: Then i must check out my fan too cos mine also quite warm when in traffic.. Btw how much and where u get it fixed????

Thanks.

Yes my compressor was fine, so the cooling was great after that. Bro the whole thing cost me around 400 and the aircon was great, after the fan components were replaced n serviced. I fixed in seri kembengan near equine park Jusco, a friends shop.

 

[John C]

Thanks for the info but i will still stick to naidu cos quite comfortable with him, just wanna to find out the cost involved..

Thanks alot

Yes my compressor was fine, so the cooling was great after that. Bro the whole thing cost me around 400 and the aircon was great, after the fan components were replaced n serviced. I fixed in seri kembengan near equine park Jusco, a friends shop. His number: 012-3241786 Babar (give my reference, JD).

 

[bimmerholic]

I got the problem fixed earlier today. The air-con fan relay had to be changed along with the wiring. The cooling is great even in traffic and the fan is also faster.

Mean to say that your fan relay is not 100% kaput yet la since it was still cooling the car but not efficiently?

What happened to your wiring that you had to replace it together with the relay?

 

[awyeah]

Mean to say that your fan relay is not 100% kaput yet la since it was still cooling the car but not efficiently?

What happened to your wiring that you had to replace it together with the relay?

I was in office, so I wasn't there to diagnose the problem at the spot.

However, my trusted mechanic said the wiring was faulty, meaning I suppose the some of the cables broken/damaged or no current passing through them so had to be replaced. Yes the fan relay was not 100% faulty that's why the cooling was not that good. After he replaced these things the cooling seems to be better even when traffic/crawling jam.

 

[rsctan]

i am facing the same prob. the mch told me to change the conpressor near the radiator one and the receiver??
any advise?

 

[SkyEvo]

I checked and find that your have microfilter. BTW, yours is E30 right?

here is the partlist. just click on the word 'Microfilter" for more detail of the part.

Microfilter - BMW parts catalog

bro jarance, actually where is the microfilter located in e36? is it in engine bay or under the dash? thanx..

 

[jarance]

bro jarance, actually where is the microfilter located in e36? is it in engine bay or under the dash? thanx..

For E36, it is located on the driver side. You need to open the bottom cover (just under the steering column) to see it.

Once you removed the cover, you should be to see a knob with a rectangular shape cover (5" X 1")

After you remove the cover, you should be able to see the microfilter. If your filter have never been change, you need to break it into three pieces as the filter will be block by the steering column during removal.

The filter access is design for left hand drive so the removal of the filter is not hinder by the steering column.

When you purchase a new filter, you need break the plastic holder along the length so that it formed like a "[" shape in order to insert the new filter.

See picture below.

 

[Russie]

after reading some of the postings here in this forum, I am beginning to worry... I think my E36 318 (M43) air cond compressor gonna "konk" soon.

Symptoms:-

a) when driving, got very low metal chain sound, especially when accelerating (mechanic said its the compressor bearing worn out)

b) of late, got sound like a lion roaring in the engine compartment, louder as i accelerate. The sound goes off when i switch off the air cond

c) air cond not as cold as b4

d) when switch on air cond, white smokes blow out of the air vent...

is it too late to flush the oil in the compressor? Anyone faced and rectified this same problem b4? need some advise before sending in for check up...

 

[infinityKL]

i changed it bout 2 years back, 70 bucks. AC will feel cooler and blowing power also increase... however i still get outside fumes in my cabin ;(

 

[CK1]

Any address to naidu? Is it aircond specialist?