Notes on replacing air conditioning compressor, determining the amount of refrigerant oil (amount of refrigerant oil for new air conditioning compressor not known) (X5 M)

NOTE: This procedure only applies if the new air conditioning compressor has a label with the coolant oil level .

There is a DIFFERENT PROCEDURE for air conditioning compressors without a refrigerant oil level specification .

Attention!

Risk of damage!

Remove the air conditioning compressor without damaging and without the use of force!

Air conditioning compressors with plastic belt pulleys:

Avoid blows to the plastic belt pulley (by tools, contact with the underlay).
Only send back damaged air conditioning compressors in original packaging and with the connecting neck sealed.

Attention!

In case of a mechanical failure of the air conditioning compressor and the resulting ingress of shavings into the refrigerant circuit, replace the following parts:

Air conditioning COMPRESSOR .
Air conditioning CONDENSER .
DESICCANT INSERT .
Line to air conditioning condenser
(R134A, R1234YF) REFRIGERANT OIL .
all EXPANSION VALVES .

BEV, PHEV:

Also flush the refrigerant circuit

All vehicles without I01 with heat pump:

The new air conditioning compressor is filled at the factory with refrigerant oil.

The level of refrigerant oil in the new air conditioning compressor corresponds to the coolant oil level for the entire new and unfilled refrigerant circuit.

Only I01 with heat pump:

The new air conditioning compressor and new dryer flask are filled at the factory with refrigerant oil.

The level of refrigerant oil in the new air conditioning compressor and in the new dryer flask corresponds to the coolant oil level for the entire new and unfilled refrigerant circuit.

When replacing the air conditioning compressor, the coolant oil level absolutely must be adjusted in accordance with the instructions below!

BMW I01 with heat pump: An adaptation is also required for the replacement of the dryer flask.

Adjustment of the coolant oil level is not necessary in the following cases only:

Replacement of the complete refrigerant circuit
If the refrigerant circuit was flushed (only BMW i, PHEV)

Step 1:

Determination of the refrigerant oil level extracted from the refrigerant circuit:

Evacuate the AIR CONDITIONING .
Record the coolant oil level shown on the A/C service station display.

When vacuuming the air conditioning system, refrigerant oil is also carried out and collected in the oil separator of the A/C service station. This coolant oil level is shown in the display of the A/C service station after vacuuming the air conditioning system.

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The refrigerant oil amount specification is located on the label on the air conditioning compressor.

The position of the label can vary depending on the air conditioning compressor.

The refrigerant oil level specification on the sticker is given in g, ml or cc.

For the adjustment of the coolant oil level, ml is specified in these repair instructions as g and cc correspond roughly to ml.

Step 2:

Compare refrigerant oil level details on the previous and new air conditioning compressor:

Read and note the coolant oil level specification from the previous air conditioning compressor.
(If no label available, proceed with step 4, case 1 .)
Read and note the coolant oil level specification from the new air-conditioning compressor.
Compare refrigerant oil levels together.

Different cases:

Refrigerant oil level details on the previous and new air conditioning compressor are the same . In this case, continue with step 4, case 1 .
Refrigerant oil level details on the previous and new air conditioning compressor are not the same:

Different cases:

The coolant oil level specification on the previous air conditioning compressor is higher than the coolant oil level specification on the new air conditioning compressor:
The difference is not taken into account. In this case, continue with step 4, case 1 .
The coolant oil level specification on the previous air conditioning compressor is lower than the coolant oil level specification on the new air conditioning compressor:

Take the difference of both amounts of coolant oil and note. Then proceed with step 4, case 2 .

Example:

Refrigerant oil level details previous air conditioning compressor 110 g

Refrigerant oil level details new air conditioning compressor 150 g

150 g - 110 g = 40 g correspond to roughly 40 ml

Note difference 40 ml.

Step 3:

Examine the refrigerant oil drained from the removed air conditioning compressor in the measuring cup:

If no refrigerant oil emerges from the removed air conditioning compressor, examine the vacuumed refrigerant oil in the collecting vessel of the A/C service station.

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There are no shavings in the drained refrigerant oil
No additional work necessary.
There are shavings in the drained refrigerant oil.

In addition to the air conditioning compressor, replace the following parts:

Air conditioning CONDENSER .
DESICCANT INSERT (if exchangeable individually, if not air conditioning condenser)
Line to air conditioning CONDENSER .
(R134A, R1234YF) REFRIGERANT OIL .
All EXPANSION VALVES .
BEV, PHEV: Also flush the refrigerant circuit.

Step 4:

Detection of refrigerant oil level in new air conditioning compressor:

Completely drain the refrigerant oil remaining in the previous air conditioning compressor into a measuring cup via the oil filler plug.
Turn the belt pulley during the filling process. This allows more refrigerant oil to flow out of the previous air conditioning compressor.

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Read the refrigerant oil level on the measuring cup.

Different cases:

Case 1:

Add 10 ml precautionary allowance to the amount of refrigerant oil read .
Note at least but a total of 50 ml .

Example:

20 ml read at measuring cup:

20 ml + 10 ml precautionary allowance = 30 ml < 50 ml determined coolant oil level new air conditioning compressor = 50 ml

Case 2:

Add 10 ml precautionary allowance to the amount of refrigerant oil read .
Add the difference to that.
Note at least but a total of 50 ml .

Example:

Difference = 40 ml

20 ml read at measuring cup:

20 ml + 10 ml precautionary allowance = 30 ml 50 ml

30 ml + 40 ml difference = 70 ml > 50 ml

refrigerant oil level detected in the new air conditioning compressor = 70 ml

Step 5:

Determination of refrigerant oil level drained off from the new air conditioning compressor:

Open oil filler plug. Tightening torque 64 52 2AZ .
From the new air conditioning compressor, drain the following coolant oil level into a clean measuring cup:

Refrigerant oil level to be drained from the new air conditioning compressor = refrigerant oil level on the label for the new air conditioning compressor - refrigerant oil level detected in the new air conditioning compressor

Example:

refrigerant oil level stated on the label of the new air conditioning compressor: 150 ml

Determined coolant oil level of new air conditioning compressor: 50 ml refrigerant oil level to be drained = 150 ml

50 ml = 100 ml

100 ml must be drained from the new air conditioning compressor.

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The drained, new refrigerant oil can be filled immediately after draining into the storage tank of the A/C service station.

If the new, drained refrigerant oil is not immediately filled into the storage tank of the A/C service station, it must be disposed of properly.

Due to its hygroscopic nature, refrigerant oil must not be stored in open collecting vessels .

Step 6:

Fill refrigerant circuit with the correct amount of refrigerant and refrigerant oil:

Reassemble the vehicle.
Evacuate the AIR CONDITIONING .
Before filling the air conditioning system with refrigerant, fill the same quantity of the previously vacuumed refrigerant oil noted in step 1 back into the system.
Fill A/C SYSTEM .

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Step 7:

Attention!

Risk of damage!

It is essential to carry out the following running-in procedure when putting a new air-conditioning compressor into initial operation .

Do not exceed the idle speed .

NOTE: The running-in procedure for the new air conditioning compressor can either be performed manually or with the diagnostic system.

Manual:

Switch off the air conditioning.
Set all air vents in the instrument panel to "OPEN".
Start the engine and let it stabilize at idle speed.
Set the blower output to a minimum of 75% of the maximum blower output.
Switch on the air conditioning and allow the engine to run at idle speed for a minimum of 2 minutes .

Perform the following service function with the diagnostic system:

Body
Heating and air conditioning functions
Run-in protection for A/C compressor

Step 8:

Dispose of extracted refrigerant oil:

The refrigerant oil drawn off from the oil separator of the A/C service station and from the previous air conditioning compressor must not be reused and must be correctly disposed of .

Observe country-specific waste disposal regulations.

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Installation note:

If the refrigerant circuit is open for longer than 24 hours:

REPLACE DESICCANT INSERT .