Lubricating the air conditioning compressor (coolant oil level in new air conditioning compressor not known)

• Mechanical air conditioning compressor (removed): 
• Open the oil filler plug.
• Drain all the refrigerant oil remaining in the removed  air conditioning compressor through the oil filler plug into a measuring cup.
• Turn the belt pulley during draining.
• EKK with an oil filler plug (removed): 
• Open the oil filler plug.
• Drain all the refrigerant oil remaining in the removed  air conditioning compressor through the oil filler plug into a measuring cup.

  Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

• EKK without an oil filler plug (removed): 
• Remove the dummy plugs from the high-pressure connection and the low pressure connection.
• Drain all the refrigerant oil remaining in the removed  air conditioning compressor through the high-pressure connection and low pressure connection  into a measuring cup.

• Examine the refrigerant oil drained from the removed air conditioning compressor in the measuring beaker. 

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

• There are no shavings in the drained refrigerant oil.

  No additional work necessary.

• There are shavings in the drained refrigerant oil.

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

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

• Air conditioning condenser
• Desiccant insert (if individually exchangeable, if not air conditioning condenser)
• Line to the air conditioning condenser
• Refrigerant oil
• All the expansion valves
• Battery Electric Vehicle, Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle: Also rinse the refrigerant circuit.

• Read the coolant oil level drained from the removed  air conditioning compressor on the measuring cup.
• Add 10 ml  to the read-off coolant oil level as a precautionary allowance, but note at least a total of 50 ml. 

Example: 

20 ml read at measuring cup:

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

Coolant oil level to be filled in the new air conditioning compressor = 50 ml

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

• Mechanical air conditioning compressor (new): 
• Open the oil filler plug.
• Drain all the refrigerant oil from the new  air conditioning compressor into a clean  collecting vessel.
• Turn the belt pulley during draining.
• EKK with an oil filler plug (new): 

• Open the oil filler plug.
• Drain all the refrigerant oil from the new air conditioning compressor into a clean collecting vessel.
• EKK without an oil filler plug (new): 
• Remove the dummy plugs from the high-pressure connection and the low pressure connection.
• Drain the full amount of refrigerant oil from the new  air conditioning compressor into a clean  collecting vessel via the high-pressure connection and low pressure connection. 

  Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

• Immediately  after draining, pour the amount of refrigerant oil to be filled from the collecting vessel into a clean  measuring cup.
• Mechanical air conditioning compressor and EKK with an oil filler plug (new): 
• Pour coolant oil level to be filled from the measuring cup into the new  air conditioning compressor through the oil filler plug.
• Replace the sealing ring.
• Tighten oil filler plug.
• EKK without an oil filler plug (new): 

  Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

• Pour the amount of refrigerant oil to be filled from the measuring cup into the new  air conditioning compressor via the low pressure connection. 
• Seal the high-pressure connection and low pressure connection with a dummy plug.
• Immediately  after draining, the remaining new refrigerant oil must be filled into the A/C service station expansion tank.
• The remaining, new refrigerant oil must be disposed of correctly if it is not immediately filled into the expansion tank of the A/C service station.
• Refrigerant oil drained from the removed air conditioning compressor must not be reused and must be disposed of correctly.