Suction, evacuating and filling heating and air conditioning system (R134a)

Refrigerant circuit is under high!

• If the protective caps on the filling valves are difficult to open, there is a injury hazard from leaking valve inserts.

Repair work may only be carried out on a depressurized refrigerant circuit!

• Before conducting repairs, check the actual pressure drop on the pressure gauge of the A/C service station

Avoid contact with refrigerant and refrigerant oil.

• Follow SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS  for handling R134a refrigerant.
• Follow SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS  for handling refrigerant oil.

Only BMW-approved R134a refrigerant may be used.

Restart engine only when air conditioning has been correctly filled.

Vehicle-specific notes: 

E60/E61 M5 only: 

To access refrigerant line connections, the right intake silencer housing must be removed.

Only F01/F02/F03/F04/F06/F12/F13 (N63) from 07/2012: 

To access refrigerant line connections, the right intake port must be removed.

Only F02/F03/F04 and all Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles: 

To guarantee a complete draining of refrigerant from the automatic rear passenger compartment air conditioning or the hybrid battery cooling system,

Run the following test module:

• Car body service
• Air conditioning function
• Drain/fill up refrigerant circuit

F23/F33/F87 only: 

To access refrigerant line connections, the left front end strut must be removed.

Only M3 F8x: 

In order to access the connections of the refrigerant lines, undo charge air cooler and place to one side.

Only F20, F21, F22, F23, F30, F31 with B38 engine: 

To access refrigerant line connections, the E-Box must be removed.

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

The climate service station contains highly sensitive components, such as scales. These components will be damaged due to improper handling, such as fast driving over a bump. This will result in a significant reduction of the measuring accuracy when suction and filling.

If the system fails the test, draw off, evacuate and fill the air conditioning in accordance with the operating instructions of the relevant service station.

Instructions for suction air conditioning: 

To help separation of refrigerant and refrigerant oil, run engine at low speed (800-1200 RPM) and with air conditioning switched on for a few minutes.

The limits the entrainment of refrigerant oil while it is drawn off.

Drawn-off refrigerant oil must be changed and reintroduced via the A/C service station.

During suction, set the blower of the heating and air-conditioning unit to the middle blower speed. This ensures that suction is more effective since the pressure on the low pressure side increases.

Recycling: 

Dispose of drawn-off refrigerant oil as hazardous waste.

Observe country-specific waste disposal regulations.

Instructions for evacuating off air conditioning: 

Before each filling, evacuate the refrigerant system.

Observe an suction time of at least 30 minutes.

The suction process procedure removes all traces of ambient air, water vapor and any other gases present from the heating and air conditioning system. This enables subsequent system filling with refrigerant.

If the vacuum does not remain stable when the system is off, run the procedure for leaks in the refrigerant circuit.

During suction process, set the blower of the heating and air-conditioning unit to the middle blower speed. This ensures that suction process is more effective since the pressure on the low pressure side increases.

Notes for filling heating and air conditioning system: 

In certain cases, Sanden SP-A2 refrigerant oil must be injected into the refrigerant circuit.

Before filling with refrigerant, replace the refrigerant oil entrained during suction.

Also top up any lost fluid as shown in the table: 

Loss of R134a refrigerant 

TABLE 1  indicates the permitted loss of refrigerant after a specific period of time. There is no leak. refrigerant oil may not be topped up.

TABLE 2  indicates the how much coolant oil level must be topped up due to a loss of refrigerant because of a leak after a specific period of time.

Different cases: 

1. Loss of refrigerant per TABLE 1  is not exceeded
   • Top up lost R134a refrigerant
   • It is not permitted to top up the refrigerant oil
2. Loss of refrigerant per TABLE 1  is exceeded
   • Top up lost R134a refrigerant
   • refrigerant oil must be topped up additionally  per TABLE 2 .

Number of years since last filling	0 - 1	1 - 2	2 - 3	3 - 4	4 - 5
Permissible loss [g] --> Do not top up refrigerant oil	≤ 30	≤ 60	≤ 90	≤ 120	≤ 150

Number of years since last filling	R134a loss of coolant [g]	Top up quantity refrigerant oil
0 - 1	< 120	0
	120 - 150	10
	> 150	20
1 - 2	< 180	0
	180 - 210	10
	> 210	20
2 - 3	< 240	0
	240 - 270	10
	> 270	20
3 - 4	< 300	0
	300 - 330	10
	> 330	20
4 - 5	< 360	10
	> 360	20

For these vehicles, an additional 30 g  must be added to the drawn off/determined refrigerant oil level!

Follow NOTES  for opening and replacing parts in refrigerant circuit.

Depending on the type of component replaced on the heating and air conditioning system, it may be necessary to the top up the refrigerant oil, even if no measurable losses have occurred during suction. Follow the notes provided by the air conditioning manufacturer, taking account of the tolerances (and inaccuracies) shown in the operating instructions of the relevant service station.

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Information on the required refrigerant capacity of the air conditioning is found on the nameplate (1).

If necessary, refer to the Technical Data for CAPACITY .

Installation note: 

Reseal refrigerant filler necks on vehicle with sealing caps.