Suctioning, evacuating and filling heating and air conditioning system (R1234yf)
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.
- Observe SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS for handling refrigerant r1234yf.
- Follow SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS for handling refrigerant oil.
Only BMW-approved R1234yf refrigerant may be used.
Restart engine only when air conditioning has been correctly filled.
Vehicle-specific notes:
Only I01:
To access the connections for the refrigerant lines, remove front luggage compartment well.
Only I12:
Risk of paint damage and scratches!
Open engine compartment lid to access the connections of the refrigerant lines!
Open and close the engine compartment lid as specified in the instructions without exception!
BMW i, Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle and vehicles with rear passenger compartment air conditioning:
Carry out the following test module to guarantee practically complete draining of the refrigerant circuit or hybrid battery cooling system:
- Body
- Air conditioning function
- Drain/fill the refrigerant circuit
- Empty/fill the refrigerant circuit (all without I01 with heat pump)
- Drain/fill the refrigerant circuit of the heat pump (I01 with heat pump)
Delete fault memory after filling the refrigerant circuit.
A/C service station for R134a must not be used!
Comply with the NOTES on refrigerant (r134a, r1234yf) and refrigerant oil (sanden SP-A2).
Risk of damage!
Carefully shift the climate service station!
Comply with the operating instructions and service interval for the A/C service station!
Make sure that the hoses of the A/C service station are drained after the suction or filling procedure!
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.
Filling a raised vehicle will result in minimum filling levels.
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:
Before suction process, the A/C service station will examine the refrigerant.
If the refrigerant is consistent with the requirements, suction process is continued.
If the refrigerant does not meet the requirements, a SPECIAL PROCEDURE Observe national/country-specific regulations! (Draw off and dispose of contaminated refrigerant R1234yf) must be followed for suction and disposal of this refrigerant.
In order to allow the separation of refrigerant and refrigerant oil, allow the air conditioning to run for a few minutes before suctioning.
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.
Note in case of contaminated refrigerant R1234yf:
If the A/C service station for R1234yf refrigerant identifies contaminated refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit of the vehicle before the suction process, then a SPECIAL PROCEDURE to draw off and dispose of this refrigerant must be followed.
Instructions for evacuating off air conditioning:
Before each filling, evacuate the refrigerant circuit.
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 R1234yf 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:
- Loss of refrigerant per TABLE 1 is not exceeded
- Top up lost R1234yf refrigerant
- It is not permitted to top up the refrigerant oil
- Loss of refrigerant per TABLE 1 is exceeded
- Top up lost R1234yf 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 | Loss of R1234yf refrigerant [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 |
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.
Information on the required refrigerant capacity for the entire air conditioning is contained on the nameplate (1) in the engine compartment.
Refer to the technical data for filling CAPACITY if necessary.
Installation note:
Reseal refrigerant filler necks on vehicle with sealing caps.