64 50 010 Drawing off, evacuating and filling heating and air conditioning system (R134a)
Refrigerant circuit is under high pressure!
- If the protective caps on the filling valves are difficult to open, there is a danger of injury 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.
- Read and comply with all applicable SAFETY INFORMATION .
Shown on F54 engine by way of example.
Direct connection of filling adapter (1) on the expansion valve is shown.
Only BMW-approved R134a refrigerant may be used (see OPERATING FLUIDS ).
Restart engine only when the air conditioning system has been correctly filled.
Carefully move 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 drawing off 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 drawing off and filling.
Filling a raised vehicle will result in insufficient filling levels.
If the system fails the test, draw off, evacuate and fill the heating and air conditioning system in accordance with the operating instructions of the relevant service station.
Service interval of service station must be adhered to.
E60 only:
If necessary, to connect service station, use manufacturer's adapter for high-pressure connection (red).
Instructions for drawing off heating and air conditioning system:
To help separation of refrigerant and refrigerant oil, run engine at low speed (800-1200 RPM) and with heating and air conditioning system turned 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 service station.
During drawing off, set blower of heating and air-conditioning unit to middle blower speed. This ensures that drawing off 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.
Vehicle must be evacuated from both sides!
Instructions for evacuating heating and air conditioning system:
Before each filling, evacuate the refrigerant system.
Observe an evacuation time of at least 30 minutes.
The evacuation 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 evacuation, set blower of heating and air-conditioning unit to middle blower speed. This ensures that evacuation is more effective since the pressure on the low pressure side increases.
Instructions for filling heating and air conditioning system:
Before filling with refrigerant, replace the refrigerant oil entrained during drawing off.
Also top up any lost fluid as indicated 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 amount of refrigerant oil must be topped up with an unapproved loss of refrigerant due to a leak after a specific period of time.
Different cases:
- Loss of refrigerant per Table 1 is not exceeded
- Top up lost R134a refrigerant
- It is not permitted to top up the refrigerant oil
- Loss of refrigerant per Table 1 is exceeded
- Top up lost R134a refrigerant
- refrigerant oil must be topped up additionally per Table 2
| Table 1: Number of years since last filling | 0 - 1 | 1 - 2 | 2 - 3 | 3 - 4 | 4 - 5 |
| Permissible loss [g] → no need to top up refrigerant oil | ≤ 30 | ≤ 60 | ≤ 90 | ≤ 120 | ≤ 150 |
| Table 2: 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 |
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 drawing off. Follow the notes provided by the heating and air conditioning system manufacturer, taking account of the tolerances (and inaccuracies) indicated in the operating instructions of the relevant service station.
Information on the required refrigerant fill quantity for the entire heating and air conditioning system is contained on the type plate (1) in the engine compartment.
Installation note:
Reseal refrigerant filler necks on vehicle with sealing caps.