Notes for changing the air conditioning compressor, determining the amount of refrigerant oil (amount of refrigerant oil of new air conditioning compressor known) (530i 2017-2022, 530i xDrive 2017-2022, 530e PHEV 2018-2022, 530e xDrive PHEV 2018-2022, 540i 2017-2022, 540i xDrive 2017-2022, M550i xDrive 2018-2022)

NOTE: This procedure only applies if the new air conditioning compressor has a label with the amount of refrigerant oil.
A different procedure applies for air conditioning compressors without a label indicating the amount of refrigerant oil.

CAUTION: Risk of damage!
Remove the air conditioning compressor without damaging and without the use of force!
Air conditioning compressors with plastic belt pulleys:

Avoid impacts/knocks to plastic belt pulley (caused by tools, contact with base).
Return faulty air conditioning compressors in their original packaging only and with sealed connected branches.

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

Air conditioning compressor
Air conditioning condenser
Replace desiccant insert
Line to the air conditioning condenser
Refrigerant oil
All expansion valves

BEV, PHEV:

Additionally rinse the refrigerant circuit

All vehicles without 101 with heat pump:

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

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

Only 101 with heat pump:

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

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

When replacing the air conditioning compressor it is absolutely essential to adapt the amount of refrigerant oil in accordance with the repair instructions below!

BMW 101 with heat pump: An adaptation is also required for the replacement of the dryer flask.

An adaptation of the amount of refrigerant oil is not required in the following cases:

Replacement of the complete refrigerant circuit

If the refrigerant circuit was rinsed (only BMW i, PHEV)

Step 1:

Determination of the amount of refrigerant oil drawn off from the refrigerant circuit:

Draw off A/C SYSTEM .
Note down the amount of refrigerant oil shown on the A/C service station display.

When evacuating the air conditioning refrigerant oil is also extracted and collected in the oil separator of the A/C service station. This amount of refrigerant oil is displayed after the extraction of the air conditioning on the display of the A/C service station.

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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.

Information about the amount of refrigerant oil is provided on the label in g, mL or cc.

mL are specified throughout these repair instructions for adjusting the amount of refrigerant oil, as g or cc closely correspond to mL.

Step 2:

Compare information of amount of refrigerant oil of the present and new air conditioning compressor:

Read and record amount of refrigerant oil specified on the previous air conditioning compressor.
(If there is no label, continue with Step 3, Case 1 .)
Read and record amount of refrigerant oil specified on the new air conditioning compressor.
Compare both amounts of refrigerant oil with each other.

Different cases:

Amount of refrigerant oil specified on the previous and new air conditioning compressor is same. In this case continue with Step 3, Case 1.
Amount of refrigerant oil specified on the previous and new air conditioning compressor is not the same:

Different cases:

Information of the amount of refrigerant oil on the present air conditioning compressor is higher than the information of the amount of refrigerant oil on the new air conditioning compressor:
Difference is not taken into account. In this case continue with Step 3, Case 1.
Information of the amount of refrigerant oil on the present air conditioning compressor is lower than the information of the amount of refrigerant oil on the new air conditioning compressor:
Generate and record the difference between both amounts of refrigerant oil. After that continue with Step 3, Case 2.

Example:

Information of the amount of refrigerant oil of present air conditioning compressor 110 g

Information of the amount of refrigerant oil of new air conditioning compressor 150 g

150 g - 110 g = 40 g correspond to almost 40 mL

Note the difference of 40 mL.

Step 3:

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

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

There are no shavings in the drained refrigerant oil.
No additional work required.
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 individually replaceable, if not air conditioning condenser)

Line to air conditioning condenser

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Refrigerant oil
All expansion valves
BEV, PHEV: Additionally rinse the refrigerant circuit.

Step 4:

Determination of the amount of refrigerant oil in the new air conditioning compressor:

Transfer all of 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.
Read the amount of refrigerant oil at the measuring cup.

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Different cases:

Case 1:

Add 10 mL precautionary allowance to the read amount of refrigerant oil.
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 amount of refrigerant oil for new air conditioning compressor = 50 mL

Case 2:

Add the 10 mL precautionary allowance to the
Read amount of refrigerant oil.
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

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

Determined amount of refrigerant oil for new air conditioning compressor = 70 mL

Step 5:

Determination of the amount of refrigerant oil to be drained from the new air conditioning compressor:

Open oil filler plug. Tightening torque: 30 Nm
Drain the following amount of refrigerant oil from the new air conditioning compressor into a clean measuring cup:

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Amount of refrigerant oil to be drained from the new air conditioning compressor = amount of refrigerant oil on the label of the new air conditioning compressor - determined amount of refrigerant oil in the new air conditioning compressor

Example:

Amount of refrigerant oil stated on the label of the new air conditioning compressor: 150 mL

Determined amount of refrigerant oil for new air conditioning compressor: 50 mL

Amount of refrigerant oil to be drained = 150 mL -50 mL = 100 mL

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

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

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

On account of its hygroscopic properties, refrigerant oil must not be stored in open collecting vessels.

Step 6

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

Reassemble the vehicle.
EVACUATE AIR CONDITIONING .
Before filling the air conditioning with refrigerant, again fill in the quantity of refrigerant oil noted in Step 1 as previously drawn off into the system.
FILL A/C SYSTEM .

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Step 7

CAUTION: Risk of damage!
During initial operation of a new air conditioning compressor, it is absolutely essential to carry out the following breaking-in procedure.
Do not exceed idle speed.

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

Manual:

Switch off the air conditioning.
Set all ventilation outlets in the instrument panel to "OPEN".
Start 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 .

Carry out the following service function with the diagnosis system:

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

Step 8

Dispose off the drawn off 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