Notes on repairs to air conditioning (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)
Special tools required:
- 00 9 030
- 32 1 270
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.
Repairs 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.
- Pay attention to the SAFETY INFORMATION for dealing with coolant
- Follow SAFETY INFORMATION for handling refrigerant oil
Attention!
Risk of damage!
Only REFRIGERANT and REFRIGERANT OIL country-specifically approved by BMW may be used.
Restart engine only when air conditioning has been correctly filled.
- Each time air connectors are opened continually new O-Rings are used (see applicable BMW parts catalogue).
They must not be coated.
Use special tool 00 9 030 to mount sealing rings without damaging them.
- Open the refrigerant circuit for as short a period as possible.
- Close all components and lines in the refrigerant circuit and return parts immediately following the removals at openings with special tool 32 1 270 to prevent penetration of moisture or foreign objects.
- If refrigerant circuits are opened with special tool 32 1 270 but left open for more than 24 h, the air conditioning condenser with desiccant insert for air conditioning must be replaced.
In a functioning, sealed air conditioning, an air conditioning condenser with desiccant insert need not be changed at regular inspection intervals.
However, an air conditioning condenser with desiccant insert must be changed in case of:
- The refrigerant being dirty by swarf (e.g. when the air conditioning compressor is clamped).
- With depressurized and/or completely drained refrigerant circuit.
Vehicle-specific notes:
Only G12 and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle:
To ensure that refrigerant is fully drained from the rear passenger compartment air conditioning or the battery cooling system,
Run the following test module:
- Car body service
- Heating and air conditioning functions
- Drain/fill up refrigerant circuit
In case of the handling the A/C service station observe the following without fail:
Attention!
Risk of damage!
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.
Attention!
During the entire filling procedure the vehicle must stand on the floor.
Filling a raised vehicle will result in insufficient 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 drawing off 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 drawing off, set the blower of the heating and air-conditioning unit to the 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.
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 evacuation, 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 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 the blower of the heating and air-conditioning unit to the middle blower speed. This ensures that evacuation is more effective since the pressure on the low pressure side increases.
Notes for filling heating and air conditioning system:
Before filling with refrigerant, replace the refrigerant oil entrained plus losses is to be filled up during drawing off.
Fill up the amount of refrigerant as per type plate.
Remove the capacity and type of the refrigerant from the type plate.
Refrigerant capacities under bonnet location
