[Agentphish]

So I find on these hot days we've been having that the AC doesn't seem to blow as cold as I feel like it should for setting the temp at 60F on my climate control.

It gets cool/cold but not like ice cold like in other cars I've had.

Wondering if I should try my hand at one of these AC recharge kits or if i should take it for some sort of formal AC service. What would an AC service include?

Never really had to deal with anything like this before with my cars since most of them were leases. It's a 2008 328 and with all the service records I have I don't see anything pertaining to any AC service ever having been done.

Thanks

[AceOnShake]

The A/C system in BMW's suck! Only one that seemed to be ICE cold for me was an E53 X5. It may be low on refrigerant. I did this on three cars today with A/C pro from walmart. Two were an e36 M3 and a W203 mercedes.

Both the E36 M3 were blowing hot air and fixed both and cold now. My mercedes was like yours not as cold as before and charged it up with the A/C Pro and it gets ICE ICE cold.

[floydarogers]

Originally Posted by Agentphish

...
Wondering if I should try my hand at one of these AC recharge kits or if i should take it for some sort of formal AC service. What would an AC service include?

A DIY for a/c is a recipe for trouble. Those recharge kits don't include oil; if you've been leaking, you're leaking both lubricant and refrigerant and DIY with no oil is asking for compressor failure. DIY also often over-fills the BMW systems - again a recipe for disaster.

Get an evacuation and refresh with correct amounts of both; probably a couple hundred $.

[Agentphish]

Originally Posted by floydarogers

A DIY for a/c is a recipe for trouble. Those recharge kits don't include oil; if you've been leaking, you're leaking both lubricant and refrigerant and DIY with no oil is asking for compressor failure. DIY also often over-fills the BMW systems - again a recipe for disaster.

Get an evacuation and refresh with correct amounts of both; probably a couple hundred $.

yeah the more reading I've been doing over the last week the more I'm feeling like i should go that route.

[BashShah]

Just drain and refill worked for me..... But make sure you put 1.3 lbs only.....any more or less and it doors not function 100%.

DN

[Agentphish]

Found a local, reputable euro shop, who will evacuate the system, test for leaks with a UV dye Chris the compressor and condenser and refill for $100. Worth it IMO.