Retro fit air con to Z3
Discussion
Dino D said:
Looking at Z3's for the wife and a very nice one has come up but has no aircon.
Wondering if anyone on here has experience or knows a good place to try for quotes to retro fit an aircon.
Really, REALLY not worth it. You need so much stuff that it makes no sense whatsoever not to search for one with aircon already.Wondering if anyone on here has experience or knows a good place to try for quotes to retro fit an aircon.
In current weather too hot without ax and I find useful for keeping the screen clear on winter, especially if the car gets damp inside as these can be prone to at this age.
Seen a really nice but no ac but even if I get it down by say 1,5k no guarantee what it will finally cost to retrofit and get working properly I guess.
Is it the amount of labour that will make it too expensive you reckon?
Seen a really nice but no ac but even if I get it down by say 1,5k no guarantee what it will finally cost to retrofit and get working properly I guess.
Is it the amount of labour that will make it too expensive you reckon?
From Google:
How much would it cost to have Aircon installed into my car?
This is a question that I am asked constantly, frequently by email. As the answer is not straightforward and what is more, I do not do installations like this, I will go into it a little.
If your car does not have AC at all, apart from a little advice, I cannot help. As to the cost the following paragraphs may help a little. Firstly it should be noted that to install AC into a car whilst it is being assembled is a great deal easier and thus cheaper than it is to add it later to a finished car. Having AC fitted later can be a bit of a shock financially.
Let me divide cars into two broad categories:
Type 1. Cars built by Japanese manufacturers or by manufacturers heavily influenced by Japan - Examples: Toyota, Mitsubishi etc, and ROVER when it was building cars influenced by Honda, also Range Rovers although probably not under Japanese influence.
Type 2. Other cars generally of European origin or design - Examples: BMW, Ford, Vauxhall, Peugeot etc and DAEWOO (uses GM technology)
Cars in the first category are frequently relatively simple to retrofit AC as the Japanese tend to install the evaporator under the dashboard in front of the passengers knees, where it is relatively easy to access.
The second, European type cars generally have the evaporator mounted underneath or behind the heater matrix right deep behind the dashboard, which means that to access it the whole dashboard with all the wiring, airbags, possibly the steering column needs to come out. This can be a very lengthy and expensive task, possibly up to two days work.
The evaporator is not the whole story of course, many cars have the wiring loom for AC installed in all models, whether actually fitted with AC or not. Naturally this simplifies any later retrofit. Also have a look under the bonnet. Is there room for a mechanic to get his hands into the space around the engine like a Honda Civic or is the under-bonnet space crammed with components as are so many cars where a large or powerful engine is shoehorned into a tiny space, necessitating removal of some other components first in order to mount the compressor (about the size of a kilo bag of sugar) and the condenser (a radiator, similar in size and shape to the water radiator and mounted directly in front of it).
General rule: the more room under the bonnet, the easier and thus cheaper it will be to retrofit.
Type of installation - 4 possibilities
1. Manufacturers kit - usually the best but most expensive option. For Type 1 cars kit cost £600 to £900 with installation and charging cost of say £350 to £500 - say a minimum of £950. For Type 2 cars kit cost £700 to £1200 with installation and charging cost of £500 to £800 - say a minimum of £1200.
2. Approved alternative kit - these kits (Diavia or Ebberspacher are very good examples) are made specifically for many models and often use switches similar to the manufacturers own, and utilise good quality components. These are installed only by registered installers who can be found in your local Thomson or Yellow Pages (or their Web equivalents) under the general heading for Air Conditioning Equipment or Car Heating and Air Conditioning. Prices would range from about £1000 up.
3. An installation by an AC technician - varies from excellent to very mediocre. Some I have seen are every bit as good as a manufacturers installation but some have been barely adequate. Fortunately some of the mediocre installers eventually go to the wall. Prices probably from £850.
4. A secondhand system. A possible if the car is not in the first flush of youth and you may not consider it worth spending around £1000 on it. Let's imagine a three year old Mondeo or say a six year old Jaguar. In both of these cases it may be worthwhile to look in Motor Trader or Exchange & Mart at the section following the 'cars for sale' of your make. This usually contains adverts of spares for this make and also details of cars written off.
A car which has been rolled will frequently be written off by the insurance company although the level of damage to the bulk of the car may be minimal. A car like this will probably still be capable of having the engine running and of ascertaining that the AC is functioning correctly or at least is still charged with refrigerant. In these circumstances the AC system may be easily transferable to another car fairly cheaply. The firm advertising the spares may be able to install them in your own car or be able to suggest someone who could.
I would always recommend that you discard the secondhand drier and install a new drier from an AC technician (£20 to £40) who could then charge and test the installed system.
How much would it cost to have Aircon installed into my car?
This is a question that I am asked constantly, frequently by email. As the answer is not straightforward and what is more, I do not do installations like this, I will go into it a little.
If your car does not have AC at all, apart from a little advice, I cannot help. As to the cost the following paragraphs may help a little. Firstly it should be noted that to install AC into a car whilst it is being assembled is a great deal easier and thus cheaper than it is to add it later to a finished car. Having AC fitted later can be a bit of a shock financially.
Let me divide cars into two broad categories:
Type 1. Cars built by Japanese manufacturers or by manufacturers heavily influenced by Japan - Examples: Toyota, Mitsubishi etc, and ROVER when it was building cars influenced by Honda, also Range Rovers although probably not under Japanese influence.
Type 2. Other cars generally of European origin or design - Examples: BMW, Ford, Vauxhall, Peugeot etc and DAEWOO (uses GM technology)
Cars in the first category are frequently relatively simple to retrofit AC as the Japanese tend to install the evaporator under the dashboard in front of the passengers knees, where it is relatively easy to access.
The second, European type cars generally have the evaporator mounted underneath or behind the heater matrix right deep behind the dashboard, which means that to access it the whole dashboard with all the wiring, airbags, possibly the steering column needs to come out. This can be a very lengthy and expensive task, possibly up to two days work.
The evaporator is not the whole story of course, many cars have the wiring loom for AC installed in all models, whether actually fitted with AC or not. Naturally this simplifies any later retrofit. Also have a look under the bonnet. Is there room for a mechanic to get his hands into the space around the engine like a Honda Civic or is the under-bonnet space crammed with components as are so many cars where a large or powerful engine is shoehorned into a tiny space, necessitating removal of some other components first in order to mount the compressor (about the size of a kilo bag of sugar) and the condenser (a radiator, similar in size and shape to the water radiator and mounted directly in front of it).
General rule: the more room under the bonnet, the easier and thus cheaper it will be to retrofit.
Type of installation - 4 possibilities
1. Manufacturers kit - usually the best but most expensive option. For Type 1 cars kit cost £600 to £900 with installation and charging cost of say £350 to £500 - say a minimum of £950. For Type 2 cars kit cost £700 to £1200 with installation and charging cost of £500 to £800 - say a minimum of £1200.
2. Approved alternative kit - these kits (Diavia or Ebberspacher are very good examples) are made specifically for many models and often use switches similar to the manufacturers own, and utilise good quality components. These are installed only by registered installers who can be found in your local Thomson or Yellow Pages (or their Web equivalents) under the general heading for Air Conditioning Equipment or Car Heating and Air Conditioning. Prices would range from about £1000 up.
3. An installation by an AC technician - varies from excellent to very mediocre. Some I have seen are every bit as good as a manufacturers installation but some have been barely adequate. Fortunately some of the mediocre installers eventually go to the wall. Prices probably from £850.
4. A secondhand system. A possible if the car is not in the first flush of youth and you may not consider it worth spending around £1000 on it. Let's imagine a three year old Mondeo or say a six year old Jaguar. In both of these cases it may be worthwhile to look in Motor Trader or Exchange & Mart at the section following the 'cars for sale' of your make. This usually contains adverts of spares for this make and also details of cars written off.
A car which has been rolled will frequently be written off by the insurance company although the level of damage to the bulk of the car may be minimal. A car like this will probably still be capable of having the engine running and of ascertaining that the AC is functioning correctly or at least is still charged with refrigerant. In these circumstances the AC system may be easily transferable to another car fairly cheaply. The firm advertising the spares may be able to install them in your own car or be able to suggest someone who could.
I would always recommend that you discard the secondhand drier and install a new drier from an AC technician (£20 to £40) who could then charge and test the installed system.
It is mad that a Z3 roadster (6cyl models, auto box with leather) that must have been 20k plus back in 1998-2002 had ac as optional extra!
Just had a price from a company that will make up a kit using some new BMW bits and other aftermarket bits and will charge a flat fee of £1650+ vat so nearly 2k.
Doubt I could haggle that much off the price!
Will have to wait for with ac I think unless I can get it cheap enough to make up for lack of it but retro fit is not going to happen at these prices...
Just had a price from a company that will make up a kit using some new BMW bits and other aftermarket bits and will charge a flat fee of £1650+ vat so nearly 2k.
Doubt I could haggle that much off the price!
Will have to wait for with ac I think unless I can get it cheap enough to make up for lack of it but retro fit is not going to happen at these prices...
Sensible imo. FoundOnRoadside said:
Cars come without aircon?
I've had aircon since 2000, and I drive nearly bottom of the range Vauxhalls/Fords...
I was surprised that my inlaws managed to purchase a brand new Punto without aircon. I was convinced they'd just missed the button until I looked for myself.I've had aircon since 2000, and I drive nearly bottom of the range Vauxhalls/Fords...
Looking at the way Z3 prices have dived since I bought mine earlier this year 
, then your £2k quote for aircon would almost buy a decent enough example with it already fitted. I have it on my 2001 3.0 but I've only used it a couple of times to help keep it operational. I'd have much rather have the heated seat option so I could drive with the roof down in colder weather (though the heater is pretty good anyway).
, then your £2k quote for aircon would almost buy a decent enough example with it already fitted. I have it on my 2001 3.0 but I've only used it a couple of times to help keep it operational. I'd have much rather have the heated seat option so I could drive with the roof down in colder weather (though the heater is pretty good anyway).They haven't dived that much - a couple I have been to see were rubbish and the other 2 I am looking at have. I aircon hence the well under 3k asking prices for a 2.8/2.2 cars. I'm looking at auto only this time.
Plenty on there at frankly silly money with no really good reason apart from low mileage.
Hope that is some consolation!
Anyway, if you like yours as much I love mine you be keeping it or maybe even getting a second like us!
This has been an eye opening experience on another note because the last Z3 I drove before I bought my modified an refreshed on was a brand new one back on 98. Getting into 100k one now original shocks and bushes was a real shock after mine - standard ones feel like a 7 series boat in comparison.
Nice powerboat feeling when you floor it though and watch the long bonnet rise up.
Whatever we get will need some refreshing i think but the wife should be pootling in it really. If she starts talking about body roll, pitch and dive then I'll have to get worried!
The standard one so seem like they will go sideways very easily though, especially the one I tested on Wanli tyres that squealed comically!
Plenty on there at frankly silly money with no really good reason apart from low mileage.
Hope that is some consolation!
Anyway, if you like yours as much I love mine you be keeping it or maybe even getting a second like us!
This has been an eye opening experience on another note because the last Z3 I drove before I bought my modified an refreshed on was a brand new one back on 98. Getting into 100k one now original shocks and bushes was a real shock after mine - standard ones feel like a 7 series boat in comparison.
Nice powerboat feeling when you floor it though and watch the long bonnet rise up.
Whatever we get will need some refreshing i think but the wife should be pootling in it really. If she starts talking about body roll, pitch and dive then I'll have to get worried!
The standard one so seem like they will go sideways very easily though, especially the one I tested on Wanli tyres that squealed comically!
If you're saying £3k is the going rate, then yes they have dived a bit since I paid £5.5k for a 60,000 miles 3.0 with FSH (BMW up to 40K). I've still had to spend money on it such as bushes, some drop links and I bought a used strut brace (big improvement). It is in good condition bodywork wise and would pass for a much younger car. I had hoped it would retain more of it's value as the original intention was as a stop gap to getting a TVR. In practice it has scratched the convertible itch and goes well enough for my abilities, plus I'd have to sell my RS2000 to get a TVR.
No point me buying a second Z3 though as I have a company 320d and the RS2000 as well, so more would be greedy.
No point me buying a second Z3 though as I have a company 320d and the RS2000 as well, so more would be greedy.
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