Airco specialists (X5M)

The best solution is to never turn it off. It acts as a dehumidifier and since they got away from piston compressors, there's little fuel penalty. Certainly not on the engine sizes we're all running!

Pondy said:
Nope.
But those 'fake' refrigerants get around the law by not (supposedly) containing any greenhouse chemicals.

Strictly speaking it is against the law to touch any part of the refrigeration circuit unless you have a valid F-Gas qualification.
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This is that has always confused me. I did think it was illegal but have always been surprised at Halfords selling gauges and top-up tins.
 
In 2024 as soon as the temperature climbed the A/C in my 330i wasn't blowing cold air, just slightly cool, so I took it to RBM Hampshire for a diagnosis but it held vacuum OK so they regassed it.

I left it on Auto Climate permanently and everything was fine until temperatures began to rise in 2025 and the same thing happened. Back to RBM and same outcome.

All fine this year until last month and I took it in this afternoon. Same outcome, vacuum held and a regas had it blowing lovely cold air again. :D

Not too near you Paul, but at the moment they have an offer price of £60 for cars that use R134a refrigerant and as you say a regas once a year is a cheap fix!

I booked it as a "while you wait" job and it only took an hour.
 
pvr said:
The airco stopped working late summer last year on the X5M. Got to the dealer, no leak found after an hour diagnosis, and refilled and worked for the rest of the summer..

April this year, first time use of airco, nothing. Back to BMW who had it for another 3 hours but still can't find a leak. I didn't pay for these 3 hours as they are now ordering new equipment but I actually have lost faith that they can solve it.

Does anyone know of a good company that can sort the airco? I know that BMW will start throwing parts at it (at M prices) and I am not interested as for the cost of each part I can refill the system every year if need be.
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You won’t need it for winter though, all the hot air you spout will keep you toasty….🫵😬
 
Mr Tidy said:
In 2024 as soon as the temperature climbed the A/C in my 330i wasn't blowing cold air, just slightly cool, so I took it to RBM Hampshire for a diagnosis but it held vacuum OK so they regassed it.

I left it on Auto Climate permanently and everything was fine until temperatures began to rise in 2025 and the same thing happened. Back to RBM and same outcome.

All fine this year until last month and I took it in this afternoon. Same outcome, vacuum held and a regas had it blowing lovely cold air again. :D

Not too near you Paul, but at the moment they have an offer price of £60 for cars that use R134a refrigerant and as you say a regas once a year is a cheap fix!

I booked it as a "while you wait" job and it only took an hour.
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If they were just 'vacuum testing' it, that is not relaible.
It should be pressure tested with nitrogen to at least 2.5 times operating pressure (on R134a that is around 375psi) for at least four hours for a decent leak test.

The problem with cars in particular is that there is never enough time to do a proper pressure test and vac. 24 hours is a decent pressure test time and a full vacuum (6 torr or less) should be held for at least an hour. But that doesn't happen with cars....due to time restrictions and the fact that garages don't know what they are doing. They have only been on a short course to 'work the machine' and get their F-gas but they are not 'fridge engineers; they are (hopefully) mechanics.

I find it strange how car A/C work changed from 'fridge engineers to mechanics, yet when I worked on car A/C I never offered to change the oil or fit new brakes!
 
smorris_12 said:
I did think it was illegal but have always been surprised at Halfords selling gauges and top-up tins.
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Me too. Maybe it's down to loopholes in the law, where it is legal to sell it to anyone, but they 'presume' someone qualified is going to use them?
It pisses me off, as I have had to jump through many hoops, at significant cost, to be legal to do my job over the past 30 years.
We have to keep accurate records of all refrigerant we buy and sell and where it goes. It is policed very closely in the UK these days.
 
Pondy said:
If they were just 'vacuum testing' it, that is not relaible.
It should be pressure tested with nitrogen to at least 2.5 times operating pressure (on R134a that is around 375psi) for at least four hours for a decent leak test.

The problem with cars in particular is that there is never enough time to do a proper pressure test and vac. 24 hours is a decent pressure test time and a full vacuum (6 torr or less) should be held for at least an hour. But that doesn't happen with cars....due to time restrictions and the fact that garages don't know what they are doing. They have only been on a short course to 'work the machine' and get their F-gas but they are not 'fridge engineers; they are (hopefully) mechanics.

I find it strange how car A/C work changed from 'fridge engineers to mechanics, yet when I worked on car A/C I never offered to change the oil or fit new brakes!
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I'm sure you are right, but like I said I'm happy to have working A/C for another year for just £60!

I really don't want to be paying for a 24 hour test only to end up with a big bill for a new condenser, pump, evaporator or whatever. :eek:
 
Mr Tidy said:
I'm sure you are right, but like I said I'm happy to have working A/C for another year for just £60!
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Yes you will be, but the person doing the work shouldn't be.
In the UK (I think it's Europe-wide or even globally) it is illegal to 'deliberately vent any refrigerant to atmosphere'. That is punishable by an unlimited fine or up to 5 years in prison. It is a crime, not just a civil issue.
So a garage, by not finding a refrigerant leak which is obviously there, are deliberately allowing refrigerant to vent to atmosphere. Which is a crime.
Car refrigerant (especially R134a) is a major greenhouse gas, as it's a Hydroflourocarbon, and contributes significantly to global warming, which is why the rules are so tight on it's release to atmosphere.

But, of course, no-one really gives a toss as long as they are making money and the Government can't police it.
 
Not sure where in the south east you are, but these guys (in Slough trading estate) were very good with my wife's 3 series.

There was a hose with pinholes from corrosion, and they found and replaced that where more 'generalised' garages failed.

They even supplied the part from BMW (can tell by the stickers on the pipe) at the same price BMW would have sold it to us - so (in that example), you're only paying a markup on labour, not parts

www.mark4.co.uk

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Edit - after reading through the comments, they did pressure test it too, not just vacuum (I watched as I wanted to learn)
 
I am near Gatwick, so Slough is a bit of a challenge as I don't think it can be a waiting appointment but thank you for the recommendation.
 
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