R129 Why Air Con Condensors are expensive for my car?

[gladholm]

Kwik Fit carried out their promise of improving the cooling of the Air Con or no fee. Sure enough there was a leak, no cool - no fee.

At MOT time, the friendly garage I know in Cambs, leak checked the system and found a hole or holes in a pitted and corroded condensor. (condensor only - thankfully)

We agreed that I would source the part, and together we would fit it, and top up the gas for a reasonable fee.

Condensers at:
http://cart.carcooling.co.uk/index.php?p=catalog&parent=177&pg=1
are reasonably priced I thought. £80 odd mostly. But why is my SL320 part £184. The 123 is also close to £200. What is so special about these condensors? Can anyone recommend another supplier?

My air con does "try" to cool, so I am fairly happy the rest of the system is OK. Is there anything else to consider in this repair, what hurdles can I expect?

Thanks is advance

Richard

 

[wscheffer]

How does your A/C try to cool. If you have holes in the system then no freon exists therefore no pressure and your compressor will not run.

Thank God for pressure switches, cause without them the compressor would be toast!

If you need a condenser then try ebay.

I recently bought for my W126 an evaporator with expansion valve for $130.00 plus $10.00 to ship and I also bought a dehydrator for $16.00 and another $10.00 to ship.

I found this to be fairly reasonable so give ebay a try.

If your fitting in a new condenser then also replace the dehydrator this should be done every time you replace any major part in the A/C system. Or every four years which ever comes first. Also make sure you put in oil. Each time a major part is replaced there is a loss in oil. If the system is starved for oil it will burn your compressor up.

When I did mine I also put in new switches pressure and temp for approx. $50.00 for both since to replace them later I would have to have someone empty the freon out and then put it back in later after the repair is made. This would end up being more money than it was to just replace them while the system was empty.

Hope This Helps!

 

[gladholm]

Air Con parts on ebay - part numbers help required

I have found an ebay trader with good value parts. Please can anyone help with Drier part numbers.
The Russian parts site lists the R129 air con drier as 129 830 0283 for a late SL320. And lists the early model as 129 830 0183. The ebay part is the early one
Since the part numbers are the same for the condensors for the different cars is it a safe bet the the driers are probably the same? The graphic looks the same.

I am about to buy a condensor and drier for my air con repair.

Cheers

 

[BlackC55]

I have just fitted a non gen condensor and it was a pig to fit as it was not quite made right.

Get a genuine one and bite the bullit. It is sometimes better to spend out a bit more for quality.

I won't be fitting another non gen condensor.

(the reciever dryer must also be replaced when the ac is exposed to atmosphere)

 

[gladholm]

Non Genuine Drier and part differences

Thanks for the help.
Did you fit a non gen drier at the same time? Was it the same, or similar OEM? That is my concern over significant spec change.
When they are a pig to fit it tends to be bracket misalignment in my experience.

 

[BlackC55]

Yes I got a non gen drier.

It was ok.....

 

[MotardMan]

Kwik Fit carried out their promise of improving the cooling of the Air Con or no fee. Sure enough there was a leak, no cool - no fee.

I'm near Stroud

Which Kwik Fit did you use? I need my W124's air con topped up, but I'll wait until the condensor and drier are replaced (thanks for the links).

I also suspect the Hi Pressure part valve is leaking, so will have to replace this at the same time. Looks like we have a common problem here, and maybe a DIY thread would be useful for others? I'm in dispute with the dealer who sold me the car ATM, so cannot fix it, but if any of you other guys do the work and fancy documenting it?

 

[gladholm]

Which Kwik Fit did you use?

I was in Peterborough that weekend, London Road. Not too much drama. That was the deal at the time. I don't know if the same deal applies...

 

[MotardMan]

Deal is still on:

http://www.kwik-fit.com/about-air-conditioning.asp