Is it feasible for a DIY'er to install air conditioning in a 78 240D? I would love to have AC for obvious reasons but would like to know if it's really something I could do myself, and if so, how much $$$$?

Thanks!

Is your car a Euro car? EVERY 123 series car that was shipped to the US for original sale was air conditioned.

If it is a Euro car, there was an aftermarket a/c available many years ago. I have two Euro cars with a/c that was put in here in the good ol' USA.

Good luck,

How do I know if it's a Euro or not?

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'78 240D

There are a number of subtle differences that are hard to describe in text.

The bumpers are shorter. The window riser handles are metal, but a plastic cover covers the entire door handle such that it doesn't show any metal, some Euros don't have power steering, some euros only have power windows in the front while US cars either have power everywhere or nowhere. Most Euros don't have an oil cooler. Most euro 240D's have cloth seats while no US cars had cloth seats.

I know this might sound insulting, but are you SURE that you don't have air conditioning? Most of the early 123 cars like yours had manual a/c controls, so it's possible that you can't tell by looking at the controls that it has air. On these early cars there are three knobs across one level of the dash that make up the heater/a/c controls and they could easily be mistaken only for heater controls.

The dead giveaway, of course, is the two cylinder compressor on the passenger side top of the engine.

Good luck,

Well, my car has no power accessories to speak of, and has vinyl seats. Also, as to whether there is a two cylinder compressor on the engine, you can see for yourself below. Is there something there that I'm missing? Let me know if you want a higher res picture, and I can upload it to my web space.

Are you sure that all cars made for sale in the U.S. had A/C? Or did I read your first post wrong?

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'78 240D

Missing Fuse Box cover?

You don't need an early engine to mount the R4 in the lower left position. The bolt holes are there on the earlier engine. The thing is no one would retrofit a late a/c onto an early car.

Can you post pictures of the rest of the car, especially the front or rear so we can see the bumpers?

I bought a 240D new in '77 and a/c was standard equipment.

I can't see if that hose leads to a power steering pump. Does it have an oil cooler mounted on the drivers side of the radiator?

Have a great day,

I just had it off to check the fuses actually, and didn't get it back on yet.

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'78 240D

First off, here is the front end:

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'78 240D

Next, here's a better shot of the driver's side of the engine. There is absolutely nothing on the passenger side except for a gaping hole where the starter should be, and the alternator:

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'78 240D

Finally, there is a little gizmo on the driver's side of the radiator, and I guess I'm not sure what it is (pardon the dead bugs):

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'78 240D

There is also the possibility of mounting one of the 'under dash' type units... would be much easier than trying to put the evaporator in if it is not already there...
There is also the possibility of putting a unit in the trunk..... like the 57 Buick had.... that company was in Ft Worth I believe...
Also the VW aftermarket add on fit to the rear of the back seat..

bumping for LarryBible. He seemed to want to see these pictures, but hasn't replied yet...

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'78 240D

If you need a good Harrison A/C compressor and mouning hardware, I'm selling mine on eBay to raise mony for my move to Colorado.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&category=33543&item=2463316175&sspagename=STRK%3AMESSE%3AIT

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&category=33543&item=2463311939&sspagename=STRK%3AMESSE%3AIT

OIL COOLER.