I have a broken AC Condenser in my car, it’s a '85 380se with the R12 system. What’s the best way to fix this, as in is converting to the new kind of AC system required to fix it?
Thanks.

1. Do a search on "AC condenser". 2. Do a search on R12, R134, AC system, or similar. You will find a million threads on the conversion question. All I can say is that after reading most of those threads, I'm staying with R12 in my '87 SDL. Good luck.

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Paul 1987 300 SDL; 2000 ML; '69 MGB; '68 VW Fastback

R12 is coming down in cost, while 134 is going UP in price. By the end of the summer, the price may very well be the same for these two refrigerants.

The condensor is not too expensive and is one of the easiest a/c components to get at. If the leaking condensor is the only problem you have, you will get off pretty cheap. Changing to another refrigerant would save you only a very few dollars on the overall bill and you will have substandard a/c performance as a result.

I have seen people spend tons of money and LOTS of time to change to a less expensive refrigerant. The end result is that it costs them MORE to change than if they would have just repaired the problem and stayed with R12.

Good luck,

Stick with the R12 if you can. I had a compressor go out on my '90 W124 and went with R134. It never worked as well as R12, and to get the cooling acceptable, I had to correct every little problem (vaccum leaks, ect) with the system to get the R134 to work about 90% as well as R12.

I have a 1993 300E 2.8. Tha conversion was done 5-6 years ago and it actualy work better this way. I have never
add any R134 since then and the Climate control works beautiful.

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New Addition to the family
2013 Passat TDI 5Miles
2004 E500 4MATIC Wagon 95k
1996 E300 Diesel 173k Sold
1993 300E 2.8 230k Sold
1994 E320 White Wagon 373K Sold
Still dreaming about ....500E


Radu Negru

LISTEN to Larry Bible!

Even if you convert to 134a successfully,you will never get the COLD air
out of the vents that R12 will give you.

IF the condensor is the problem,Replace it (along with the reciever/drier)
and enjoy "Angel's Breath" all sumer long!

Since smartmlp did not indicate his/her location, maybe I should add this comment.

If you are not in a warm climate such as Texas, you MIGHT get adequate cooling with 134, but you as of today, you will spend more money preparing for the conversion than you will spend for the difference in cost of refrigerants. Additionally, by the end of this year, it is very possible that R12 and R134a will be about the same cost since R12 prices are coming down and R134a prices are going up.

In a not so hot climate a few years ago, you could build a case for conversion, but it makes less and less since as time goes by.

Have a great day,
Doc

I live in the California valley area near Stockton, and triple digits are not uncommon here during the summer.
As far as I can tell the condenser is the only problem, but I haven’t investigated it yet enough to tell if it is.