Being a high volume shop in Florida we started converting cars the same year 134a came out. We have probably converted a thousand cars or more of many different makes. We have had scores of customers tell us their ac was never that cold before, but in reality most of those were cars that had been deficient for long periods. After more than a decade, experience has proved that a conversion will work less efficently than a proper working original system. A conversion will likely leak in the first three years and probably it will leak from the compressor even if it was new with the conversion.

R12 is still available and only two thirds the price it got to at one time. R134 while receeding this year got to more than half price of R12 wholesale. The refrigerant is the near the cheapest component in the system. I no longer see any reason to convert and numerous reasons not to. WE did one on a 126 body last week because the customer was dead set about "upgrading" his car. A victim of propaganda it seems. One doesn't argue with customers. So we did it and it worked great. With a new compressor it should last a few years. With a new compressor and R12 it should last indefinitely.

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Steve Brotherton
Continental Imports
Gainesville FL
Bosch Master, ASE Master, L1
33 years MB technician