Look what I discovered... Sanden swap instructions on 616/617s
 

We now know it does exist! The picture speaks for itself:



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...eSchematic.jpg

How much better, or more desirable, is the Sanden vs. the R4?

Higher BTUs, less power consumption, internal oil sump, etc. The R4 is just not a good design. I really have no idea why MB used it in the first place when they used the A6 in the 1970s then went to the Denso unit on everything else... yet opted to use the R4 on the 617. The Denso on my SDL works fabulous... and my 300SEL and the 560.

Best pricing I have found is about $450 without compressor. In comparison the exact same style kit for my 735i set me back $120. I can only surmise this is due to lack of product left in the market. Figure about $30/ea to make the new low and high side hoses, cheap. The thing I am concerned about are the oil cooler hoses.

At least we do know the kit exists.

As I am about to dive into rebuilding the a/c on my W123, thisis great news. (I may need a new compressor)

Sounds great. I swapped a new sanden into one of my older Porsche's nad had awesome a/c performance on R134a.




Are you referring to the Kit only (OM617). ?

Is that Really $120? or $1200?

good to know hose fab will be cheap, why are you concerned about oil cooler hoses?


Do we? Is there a link to a site offering such a 'kit' and what does it include?

NOT 1980 240d ? WHY ?
NOT Manual trans ? WHY ?
Amazing.....

Yes, $118 and some change from Amazon for the BMW unit. I am not too keen on spending $400 for the same type of deal, but rarity drives prices. The BMW unit fits more cars than listed at the top of the paper, see bottom... I have it on a 735i and 745i. Easily could fit the '80 and older 240D. Alabbasi has a Sanden on his '76 300D.

The only other time I had seen a Sanden on the 617 turbo, it required rerouting of the oil cooler lines.

Amazon.com: Mastercool 71550 Air Conditioner Hose Crimper: Automotive

Buy that if you are going to make hoses for more than one car. The hoses are usually No 10 and No 8 on the Sanden/Seltac/Alpha style units.



European Cooler Air, Inc.
972-722-3791

Speak with Jerry. They carry it and are east of DFW a bit.



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...C/BMWAC1-1.jpg

What is it about the Manual Trans on the cars it does list which will not allow it to work ?

Probably the shape of the radiator, or a difference in the fan / clutch due to the lessened heat load.

-J

A 240d does not have a fan clutch...
My radiator is tiny with no oil cooler and lines to get in the way....

That might be the problem. The non AC rad might too small to cool the engine on a hot day with a hot condenser stuck in front of it.

There is a good chance that it will work, your car just wasnt listed. The list was probably put together by a human, known for mistakes.

Hitman, Thanks for sharing. This is awesome information.

Perhaps edit the first post to include the URL of the company in question. Part of my confusion was the assumption that someone found a picture on the internet so "It must be true". This now seems like a reasonable solution.

I have no idea what "DFW" is "Da French World" ?

Anyway, this is great news since we all at one point or another will, or have had, a/c issues.

Here is the website, the same phone number given above, is listed. So i can safely assume this is the same place east of "DFW".

http://www.europeancoolerair.com/

edit: ok, they are in Texas, so it must be "Dallas, Fort Worth". Got it. Way too far for me to visit, but thank god for the internet, the telephone and UPS. ...oh and Peachparts.com ! :)

After racking my brain concerning the differences going forward from 1980 in the 240d's I had come to the same probability... since the engine clutch pedal is hydraulic there is not much way that could interfere when an R4 is already in that position..
If someone else has done the fitting and mock up for this I just might get inspired to fix my AC.... I know from past projects how much putting it together and taking it back apart this kind of work takes to get it correct...

What about the 1985 model year 300D/D-T/TD? AFAIK, there are no significant differences on the left side of the engine. If the kit fits '80-'84, it should also fit '85.

Jeremy, Not having direct experience with this swap but having done others, I would have to agree with you. ie: this should also work with 1985 OM617.

perhaps the 85 was left out because of some other difference. Sometimes info like this is limited by where the data is coming from initially. Same cup is half empty or half full. many routes to a naked cat, etc.

The car came standard with an R4 and condensor in front of the radiator...