Retrofit climate control panel

[DurhamFox]

I have standard air con, if I get a climate panel is it as simple as unplugging the old unit and replacing it with the climate panel? or not?

[CoolCarStuff]

Hi...

I doubt if you would be able to do an easy retrofit... certainly not a straight plug in...

The auto aircon (like other BMWs) have several motors controling vents etc, plus additional temp sensor(s)....

At the very least, I would expect that you would need to get the unit coded by the dealer.

...But I could be wrong!

DJ

[Rakey]

and there would be the fitting of the light/temp purple nipple that is on the auto air con cars

[mikeythemini]

You would need a totally new heater assembly

[miniredcooper]

The guys are correct - more to it than simply the panel/switch bank I'm afraid.

I'm planning on retro-fitting climate control to an 02 cooper without any air-con and it is going to be some job to complete. BMW retro-fit of climate reckon it will take a technician 12-13 hours to complete the work. I'm allowing two days (hopefully not too optomistic)

I've assembled a complete kit of parts over the last 6 months to carry it out and once i've fitted all the parts it will cost £156.28 to charge the system and £65.80 to code into the ecu at the dealer.

Parts required include :
Complete new heater box assembly (totally different to manual air-con unit)
Control Panel
Air con pipework
Water/coolant pipe for air-con model from water pump to radiator
Replacement water coolant radiator (need one from an air-con fitted car - yes they are different)
Complete fan assembly from air-con fitted car (again different to non-air con model)
Air-con condensor radiator + drier (piggy backs water/coolant radiator)
Compressor
New v-belt
High pressure switch
Retrofit wiring loom
Solar senor and fittings
(external temperature thermometer if not already fitted)
Various fixings/fittings fuses and relays

You also need to remove the following to install :
Drain coolant
Remove complete front end module
Remove water cooler (radiator) and engine fan
Coolant hose from water pump
AIr filter casing
V-belt
Door sill strips (both sides
Top instrument trim
Radio
Switches
Instrument panel
Complete Heater assembly

Most will probably think I'm mad and should sell up and get a car with the aircon already fitted - however I love a challenge and we've had the car from new so know it's misgivings - I reckon all in it will have cost me approx £600 to buy all the parts (mostly 2nd hand and some bargains in there) and have it charged and coded.

I'm planning on fitting first weeked in July so I'll let you know how I get on......provided I don't drive myself insane in the process....

Kinda of wish we'd specced air-con instaed of panoramic roof in the first place.

To get BMW dealer to fit - I think they charge approx £1200 for the kit of parts plus 13 hours labour + charging and coding. Wouldn't think you'd get much change out of £2,500-£3,000 - but may be wrong.

[chris.lamb]

minirecooper,

if you want I can email you a copy of the BMW instructions for this, drop me a pm with your email and I will send, and anyone else who wants it.
Best of luck

[miniredcooper]

Well guys - job done - couldn't have done it without Chris' input though his retrofit instructions from 2002 were much more acurate than mine from 2006 (and also differed drastically in the fuse box wiring - beware!). Following 2006 instructions left me with a short to ground on the cooling fan - (it was on constantly when ignition switched on)- but following the 2002 instructions cleared the fault. And yes - it is one heck of a job.

Took me 4 days of working on the car to finally get it sorted. A few hold ups with wrong parts etc..

Dealer charged £139.83 for a recharge of the system, function test and coding of the retrofit (re-gas £98 + VAT, coding £21.00 + VAT - which was a bargain. Other dealers had quoted £222 and one wouldn't carry out the coding (Glasgow) as I had fitted the parts myself. Pays to shop around though if you have several dealers locally.

Worst part was looking at my mini with nothing between the seats and the front bulkhead (full dash out). And also the german wiring colour codes - in the end took me a whole day checking and double checking connections after I found out that the compressor wasn't receiving a power feed when the air-con was supposedly on, I discovered that I had put two pins in the wrong place on the ECU because of wire colour mistake on my part GN/SW (green/black(schwarz)) and GR/SW (grey/black) confused (pins 90 &91 of plug X6004 for those that are interested/curious). This had the effect of cutting the power to the compressor as the high pressure switch connections had been reversed so car thought that the system pressure was too high and cut power to the compressor.

Things to look out for when sourcing parts if you fancy trying this at home - radiator cooling fan (air con model) - there are two types - one electrical socket connector and two connector. (I had bought a one connector type - but as is typical needed the two connector type for my retrofit wiring loom.

Also don't attempt unless you are comfortable in splicing and joining wires into your loom as there are about 10-12 splices required - dependent on options already on the car.

Overall very pleased - temp at the vents on lowest setting is a chilly 6.9 degrees C. And also for the benefit of the scaremongers out there there is no more rattle from the dash than previously in fact probably less.

Overall I am glad I opted to retrofit air-con myself rather than buy another car as some suggest. I have owned the car from new (02) so know all of the faults and idiosyncracies and if nothing else feel now that I know the car in more detail than previously.

In summing up - don't attempt this unless you are technically competent - it is not for the faint hearted. However if you are a strong and very competent home mechanic with no fear of tackling complex jobs and comfortable with wiring and splicing the loom go for it. Access to BMW TIS and WDS was a godsend however.

If anyone is serious about tackling this on their own car I will offer whatever advice I can.

All I need now is the rain to stop and some good weather to really enjoy the benefits..... but living in Scotland hope is limited....

[chris.lamb]

Well done!
Good job.
Glad I could help.
I know dash out jobs look dreadful but it's only a big jigsaw realy !

[Paul]

Quote: Originally Posted by miniredcooper (original)

BMW retro-fit of climate reckon it will take a technician 12-13 hours to complete the work. I'm allowing two days (hopefully not too optomistic).

Quote: Originally Posted by miniredcooper (original)

Took me 4 days of working on the car to finally get it sorted. A few hold ups with wrong parts etc....

But at least you did it, good work!

[miniredcooper]

Cheers Paul - as Chris says once you've bitten the bullet it really is all one big Jigsaw.
Trickiest bit for me was the wiring harness as there are about 40 odd connections to make - and several of the pin locations are already taken so I had to strip insulation back, splice and solder all these connections and then heatwrap the joins to connect it all up - which probably added a good half day to the build.
My local dealer (service manager) reckoned they would lose out on 12-13hours labour as he reckoned nearer 16+ to complete.
It's been a few weeks now and no annoying rattles have developed, no teething problems and all is well.

[EMPIRE ROAD]

Hi Chris,
Have just joined, Any chance you could email me the AC Fitting Instructions, many thanks in advance.

Fc

[mab01uk]

Quote: Originally Posted by EMPIRE ROAD (original)

Hi Chris,
Have just joined, Any chance you could email me the AC Fitting Instructions, many thanks in advance.

Fc

PDF is also available here:
Retrofitting Auto Air Conditioning Guide

Pics of dash removed:
http://www.mini2.com/forum/first-gen...ml#post3271704