A/C lukewarm at idle, Cold when car is moving, Aux fan is on, new compressor. ?

Originally Posted by Mctwist77

Haha yeah they have saved me a lot of money and time. I'm just getting in, finally graduated college.

As for the fans, I need a pusher or a puller fan? Since I have a manual I only have one fan and its the pusher right?

Thanks for your service to our country and freedom!

I have seen several early model E46 manuals with both aux and mechanical fans. If you have one with only the electric fan it would be a puller fan.

Originally Posted by smolck

You could say the same thing about speeding, drinking and driving, drugs, or anything else. Of all which are MUCH more dangerous (and common) than venting a tiny bit of r-134a.

Right and I'd agree with you. I do say the same for all of those things. Releasing R-134A into the atmosphere is harmful and should be avoided, if at all possible (which it is).

http://www.epa.gov/ozone/title6/608/

And re: maintenance-wise, why it's a good idea, the oil contained in R-134a is hydroscopic and is corrosive to the entire system as it absorbs moisture and breaks down.

Originally Posted by E46Mango

Right and I'd agree with you. I do say the same for all of those things. Releasing R-134A into the atmosphere is harmful and should be avoided, if at all possible (which it is).

http://www.epa.gov/ozone/title6/608/

Clean Air Act was a joke (as is MOST "legislation" these days). Just a way to increase taxes on industry based on "global warming" science that is not accurate and widely disputed. That is another topic for another forum, but I doubt the .5 sec worth of venting r-134 is going to result in the ozone layer blowing up and solar wind eating our faces off.

Quick bump before I go buy a new fan. So again, my electric fan is spinning but I don't think it's blowing hard enough. Could this be an issue with the temp sensor located on the lower radiator hose? Additionally, my AC blows cold at idle when outside temps are below 85 degrees.

you sure it is not your condensor? what are the pressures and how's your vacuum. parallel flow condensors, unlike the older tube and fin style, are more susceptible to clogging because of their thin pathways. In fact, they cannot be flushed and must be replaced once it is clogged.

Oh look another AC thread

had the same problem with my 99 328i couple years back (first e46) and just bought a can of the recharge stuff and put in a bit and was super cold all the time after that...

The problem is the fan... I'm 100% sure, all symptoms you mentioned I had the same problem and it was the fan. I bought it for $144 on ebay... yes the fan is spinning but not at the right speed, the controller is bad but the controller is part of the fan so you have to buy the whole thing.

Originally Posted by 325guy

Oh look another AC thread

What the hell is the point of saying that? Yah it is about my AC.

Sent from my DROID2 using Bimmer App

the fan on my last e46 wasnt working full speed either and still had ice cold a/c at idle...i still believe its low on r134

Originally Posted by smolck

The amount of damage to the ozone from a can of r134a is less than the can of Aqua Net my granny uses to keep her beehive nice and tall.

Pics of granny? I dig beehives.

Originally Posted by smolck

Just a way to increase taxes on industry based on "global warming" science that is not accurate and widely disputed.

Yes, "disputed" . Hundreds of thousands of scientists vs a few politicians who are getting paid off. As long as they keep calling it "disputed", people like you will will believe it, since doing nothing is the path of least resistance.

Relax, from what I've seen you could use things a little warmer up there in Canada. Maybe with a different climate you'll finally be able to grow tasty vegetables! Increase tourism with that, and who knows? Even pay for national health care with waits shorter than three months!