How much refrigerant should be added to the BMW 520 air conditioning system?
3 Answers
BMW 520 air conditioning system requires approximately 4 to 5 cans of refrigerant for a single refill. Preparation: Before adding refrigerant, you need to prepare tools and materials such as an automotive refrigerant recovery and charging machine, refrigerant (most car air conditioning systems currently use R-134a refrigerant, and different refrigerants must not be mixed). Connecting the pipelines: Connect the pipelines of the automotive refrigerant recovery and charging machine to the high and low pressure pipes of the car's air conditioning system (red connects to the high-pressure pipe, blue connects to the low-pressure pipe). Vacuuming: After ensuring the pipelines are correctly connected and the refrigerant recovery and charging machine has completed its self-check upon startup, you can begin the vacuuming process for the car's air conditioning system. Adding refrigerant: Only after the vacuuming process is completed can you start adding refrigerant. Based on the maximum refrigerant capacity marked on the vehicle's air conditioning system, set the charging capacity, time, and type on the refrigerant recovery and charging machine. Once confirmed, the machine will automatically begin adding the refrigerant.
I've been driving a BMW 520 for a long time, and the refrigerant recharge is something you really can't mess around with. BMWs typically use R134a type refrigerant, with system capacity generally between 500 to 800 grams depending on the model year and owner's manual. Once I encountered weak AC cooling and tried adding refrigerant myself, but I misread the pressure gauge parameters which actually made the cooling worse. Later I learned you must first check for system leaks, use a vacuum pump to evacuate the system, then perform measured recharge. Professional repair shops have specialized tools to measure pressure for precision, avoiding refrigerant waste or compressor damage. DIY attempts carry significant risks and are environmentally unfriendly - don't try saving small money on this. Only perform top-up after thoroughly checking for leaks.
As someone who frequently repairs cars, the refrigerant charge for a BMW 520's air conditioning system requires careful control. It typically uses R134a refrigerant, with a system design capacity of approximately 600 grams. During actual refilling, the electronic scale weighing method should be used, maintaining low-side pressure between 28-35 psi adjusted according to weather conditions. Avoid rough estimations or overfilling, as this can overload and burn out the compressor, leading to costly repairs. System integrity checks are crucial—for example, inspecting refrigerant lines for leaks. A vacuum pump must be used to evacuate the system before recharging. If proper tools are unavailable, visit an authorized repair shop for safe, efficient service that also prevents environmental pollution.
