Your A/C has a variable clutch, it hogs no power when the unit is not running. 50lbs is nothing.

 

For sure good to know, Thanks mx

Although 50lbs isn't much, it is a start to reducing weight which can add up after lightweight seats etc.

Still curious on how the DIY looks

 

Are you going to release the refrigerant to atmosphere? Naughty, naughty.

You should be able to trace the lines pretty easily. Remove everything you can; basically, the compressor, condenser, and drier. I would probably cap the lines coming through the firewall, that was a future owner can reinstall it if they wish.

 

You can remove the stuff on the engine bay side of the firewall and as noted earlier, might save 50 pounds. Not sure why you would do this over 50 pounds.

If you were doing hardcore racing, you would pull the dash out and remove the heater core and evap box. that might net another 30 pounds?

Since the AC stuff on a 3-series doesn't take up much space in the engine bay and doesn't add all that much weight, AC Delete doesn't make sense to me unless you're going full race.

 

Just leave it in. Its not a race car. This is a very "honda civic" thing to do. At least it will still be there when you want to sell the car later on.


...Or lose 50 pounds yourself.

 

All points taken, I'll still be doing this soon.
Call me crazy but I value all weight reduction, I'll be keeping the car for a long time anyway don't plan on ever selling it.
Thanks lcoleman I'll probably do just that, meaning capping the lines, I'll get rid of the freon safely.

Still would love to see a DIY!

 

I'll get rid of the freon safely.

Unless you are EPA 609 Type I certified, take it to a shop and have it recovered.

 

Might as well get rid of your passenger seat and epoxy an aluminum plate in place of your sunroof while you're at it.

Seriously OP, if you prefer lightness to comfort, why didn't you just get a stripped out E30?

 

You know, the rear seats do weigh quite a bit, and can be put back in pretty easily.

 

reducing weight in a DD....

so, will you be removing seats (leaving out the rear and passenger seats and install a race seat for driver), all the carpeting (that ish is heavy), door panels, windows (and install lexan), speakers, amp, head unit?

Do you have a subwoofer?

CF hood and trunk?

remove fog lights

weld in metal plate to delete the sunroof cassette - that thing is REALLY HEAVY

center console?

is your car manual or auto

 

dont do it...

 

Manual or automatic? If automatic (most of the cars on here are it seems), a manual swap will give you many, many times the performance increase of removing 50lbs of A/C equipment.

 

he just bought a 12 yr old E46, he isnt likely going to be selling it - it will die from a wreck or high mileage

he might as well lose the weight...god knows nothing is going to make a 328 quick

 

Freon isn't used anymore, something to do with the EPA. The modern equivalent is called R-134A. If your AC system has never been touched, it's possible there's freon in there. Not sure when they did away with it.

As for removing the AC system, engine side. Luckily everything is on the passenger side, not all over the place.
Remove the following to get to the hoses:
1. Washer tank
2. Air pump

To get to the condenser:
1. Look up a DIY on a radiator install, both the condenser, radiator, and PS cooling lines are mounted into one assembly by two piece end caps. You'll have to disassemble it to get at the condenser.

Compressor: four bolts (IIRC)
All the connections for the system are made by Allen bolts (1/4, IIRC), but there's a brackt attaching the high side fill point to the passenger side storage compartment, and a bracket that holds the dryer(?) assembly on.

I think that's it.

 

Freon isn't used anymore, something to do with the EPA. The modern equivalent is called R-134A. If your AC system has never been touched, it's possible there's freon in there. Not sure when they did away with it.

Better get used to realizing that 134a is freon too.
There is a whole family of freons: http://www.ask.com/questions-about/R134a-Freon

R-12 banned because some people believe it has the power to end the world.
I miss my R-12. It was good cold stuff. Let's give it another chance!

Take out the 50lb. compressor if that's what floats your boat. Good to experiment to get real world experience. This is located out front, so it's in the worst place to wreak havoc on your polar moment of inertia.
I once took the 50lb. battery hung out on the front of my 2002 and moved it to between the rear wheels in the trunk. You could feel the difference in turn-in. Of course that car weighed only about 2000lb compared to the 3400lb. e46.

Look for DIY? Not gonna find it. Just figure it out component by component, using the few pointers you've received here. Not rocket science.

 

All E46's will have R-134A, along with most E36's. I think the switchover from Freon was in 1993 or 1994.

Edit: 666 posts :eeps:

 

Personally, when I have the A/C on it takes away about 30% of the power on the butt dyno.

Smooth shifting is also next to impossible with it on, and must be done much faster.
It feels as though I have a lightweight flywheel as the revs drop much faster while the A/C is running.

Something is wrong

 

You car is broken.

 

ac sure is nice for getting rid of moisture in the car and fog on the windows

 

Super nice.
But go back 50 years ago, and no one had A/C. They all survived.

 

OP, progress? :hmm:

 

Yes, you want to minimize the polar moment of inertia to get the best handling. That's why a mid engine car is best for handling. Engine hung out front or in the rear increases the resistance to turning sharply.

 

My car must be broken too. A/C robs some of the power when I have it on... though I wouldn't say 30%. Then again, I do have a 323i so it's not like power is it's strong suit anyways.

 

I removed all my carpets, trunk carpeting and hard spare tire cover, cleaned the windows really well...and I came up to around 12 lbs. and thought, how stupid is that to beat BeMyWhip at a drag race.

I hope op didn't do this, though, as all I could think was that his radiator is now unprotected with the condenser...nice little shield for a more important part of the car.

 

This is silly. Get rid of your spare tire first, that will save weight. And switch to lighter wheels (m68's are nice).

 

youd be better off taking out the spare tire jack and tools... if you want 50 pounds...

 

OP doesn't seem like a frequent visitor. May he/she figured out that AC was nice to have in summer in a daily driver.