Aftermarket E9 AC evaporator with better fan anyone actually fit one?

jjs2800cs

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While reading this excellent thread on updating our E9 AC systems

https://e9coupe.com/forum/threads/upgraded-ac-for-our-coupes.27931/page-3

A photo of a mini evaporator was posted. I have a spare evaporator unit and measurements looks like the Minikooler aftermarket evaporator could fit inside the stock console. Of course with some modification.

Past threads seem to indicate the weak link in updating is the small evaporator and really the fan speed.

So has anyone actually fit this or one like it and what were the results???

Of course another approach would be to some how speed up the fan with a higher rpm motor. Anyone done that?

Our bone stock 2800CS AC system is still working ok here in Florida with R12 after 20 plus years since last maintenance. But certainly as past posts have verified, improvements can be made. A new condenser parallel flow type will be installed soon and would like to update the evaporator workings if possible

Thanks
jjs2800cs

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teahead

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Would definitely be an improvement.

You'll want to buy two because when dealing with aftermarket, no guarantee they'll have replacement parts 10 years from now.

Nice thing is one can direct the air to the front vents instead of the sides towards your knee
 

HB Chris

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The sta
Would definitely be an improvement.

You'll want to buy two because when dealing with aftermarket, no guarantee they'll have replacement parts 10 years from now.

Nice thing is one can direct the air to the front vents instead of the sides towards your knee

The stock air comes out through the front, not sides.
 

jjs2800cs

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Looking at our spare evaporator (think really from a 72 Bavaria but understand are the same as CS) and looking at the photo of the MiniKooler, the oem evaporator air flow is out through the top to go to the outlet vent and mate to the heater unit. The heater unit shown in the picture is from a 72 CS. Note the transition piece is from the Bavaria with the outlets for the left and right dash vents on the Bavaria.

So as was pointed out in the referenced thread, one could actually eliminate the connection to the existing vent and blow out thru the face plate grills. But looks like its not such a big opening to get any significant air flow.

Also if the MiniKooler could be laid vertical it might be able to funnel the air into some sort of a newly constructed transition piece and out to the existing dash vent.

Of course replacing the stock evaporator assumes the replacement is far superior. And who knows unless someone has tried if that would be the case. The example MiniKooler is around the same size, and one could assume it has a more efficient core in it, and hopefully moves more air.

Again just wondering if anyone has gone down this path with retaining the stock appearance of the console.

Thanks
jjs2800cs

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jjs2800cs

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Talked with Southern Air who sell the MiniKooler. They claim the 2 speed fan on high moves 110 cubic feet of air per minute.

In my owners manual it says the stock BMW evaporator fan on high moves 250, or more than twice. Not sure believe that but if really true, then the attractiveness of the unit is somewhat diminished.

My manual also says the maximum cooling rate of the stock unit is 4500 Kcal/hr. Not sure what that means. Southern Air could not supply the number for their unit.

Any how thought he info might be of interest.

Thanks
jjs2800cs
 

Markos

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That means that the factory unit is about 18,000 BTU’s. It makes sense that the factory unit moved more air. The fan has way more surface area. Also the factory evap surface area is larger. It doesn’t make sense to move more air if the evap can’t keep up with the fan speed.

Talked with Southern Air who sell the MiniKooler. They claim the 2 speed fan on high moves 110 cubic feet of air per minute.

In my owners manual it says the stock BMW evaporator fan on high moves 250, or more than twice. Not sure believe that but if really true, then the attractiveness of the unit is somewhat diminished.

My manual also says the maximum cooling rate of the stock unit is 4500 Kcal/hr. Not sure what that means. Southern Air could not supply the number for their unit.

Any how thought he info might be of interest.

Thanks
jjs2800cs
 
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