Source for Behr Expansion Valve?

[thehackmechanic]

With all the work I'm going to resurrecting the a/c in the tii, I was considering cracking open the evaporator case and replacing the expansion valve. The Behr a/c installation manual lists the part number as 70 322 00 109. I get only a single web hit for it, from a site in Germany. Does anyone have less exotic source for the Behr expansion valve, such as a compatible Four Seasons part number? Does anyone know if the a/c in the 320i uses the same expansion valve? The part number for that one is 64511354379 , RealOEM shows it as used by the E3, E9, E12, E21, E24, and E28, and it seems to readily show up in web searches. Another part number, 64511466020, maps to E12, E21, E24, and E28 on RealOEM and shows up as a Uro Parts item for as low as $13.

--Rob

[02hobiedave]

I bought my new expansion valve from the Nostalgic Air Parts. Mine was a FridgeKing http://www.nostalgicairparts.com/ac/expansion-valves-23.php

[Collinster742002]

DON'T GET ANYTHING MADE BY URO!!!!

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1868825

I have a VERY bad experience with URO stuff and my Volvo. Namely a heater hose that exploded on the highway that was 4 months old, but a bad PCV hose that falls off if you touch it, and an oil exchanger that wasn't sealed and pisses out oil (6 hour job), and a friend got one of their timing belts that destroyed his engine in 3,000 miles...

The only thing I've ever purchased that has lasted is the key fob case for my car, and that's just a piece of plastic that stays in your pocket...

[Napes]

Rob; I don't know that the expansion valve for the Behr A/C has to be a Behr valve. If you have the old one you should be able to take it to any A/C supply store and find a comparable one. I've had the one in my Behr system replaced at an independent BMW repair shop, and the same shop did my wife's Clardy system, and I think they used a generic valve that works fine in both our cars. You might also consider checking with VintageAir. Carl Nelson, at LaJolla Independent, would be another good source.

Bob Napier

[c.d.iesel]

visit any automotive AIR CONDITIONING repair specialty shop

[kenped86]

i got mine from NAP, however I have yet to find the copper? flare gaskets after i tossed my used ones. http://www.nostalgicairparts.com/air-conditioning/flare-expansion-valve-with-female-equalizer-tube-417.php

[peteinjp]

I'd get in toouch with these guys. They have great info up on their forum.

http://www.ackits.com/

Pete

[Tiger75]

I second Nostalgic Air,

i bought most everything from them

except i bought a 706 sanden comp off ebay

if you go with r134a make sure you get the right hose or it will slowly leak out. The correct hose is very very stiff.

[thehackmechanic]

Just updating this.

I pulled apart the evaporator and yanked out the expansion valve. There are no part numbers on it, but there's a little diamond with "Egelhof" printed in the middle. They appear be the OEM. A web search links the part number listed in the Behr installation guide (70 322 00 109) to a more general Behr-Hella number, 8UW 351 235-001. This, in turn, seems to cross-reference to:

BMW 64 51 1 354 379

BMW 64 51 1 466 020 (original and superceded numbers for expansion valve in nearly every pre-1991 R12-equipped car)

Mercedes 115 835 00 72

Jaguar RTC 693

Porsche 901.573.915.00

When I go to Pelican Parts (who is excellent about plainly listing the suppliers on their web site), it lists the Egelhof part as OEM but NLA, and lists an available UroParts alternative (NOOOOOOOOOOO!)

There are references in the Mercedes world to Egelhof being the OEM as well.

The Four Seasons part number appears to be 38604, but I found a NOS Egelhof part using the Mercedes part number for $25 on eBay. I'd much rather do that than risk that the generic part Nostalgic Air sells is actually sourced from UroParts.

[Conserv]

Rob,

Thanks for circling back on this. I had a difficult time finding a bona fide R12 expansion valve when I needed one. Some of the old part numbers were superseded, but the superseding parts were actually R134a expansion valves, not R12 valves. And both R134a valves and "adjustable R12/R134a" valves hummed when the A/C unit was running. I also found an NOS R12 valve and that solved the problem.

(Because I recall you added a larger condenser, I was thinking you were converting to R134a, but I went back to some of your posts and I'm now assuming you're sticking with R12.)

Regards,

Steve

[thehackmechanic]

Yes, sticking with R12. I'll get back to writing a longer post about the project as a whole.

[Conserv]

I'll get back to writing a longer post about the project as a whole.

That would certainly be welcomed by many members. There are so many A/C threads but most of them focus on a single component or issue, e.g., compressor or condenser replacement. And I suspect that most of our 35+ year old evaporator/blower units require, at minimum, new expansion valves!

Regards,

Steve

[Robert Kyle]

What about the evaporator itself?  Still available?  E21 the same? 

[Conserv]

11 hours ago, Robert Kyle said:

What about the evaporator itself?  Still available?  E21 the same? 

Robert,

 

If you have A/C in your ‘02 and want to improve/rejuvenate it, buy a copy of Rob Siegel’s book on the subject: Just Needs a Recharge. Seriously. It collects the wisdom from this forum and from Rob’s considerable experience making ‘02 A/C “as good as it can be”.

 

The E21 had an A/C system designed for factory air — ‘02 A/C was strictly post-factory — and the E21 system, unfortunately, doesn’t fit into an ‘02. For an ‘02, you can buy a new I.C.E. AIR system (a clone of the 1975-1990 Clardy system), you can buy a new combination heater & evaporator from Select Classics (there’s a lot of history with this vendor, so read up first), or you can re-use period evaporators from Behr, Frigiking, or Clardy.

 

But read Rob’s book before you decide!

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

 

 

Edited February 4, 2020 by Conserv

[Dudeland]

I got one from nostalgic air.  Not a direct replacement it is a little taller than the oem, it fits... I am about to find out if it works.