[Anton_555]

Has anyone used the mainstream service places (I.e. Kwikfit) for an air-con regas? BMW are after £100 and aren't local/convenient.

Cheers!

[Soul_Glo]

I have used a DIY kit. Check what gas it takes under the hood. Buy the refill and do it yourself.

I am not keen on places such as Kwik Fit.

[Sasquartch]

A DIY kit isn't ideal as to do the job properly you have to extract all the gas, dry the system then put the correct weight (550g ??) of gas back in.

Costs about £50, in theory the machine does all the work so assuming the right settings are known (the weight should be under the bonnet on a label somewhere) you should be OK.

[999rigger]

Kwikfit use the same type of machine as the dealers use I believe. They charge £50 for a re-gas in the summer and £25 for the same thing in the winter so wait a bit longer.

[Daftasabrush]

I've always used kwik fit for air con re-gassing, they use idiot proof kit that is pretty standard across most places and they're cheap.

I would question why your car needs a re-gas though, unless there's been a leak, it shouldn't need it.

[999rigger]

It is actually illegal to knowingly release aircon gas into the atmosphere as it is classed as hazardous and harmful to the environment.

[Anton_555]

Thanks for the replies....

The AC effectiveness has gradually decreased over the last 12 months and I'm also finding that along with an unusual low hiss noise, the stopstart is inhibited whilst the AC is on, turn the AC off and the stop start comes back to life... its only recently started doing this. I'm assuming the compressor is working extra hard due to insufficient refrigerant hence the stop start issue.

Might be completely wrong but a £50 regas would be a good place to start. At 5 years old and 107k, it's fair enough assuming it not been done before I had it.

[Bored of Audi]

no point putting in gas if you don't locatebthe leak first, unless it's not been used and the crank case seal is dry. should be R134a for that year of manufacture

[Anton_555]

Update, just in case anyone’s interested....

Took it into Kwik Fit this morning for an aircon regas, £44 which I thought was ok.

Without tempting fate....., it seems to have resolved all the ailments. Air con ice cold, stop-start working again, odd hiss noises gone. The machine determined there was no leak.

Hopefully happy days!