Hey, I wanted to thank you all for your posts re: the A/C clutch. Mine went out on my '05 MCS a few weeks ago and I was contemplating replacing the clutch coil with the one on Ebay. However, I spoke to my mechanic and he said, "Call Roy." He picked up the phone and called Roy at AAA Radiator and A/C in North Miami (305) 947-3501. Roy had the part and was able to put it on the same day for $260.00 total parts and labor! He told me that he gets a couple of Minis every week and reached behind his office desk and pulled out the belt adjustment tool! He told me that they don't even take the bolts out and drop the compressor. They've figured out how to replace the clutch coil while the compressor is still bolted in place.

Anyway, I have A/C again--just in time for the Florida summer.

Even though I lucked into Roy, had I not known what the problem was by reading this thread, I might have gone elsewhere and been taken for huge dollars. Again, thanks for your posts!

This site has helped me to replace my front rotors and front and rear brake pads, do a tune up to the engine, replace the air filters (engine and cabin), replace the cooling fan resistor, add the MP3 connector that the dealer forgot to put in when I ordered my car back in '05, etc. Thank you NAM!

 

Chuck - midnightbluel81,

One of my lines has developed a leak. The plastic lower part of the bumper has lost all of the bolts holding it, and caused it to hit/rub onto one of the ac lines. I believe it is the longer line, (kind of hard to track them all without lifting it up). When you replaced the lines, did you have to access the evaporator connection in the dash? Or does that long line connect at the firewall in the engine compartment?

Not looking forward to it...

btw, my compressor is not activating. Tried jumping the 30 and 87 pins at the relay connection. I don't hear the clutch actuating... Tried to put some freon/UV to see if the correct pressure would turn on the compressor, that didn't work either (which is when I found the leak). Tried jumping the low pressure switch, but it is very difficult to do since the pins are so small in the connector.

 

AutoXJohn et al.,

3 weeks ago before I left for vacation the AC clutch would turn on but it barely blew cold. Now I hear no clutch noises and its ambient temp air.

You R53 guys have a nice long thread on this issue. I can find nothing on AC diagnosis in the R56 forum. I realize these are different vehicles but Im hoping they are similar enough that you can explain how to jump the AC compressor. Blower moves air, AC light comes on, but its ambient temp. I dont hear the clutch engaging. The engine idle changes when I hit the AC button but no clutch engagement noise.

I have a dual gauge manifold and it shows 90 psi on the low side and 95 psi high side with engine on or off on a 90F degree day. So I dont need a recharge, yes? Rather, it seems the clutch wont engage for some other reason.

I dont see an AC relay in this car. I checked the 10amp and 5 amp fuses for AC an they are in tact. Need to find that relay.

Car 140k miles, bought it from a friend (original owner).

Can you briefly explain how you jumped the AC compressor?

 

The thread above yours, which was last updated 2 years ago has the information for the R50/R53, you will have to find your own relay connections. There are also pictures, videos and meter readings in here you could look at. It only has 1 wire going to the a/c clutch on these cars, no idea on your series, it most likely is the same though and you could check the readings from that connector.

 

Cheapest fix first is to replace the clutch coil they are also notorious for going bad

 

you know the last post on the entire NAM by bd8134 was back in 2015? he most likely sold the mini, or better pushed it down a cliff and living happily after.