Buy New and Used Van and Car parts

Find best value great quality parts at cheap prices for your car, van and 4X4s HERE!

Not sure of reg or non-UK reg? Enter make and model here

Not sure of reg? Enter Make and Model manually

Find any Van or Car Part for free, Saving time and Money £££

Find parts now

1Enter your Registration

2Select what parts you want

3Buy parts now or get free personalised quotes

Check our right part guarantee and see how your money is secure when purchasing on Breakeryard.com

Used BMW 3 Series Aircon Compressor

All used BMW 3 Series Aircon Compressor listed on Breakeryard.com are tested, original (OEM) manufacturer parts and come with a 14 day money back guarantee. Breakeryard.com list cheap new OES or aftermarket car parts at discounted prices or used OEM car parts up to 80% cheaper than main dealer prices for BMW 3 Series from premium breaker yards from across the UK.

About Aircon Compressor

Your car's air conditioning system conditions the air, which means whilst cooling the air in your car down, it also helps to ensure there isn't too much moisture in your car, so it stops the air getting too humid.  Your car's air conditioning unit also cleans the air in your car by filtering the dust and other particles from the air inside your car.

The 3 Series BMW aircon compressor, also referred to as the aircon pump, is usually found at the front of the engine, immediately inside the car grill. It looks similar to a small motor with a big wheel on the end of it, which is an electrically operated clutch that turns the compressor on and off when more cool air is required. The 3 Series BMW aircon compressor is powered by a serpentine belt which is attached to the crankshaft of the car's engine.

The 3 Series BMW aircon compressor is at the heart of the car's air conditioning system and its role is similar to that of a heart, in that it pumps the refrigerant gas around the closed loop air conditioning system to the aircon condenser. The aircon compressor, therefore, has a vital part to play and if it is damaged or faulty the entire air conditioning system will suffer. The 3 Series BMW aircon compressor works by using heat from the air in the car, pressurising it into hot gas and then pumping it into the aircon condenser, where it is cooled and then pumped into the aircon evaporator and flows into the car as cold air. This whole process is then repeated over and again.

Problems can, of course, occur with the 3 Series BMW aircon compresso. At worst, it can blow up as a result of high pressure or if there is not enough refrigerant vapour circulating, but this is rare. A leak in the aircon compressor will mean you're losing refrigerant and will need to be addressed.  The motor can be prone to overheating if the air conditioning system has not been fitted properly, for example, which can cause damage to the compressor. If the aircon system isn't producing any cold air at all, then it is likely to be a broken compressor or a slipping compressor clutch. A slipping compressor clutch can also be the cause of insufficient cold air. If you are having problems like this with the air conditioning in your car, it is a good idea to talk with your mechanic as you may need a new 3 Series BMW aircon compressor.

BMW 3 Series trivia

  • The combined sales of every 3 Series model adds up to around 14 million units, which puts it in the ranks of the best selling cars of all time.
  • The BMW Z3 was featured in the James Bond film, GoldenEye. The film saw sales figures skyrocket for the Z3, and the car was subsequently spotted in the following two Bond Films.
  • The 3 Series launched its motorsport debut in 1977 for the German Championship. Now, BMW is a firm fixture in motorsport.
  • Although the E21 sold around 1.36 million units, that seems insignificant compared to the E30 3 Series that launched in 1982 and sold 2.2 million units!
  • The E46 3 Series is the best selling BMW in the world. There has been an impressive 3,266,885 sales of the E46, an incredibly high number for what is, ultimately, a luxury car.