For a cool head: retrofit air conditioning in the car!

Recently updated on October 23, 2023 at 07:49 am

[Update: 23.10.2023] This post was updatedto take more recent information into account. No driver wants to do without air conditioning on hot days these days. Older and simple models usually do not have air conditioning and if you are traveling with a classic car, it may only be a manual one Swamp Cooler / Car Cooler installed. Anyone who is thinking about retrofitting an air conditioning system should think it through carefully, be well informed and, above all, not underestimate the costs. Retrofitting an air conditioning system is almost always technically possible, but the effort is sometimes huge.

Retrofit air conditioning in your car

For the work, the entire dashboard has to be removed in order to install the evaporator, which releases the evaporative cooling into the interior. This step alone is very complex for some vehicles. In addition, additional switches must be used so that the air conditioning can be adjusted and operated.

Of course, this also changes the look of the dashboard. Other components such as a compressor, dryer, condenser and the corresponding lines affect the engine compartment. The compressor takes the energy it needs directly from the engine. In small, low-horsepower cars, this has a measurable, albeit small, effect on performance. The running air conditioning also uses additional fuel.

The costs should not be underestimated!

Before ordering a new system, you should find out whether air conditioning was already available as an option ex works for the vehicle you want. It's worth looking for a suitable, used, but still functional air conditioning system. Local dealers or the Internet can help you achieve success here. You may be able to save a few euros here. An air conditioning system should be installed by a specialist workshop. However, it is precisely this that is the major cost factor due to the great effort involved in the renovation work. For simple models, the total costs are rarely less than EUR 2.000. For more complex work and rare models, the costs can be a good 4.000 euros or significantly higher.

Retrofitting air conditioning in your car is often not worth it

The high cost factor means that it is often not worth retrofitting an air conditioning system on an inexpensive small car. For owners of valuable classic cars, this investment makes more economic sense. But be careful: If you want to make driving your beloved classic car more pleasant and want to install air conditioning, you should find out more carefully beforehand. Under certain circumstances, the upgrade could cause the car to lose its classic car status, including the sought-after one H-plates, And an air conditioning system is very maintenance-intensive and can be another cost factor in the event of a defect.

Retrofitting air conditioning: What you need!

Conclusion on installing the air conditioning system

Installing air conditioning not only increases the comfort of driving in the summer, but often also the value of the car. However, retrofitting an air conditioning system is usually only worthwhile for vintage cars, particularly valuable or rare models. Some providers even offer special conversion kits that can be selected depending on the vehicle. After all, especially with a classic car, it is not necessarily easy to get used parts that still work and can be successfully installed in your own vehicle.

Such a kit is usually available for a few €100, but there are still installation costs. If it is a normal small car, you should consider that it may make more sense and probably be easier to buy a used car with air conditioning. Before an air conditioning system is subsequently installed, you should find out about the individual effort and corresponding costs from a workshop.

FAQ: Retrofitting air conditioning in your car

1. Is it possible to retrofit air conditioning in every car?

• In principle, there is almost always the possibility Retrofitting air conditioning into your car. However, it is worth considering the costs in relation to the benefits and value of the vehicle. In some cases, particularly small cars, retrofitting could be prohibitively expensive.

2. How much does the retrofit cost?

• When installed by a specialist workshop, the costs usually range between 3.000 and 4.000 euros. But for easily accessible vehicles, the costs can start at around EUR 2.000.

3. What should classic car owners pay attention to?

• Retrofitting an air conditioning system seems to be for Oldtimer to be attractive. But if the manufacturer did not provide air conditioning at the time, the classic car status can be jeopardized. It is advisable to check this in advance.

4. How difficult is it to install an air conditioning system?

• Installation can be very complicated and it is often necessary to dismantle the entire dashboard. In addition, many individual components such as Air conditioning compressor, V-belt, condenser and evaporator to obstruct.

5. What impact does air conditioning have on fuel consumption?

• An air conditioner draws its energy directly from the engine, resulting in a increased fuel consumption can lead.

6. What alternative cooling methods are there?

• Alternatives like Fans, solar powered cooling systems or mobile air conditioners could be considered. But their efficiency can vary and they may not offer the same comfort as a full air conditioning system.

We hope that you have read the info report on the topic / term Air conditioning (Further designations / keywords: air conditioning unit, roof air conditioning system, parking air conditioning system, air cooler, fan, air conditioner, cooling fan, air conditioning cooler, air conditioning condenser) out of the area auto Tuning liked. Our goal is that the largest German-speaking tuning lexicon (Tuning Wikipedia) and to explain tuning technical terms from A to Z easily and comprehensibly.

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