E36 A/C Compressor belt - Can I drive without it?

[sean2000]

I have a 1993 Automatic, 325IS. The A/C Compressor makes a lot of grinding noise and can't get cold air out of it. I was told the A/C Compressor is bad and needs to be replaced ($1000).

1) can I can take the belt off, and drive w/o air?
2) will this damage anything?

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Sean

[im]

if the belt ONLY turns the compressor then no issues.
this is the way me 1996 e36 is convert. is set-up.
note $1000 sounds out of line unless it is a dealer..most times you can purchase a rebuilt..they change out the rubber seals and bearings..replace bottle and replace with "new" gas..
another note : when they put the new allowed gas it will not cool exactly the same..about 80% as efficient...

[sean2000]

Thanks for your input.
The belt only drives the compressor. I'll take it off and look into a rebuilt one.

~Sean

[E36 Phantom]

No, you can't. The belt powers the power steering pump and the alternator.

[B/\/\W]

No, you can't. The belt powers the power steering pump and the alternator.

Unless it is pre 1994, in which case there is no serpentine belt. Is that correct? I thought a separate series of belts was used on the earlier models.

[toddstaples]

i'm driving with my A/C compressor belt off right now... I had the same issue as you.. but my A/C compressor went and was making a super annoying whining noise...

[E36 Phantom]

WTF? Separate belts? I thought it used a serpentine?

I have a sinking feeling I'm about to be owned..... :(

[sean2000]

if the belt ONLY turns the compressor then no issues.
this is the way me 1996 e36 is convert. is set-up.
note $1000 sounds out of line unless it is a dealer..most times you can purchase a rebuilt..they change out the rubber seals and bearings..replace bottle and replace with "new" gas..
another note : when they put the new allowed gas it will not cool exactly the same..about 80% as efficient...
Thank you all for your input. There are two separate belts. I took off the one driving the a/c compressor and the noise is gone.

However, I noticed that the heater does not come on (cold air come out) while the car is in idle, only warns up when in motion... not sure if this has anything to do with compressor.

[BMWredneck]

WTF? Separate belts? I thought it used a serpentine?

I have a sinking feeling I'm about to be owned..... :(

My car has 2 belts, 1 is a serpentine. That is my drive belt for the crank shaft and all the good stuff. not sure what the name is of the 2nd belt, really dont care as long as its good. The other belt runs form the big ass pulley in the center and goes to the compressor.
96 318is, M44.

Driving without your A/C belt is just fine, except your A/C wont work which obviously it isnt working, so save some load on your engine and yank the sucker off. But first loosen the tensioner pulley then yank haha, but yank with ease.

[ColumbusBMW]

No, you can't. The belt powers the power steering pump and the alternator.

I have a 94 325is and there a 2 belts. One turns the AC compressor only. The serpentine belt drives everything else. I changed my serpentine belt and I had the wrong AC belt so I left it off. No problem with leaving it off.

[ColumbusBMW]

WTF? Separate belts? I thought it used a serpentine?

I have a sinking feeling I'm about to be owned..... :(

No sweat Chad. You are always on the money so we can let this one slide. Keep your head up brother.:thumbup:

[B/\/\W]

No sweat Chad. You are always on the money so we can let this one slide. Keep your head up brother.:thumbup:

No he's utterly useless and should be punished. :mad:

Just kidding :) :thumbup:

[oakley]

So just confirm for me... The newer cars shouldnt be driven right??
I was told by the dealer ages ago my A/C belt could do with being replaced and I just havent got round to it as I dont really use A/C that much (being in the UK and all!!)
If my belt snapps whilst im driving is going to do any damage to anything else?? The cars a E36 year 2000... I have 2 seperate belts but im really not that mechanical so dont know which one is which or what they are for!! :)

[ColumbusBMW]

So just confirm for me... The newer cars shouldnt be driven right??
I was told by the dealer ages ago my A/C belt could do with being replaced and I just havent got round to it as I dont really use A/C that much (being in the UK and all!!)
If my belt snapps whilst im driving is going to do any damage to anything else?? The cars a E36 year 2000... I have 2 seperate belts but im really not that mechanical so dont know which one is which or what they are for!! :)

If the shorter belt only spins the crank pulley and the AC pulley then you don't really need it. It is ok to drive without it. If the belt controls anything else then you can not drive without it.

[sean2000]

So just confirm for me... The newer cars shouldnt be driven right??
I was told by the dealer ages ago my A/C belt could do with being replaced and I just havent got round to it as I dont really use A/C that much (being in the UK and all!!)
If my belt snapps whilst im driving is going to do any damage to anything else?? The cars a E36 year 2000... I have 2 seperate belts but im really not that mechanical so dont know which one is which or what they are for!! :)

You should replace the a/c belt or take it off. If the belt snaps it could cause real damage (i.e. run into the fan, in turn sent the fan crashing into the radiator, etc...) it happened to my 1994 325IC years ago.

[ColumbusBMW]

+1