How to

Depressurizing the A/C on a BMW 330e

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Some vehicles use the air conditioning system to cool a high voltage battery. In this case, depressurizing the system is a more complex task.

In this video, Matt, our Delphi expert, walks you through the de-pressurizing process step by step on a BMW 330e. He shows you how to:

Identify the refrigerant type
Set up your service station
Prepare the service ports and connect your de-gassing machine
Run the process
Drain the refrigerant

Maintenance Solutions How to Distributors Shop Owners Technicians 1 min read

Why would I need to depressurize the A/C system?

There are a number of reasons, not least to fix a fault in the A/C system itself. But on this particular model, depressurizing will be required before disassembly of the HV battery pack.

Why do some cars use A/C to cool their batteries?

There are three reasons why this is done. Firstly, liquid or direct refrigerant cooling can be more effective than air cooling, particularly in hot climates. Secondly, air conditioning helps maintain an optimal temperature, which in turn extends battery life. Thirdly, some high-performance EVs need cooling to allow faster DC fast charging.

How many different types of refrigerant are there?

There are four types of refrigerant commonly found in car air conditioning systems. In order from oldest to newest, they are R-12, R-134a, R-1234yf, and R-744.

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