Paying for a air conditioning refill?

Question

Hi.

My BMW Mini's air conditioning stopped working in July. The BMW dealership couldn't identify the cause of the problem, and they just refilled the air conditioning system (costing £150).

Last week the Mini's air conditioning failed again. The BMW have quoted £300 to replace a few seals and refill the air conditioning system. Should they be charging me for refilling the air conditioner again?

Thanks.

Answer 1

They are ripping you off. 150 for a refill sounds very expensive, if that is all they did. Take a look at the invoice.

It is not right that you should pay again because it was their fault that they did not identify the problem the first time around. Ask them if they would have treated the owner of a BMW X5 the same way as they are treating a Mini owner.

As other comments above, I would demand a refund and get a specialist to replace the seals. This garage is clearly incompetent.

Answer 2

Well, yes and no. The dealership in the first place should have pressure tested the system before just giving the first refill. But, many times a refill is all a car needs so that's all they did. But you having a leak caused all of the gas to run out and when they repair the seal they will have to open the system and then refill again. So they are not charging you for something you don't need or that they are not doing from what you explained what they are charging is necessary

Answer 3

Well yes, but I would find out what kind of freon they are using and price it somwhere else, make sure they arn't overcharging you for the freon itself because a can is like anywhere between $5- $20 here. Also you have to look at the labor which is of course the most expensive, the seals aren't expensive, but putting them in is a b****. Refilling freon isn't like refilling a fluid where some of it is left over, when you ac goes out it is leaking a gas hence all of it is released, the only thing that might still be in the system is the oil that is used to basically wet the seal causing it to expand and make contact with the metal tube.
Ps. if it's just seals and a freon charge you might be better off with an ac specialist. (b sure they have an ac certification before they touch your car)

Answer 4

I would say that if it were leaking in the first place when they filled it they should have known, usually you will hear leaks in the system, then see them. If they filled it the first time and you had no problems I would say it was fine then you used it and it damaged the seals, I would say your compressor is going bad, I would make them check it and see if that is your problem. But yes unfortunately you are going to have to pay. They cannot guarantee the gas won't leak out, and if it did hold the first time then nothing you can do. Certain items are not the fault of the dealer. They do the repairs, it is your duty to make sure it is in proper order before you sign the repair copy and do so in a reasonable amount of time. Most places will let you return the vehicle the same day if the problem is unfixed and try again at repairing it.

Answer 5

any time they take apart any part of the air conditioning system they have to re-pressurize the gas, and fill in with the right gas, U will have to pay again tho, U shouldn't really, but they will say that they did nothing to the seals so it not their fault, if they had done some work on them, then U might of had a case for not paying again.

i know they should have seen it last time but what can U do

Answer 6

Hi! Are you fully Insured ? - take a can of 4* and a box of Swan Vesta's to it.. And get another car... You will get nothing but grief from a BMW dealership - they have that snooty - oohhh! You are buying a Mini... ( especially from Douglas Park's in Hamilton )
Did you actually pay them ? I would have had the Service Manager over the desk - by the throat.. get back down there and kick up Mary Hell. Get them to replace it .. Good Luck..

Answer 7

If it is an honest dealership, they should cut you some slack and not charge you for the adding of freon again since they did not diagnose your problem correctly to begin with. They should have detected that your seals were leaking before they ever let you drive it out of there.

Answer 8

If it wasn't a BMW they wouldn't dare. Since it is, they figure you are so rich that you won't even notice gouging.

They should have checked for leaks on the first visit. If they had, all that expensive refrigerant wouldn't have escaped. Now they want you to pay for them doing it right the second time.

You should go to a place that specializes in auto airconditioning and that has a warranty on their work.

Answer 9

hi, it unquestionably relies upon on who you're taking it to a pair shops will cost a value for evacuating the device and then yet another value for charging the device. shop around and get the best a threat value. additionally does this compressor have a leak? if so, the freon would have already leaked out so all you will desire to do is purely have it charged. notice that some shops do unlike doing the tip artwork and could make it generic that they at the instant are not in charge for any issues that would happen. stable luck.

Answer 10

Unfortunately, yes.

They will find the solution this time, or, next time, its free!

But, I will be willing to bet, that you are going to need a new compressor and system, so they will just charge you for the whole thing next time and if I were you, I would have them deduct the expense of what they did this time.

I wish you well..

Jesse