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leeshephard Trainee
Joined: 11 Jan 2009 Posts: 85
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Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2016 7:46 am Post subject: BEHR/Hella Condenser not fitting
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Morning, I am (finally) sorting my AC at the moment and currently replacing the condenser but the d*mn thing wont fit into the metal bracket/housing. I don't want to force it in case it gets scratched then needs to go back.
I measured the old rad and it is about 39mm thick - the new one is 45mm.
Anyone had this issue?
Cheers
Lee
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Kat1 Monza
Joined: 04 Nov 2010 Posts: 155 Location: Ely, Cambs
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Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2016 10:23 am Post subject:
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I have heard of and read of this issue so before I recently bought one for my C4 I went to ECP and tried both the Hella and the NRF condenser in the "cassette".
As you state the Hella condenser was wider. I understand that the Hella condenser can be made to fit - you just need to be a bit more persuasive with it.
However I felt that in the unlikely event of a problem with the Hella condenser it would difficult to take it back if it showed signs of a reluctant fit.
Whilst I would have preferred to purchase the Hella I went for the one manufactured by NRF which slide straight in and cost me £98.62 plus vat
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leeshephard Trainee
Joined: 11 Jan 2009 Posts: 85
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Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2016 12:34 pm Post subject:
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Thanks!
Just phoned design911 and they are swapping for the NRF
Cheers
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Dream911 Indianapolis

Joined: 24 Dec 2008 Posts: 2422 Location: London
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Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2016 2:59 pm Post subject:
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I hadn't heard of that before. I was under the impression the hella was OEM.
You have me worried now as I've had a new one in the cupboard for over a year now which I've been meaning to fit. Let's hope they have only recently changed production.
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leeshephard Trainee
Joined: 11 Jan 2009 Posts: 85
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Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2016 11:11 am Post subject:
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Just wanted to update this as I have just received the NRF rad. It fits perfectly and just slides in! much better.
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kerb scraper Nürburgring

Joined: 25 May 2012 Posts: 395 Location: Hertfordshire
1997 Porsche 993 Carrera 4
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Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2016 11:25 am Post subject:
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Good result.
Last year I bought a condenser and dryer from Advanced Radiators. Price was very good and the dryer was perfect fit but the condenser was a bit too wide and didn't sit fully down in the "cassette".
There was time pressure as the mobile air conditioning chap was standing by to fill the system so I squeezed it in.
But I feel slightly ill whenever I think about it and occasionally wake up in a cold sweat.  _________________ 1997 C4 Cabriolet, Arctic Silver, black interior, 18" hollow spokes, Bilstein PSS10s, RSRs, 200 cell cats, Mobil 1 sticker, LED to interior. Bergville t-lights.
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Mike-M Spa-Francorchamps
Joined: 28 Jan 2010 Posts: 255
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Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2016 2:31 pm Post subject:
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kerb scraper wrote: | Good result.
Last year I bought a condenser and dryer from Advanced Radiators. Price was very good and the dryer was perfect fit but the condenser was a bit too wide and didn't sit fully down in the "cassette".
There was time pressure as the mobile air conditioning chap was standing by to fill the system so I squeezed it in.
But I feel slightly ill whenever I think about it and occasionally wake up in a cold sweat.  |
I done the same myself, 2 years later I was swapping it out as it rubbed against the cassette and bore a wear hole in it. The next one I purchased fit perfectly! Hopefully mine was a one off and you wont have the same wear problems. _________________ 1994 Aventura 993 C2 manual
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adrian993 Silverstone
Joined: 01 Jul 2014 Posts: 130
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Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2018 10:30 am Post subject:
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Ugh
Got myself into this mess now.
Have a hella/Behr condenser that’s too big
Around 5-8mm too long and too thick
Is there actually a proper way to get it to fit or is it just the wrong size and for the wrong car? Surely it’s way off... is there a different bracket?
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Endoman Barcelona

Joined: 11 Apr 2011 Posts: 1262 Location: Bolton U.K.
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Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2018 8:57 am Post subject:
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There seems to be 2 different manufacturers making these for Hella some fit some don't. Mine was ok but several reports of fat ones from Rennlist. _________________ Porsche 944 S2 Coupe Guards Red
Porsche 993 Coupe 9m RS Replica
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kerb scraper Nürburgring

Joined: 25 May 2012 Posts: 395 Location: Hertfordshire
1997 Porsche 993 Carrera 4
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Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2018 10:25 am Post subject:
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If possible, send the non-fitting condenser back and get another that does fit.
As mentioned in the thread, three years ago I squeezed in the slightly too fat one by messing about removing bits of bracket to make it sit a bit lower and then sawing a bit off a bolt protruding down from the headlight pod to give extra clearance. Not pretty but over three years later it is still working very well. If it fails I'd definitely use the fright size next time. _________________ 1997 C4 Cabriolet, Arctic Silver, black interior, 18" hollow spokes, Bilstein PSS10s, RSRs, 200 cell cats, Mobil 1 sticker, LED to interior. Bergville t-lights.
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9xxnick Monza
Joined: 29 Jul 2014 Posts: 156
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Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2018 8:11 pm Post subject:
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I fitted a Behr condenser about 4 years ago and had to replace it about a year ago due to leakage. The garage doing the swap (a well-respected independent specialist) said they'd had a number of reports of the Behr units failing, and recommended the NRF unit as a replacement.
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harryk Spa-Francorchamps

Joined: 24 May 2007 Posts: 359 Location: N.Ireland
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Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2018 9:09 am Post subject:
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Just bought the NRF receiver condenser and dryer based on this, thanks for the heads-up. _________________ 1995 993 C4 Coupe. Schwartz/Flamenco Red soft nappa leather. Exclusive leather everything, Exclusive extended centre console, MO33 suspension set up by CG, Chipwizards 287bhp remap, FDM Goldenrod & SSK, Techart exhaust, Techart pedal set, Tequipment dials, Tequipment handbrake & gearlever.
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Cameltoe & Heel Barcelona
Joined: 26 Jan 2009 Posts: 1251 Location: Preston - Lancs
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Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2018 1:50 pm Post subject:
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where from??
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harryk Spa-Francorchamps

Joined: 24 May 2007 Posts: 359 Location: N.Ireland
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Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2018 3:19 pm Post subject:
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Bought the condenser and dryer from buycarparts.co.uk. Was about £90 for both iirc _________________ 1995 993 C4 Coupe. Schwartz/Flamenco Red soft nappa leather. Exclusive leather everything, Exclusive extended centre console, MO33 suspension set up by CG, Chipwizards 287bhp remap, FDM Goldenrod & SSK, Techart exhaust, Techart pedal set, Tequipment dials, Tequipment handbrake & gearlever.
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kingston Österreich
Joined: 09 Jun 2010 Posts: 975
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adrian993 Silverstone
Joined: 01 Jul 2014 Posts: 130
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Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2018 12:54 pm Post subject:
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Is the behr/hella one just for a different purpose like a oil cooler or something? It’s a totally different size all in all!
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9xxnick Monza
Joined: 29 Jul 2014 Posts: 156
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Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2018 9:10 pm Post subject:
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No, it's definitely supposed to be an air conditioning system condenser. My suspicion is that they've outsourced production to a low-cost provider and the quality has fallen through the floor.
Unfortunately, that is all too common these days.
I have swapped out all my components (dryer, condenser, evaporator) for NRF units and they seem to be fine so far. My compressor is now leaking through the shaft seal though so that's next on the list.
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