Air Conditioning

[Liaison19@xxxxxxx]

Hello all,

My A/C does not blow cold.  The previous owner of my BMW told me that the
compressor needs to be replaced ($400).  I found a notation at the bottom of a
repair receipt dated 2/98, which stated that the A/C compressor needs to be
replaced.  However, there was no charge for diagnosing this problem.

I also found in the maintenance records that the freon had been replaced twice
in the last four years.

My mechanic told me that he car did not have any freon in it, and the only way
to determine the problem, was to shoot freon with a dye into the lines and
inspect for leaks.  I told him what the previous owner had said about the
compressor, but he insisted that the only way to determine the problem is to
shoot dye into the system.  The mechanic wants $170 to perform this procedure.

Does anyone know if there is a cheaper way to determine what the problem is?
Since this is my first time to this mechanic, I am a bit skeptical.

Also, will it hurt anything if I wait until spring and have this problem
fixed?

Michael 
1987 325iC

------------------------------