BMW Repair: BMW 2000 323 i, bmw technician, center vent

Question
Evan,
My AC is working on one side of the car.  When I run the AC, the passenger side vents (the dashboard vent near the window and the right center vent as well) blow warm air while the driver side dashboard vents are cold.  Are there 2 compressors for this car or is this more indicative of a leak in the system.  What should I expect when I take it to a mechanic; new compressor or run a leak test?

Answer
Mark, One A/C compressor on your car. This is a classic symptom of under-charge/leak on a BMW A/C system. Take the car in to a reputable BMW Technician and have them recover the refrigerant and see if it was indeed under charged. Look for oil build up around components and fittings. Replace leaking components as necessary. See if the system will hold vacuum. If it does then add A/C florescent dye to the system and recharge with refrigerant. NEVER USE REFRIGERANT WITH SEALANT OR STOP LEAK. Drive the car and wait unit the A/C refrigerant leaks out again and look for the dye oil residue.
-Evan