Thread: GOE Compressor Guard

Originally Posted by Fred Nerk

Not one to complain....but 15 months ago my MY12 D4 required the compressor up-grade. My previously installed GOE plate now no longer fits. GOE have been trying to come up with a solution in the form of a spacer of some sort, but I have given up on ever getting it. I am on my second plastic cover as the unprotected compressor cover is vulnerable (which is why I bought the plate in the first place).

If you have had a compressor replaced be aware that the GOE plate does not fit over all installations...........yet.

Have to admit a mate of mine more practical than I fitted my compressor plate to my MY12 (late) and I don't know if it has the upgraded compressor fitted OEM or not but it did not take the five minutes the Gordon thought it would take to fit. It took over30 minutes and a fair bit of language came from under the car as i recall. Not so much difficult to fit but my mate was not happy with how the inboard fitting was done. He thought it was vulnerable to damaging the plastic cover at the fitting point if it receive a decent whack. Perhaps the design needs a bit of tweeking for later models.

When I first fitted the plate (before the compressor was replaced) it was an easy job and quick to do. Now the compressor extends lower and the plate cannot bear upon the sill/rock slider or the chassis rail. Any impact on the plate would be transferred to the compressor. Perhaps this explains the problem your mate was having.

Gordon tells me that there is some variability in the fitting of the new compressor, but if the compressor is fitted properly the plate should fit. I have upgraded my compressor and the plate went back on fine, although I have to admit I didn't do it myself.

I checked the fasteners for my compressor and it is fitted as far into the space available as the tolerances will allow. The plate misses contact with one or other rail by 20mm depending on how it is "persuaded" during fitting. Gordon has indicted on a few occasions that mine is not the only one. He is working on a solution, but my car has been "at risk" for well over a year while I wait.

I recently received a suggestion from Gordon to see if the protection plate would fit with the lower plastic cover for the compressor removed. This morning I played around with the compressor and covers etc. again.

When I took off the lower plastic compressor cover the protection plate almost fitted. I decided to try to be “more creative”. Next I removed the top cover and undid all the mounting bolts and screws that held the compressor in position. I lowered it out without disconnecting any hoses or wires I wanted to check that the compressor had been installed as high as possible and that nothing was jammed above the top cover causing it to be displaced downwards. The rear air conditioner pipes are up there but not in the way.

No obvious issue was found so I repositioned the top plastic compressor cover and reinstalled the compressor. To be sure it was seated as high as possible I used a jack to support (and gently tweak) the bracket as I tightened the bolts.

I retried the GOE plate without the lower plastic compressor cover and it fitted easily. So easily, that I put the lower plastic compressor cover on again and while it is a “snug fit” the GOE plate fitted properly.

I drilled a slot in the GOE rock slider to allow a second bolt to fit through from the Compressor Plate to the car’s pre existing threaded hole (the rearmost one). Everything is sitting nicely and resting where it should.

I feel much more confident that the compressor is protected again.

I had the new comp installed a year or so back (D4 MY11, early). The plastic cover seemed to hang lower than the OEM (well below the chassis), so I put on a GOE plate - with bit of fiddling, fitted OK, without pushing on the cover. Just back from 12k thru central road and various side tracks, about half on gravel. Plate got a beating from stones, but seems to have done the job.