A/C Evaporator replacement

[NTjunk]

Does anyone know if it's possible to get a non-OEM A/C evaporator for a B8.5 A4? I can't find much in on Audizine about this, other than this thread:
https://www.audizine.com/forum/showt...ght=evaporator

Post #28 mentions Audi part number is 8K1898191A. This part is currently available from a number of sources, in the $800-$1100 range.
There used to be a Hella/Behr alternative, part# 351330671, which is much cheaper... but it appears to no longer be available anywhere.

And then there are a number of questionable sources listing the Audi part number, some as cheap as $45.

Has anyone replaced their evaporator recently? I'd rather not remove the entire dash/etc., but I've done it before on other cars, so that doesn't scare me off. But I want to make sure I get the right part- supposedly the OEM part has removable hard lines, which makes it possible (maybe?) to do the job without removing the dash.

Any recent insight or experience from the Audizine family would be great.

[Smac770]

8K1 898 191 A would be B8.0, not B8.5. Evap core and housing for B8.5 A4 is 8T1 898 191 A, then replaced by 8T1 898 191 B, now replaced by 8T1 898 191 D. That ain't cheap, similar price as to the 8K... B8.0 unit. Behr is the OEM, but that doesn't mean Behr is (still) bothering to make an OEM unit available through the aftermarket supply chain.

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...or/8t1898191d/ Can see the Behr sticker on the core.

The xxx 898 191 p/n is the evap core with housing. The evap core alone, for B8.0, is 8K1 898 967 A. There appears to be no 8T1 898 967 p/ns for B8.5.

If we look at the Mahle (Behr) online catalog for a B8.5 A4:
https://web.tecalliance.net/mahle-ca...248;groups:471

we see AE 222 000S is an active unit. Notice the size specs are different than the other two entries, which are marked Premium Line, and probably more equate to the OE units. And your reference 351330671 is listed under the "no longer available" AE 89 000P. So is the AE 222 000S the correct size for the 8T1... housing while the others are for the 8K1... housing? Insufficient details.

https://web.tecalliance.net/mahle-ca...rue;groups:471

https://www.ebay.com/itm/235728082907
But that's the core for the 8K1... housing for B8.0.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/167050554151
There seems to be purely zero western hemisphere presence for the aftermarket B8.5 core. Notice this one is from Latvia. Make sure you use a credit card that you call up and say screw them when buying from that region if they try and dick you.

You're not replacing the evap core without taking the dash apart. The heater core, that can be replaced by just removing the glove box and blower motor housing.