1

                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.7

                              CONSENT OF APPRAISER


We hereby consent to the references made to us and/or our appraisal by BRL
Universal Equipment 2001 A, L.P.; BRL Universal Equipment Corp.; Universal
Compression Holdings, Inc.; and Universal Compression, Inc. under the captions
"Summary," "Risk Factors," "Description of other Financings," "Description of
the Notes" and "The Equipment" in the Prospectus constituting a part of this
Amendment No. 3. In addition, we consent to the filing of (i) our summarization
letter of the Appraisal Report referred to therein as an annex to this Amendment
No. 3, and (ii) the Appraisal Report dated as of February 9, 2001 covering High
Yield Synthetic Lease Portfolio Natural Gas Compressors prepared by us for
Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown, First Union Securities, Inc., Universal Compression,
Inc. and BRL Universal Equipment 2001 A, L.P. In giving such consent, we do not
thereby admit that we come within the category of persons whose consent is
required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules
and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.


                                       AMERICAN APPRAISAL ASSOCIATES, INC.


                                       By: /s/ PAULA D. BOST
                                       ----------------------------------------
                                               Paula D. Bost
                                               Corporate Secretary

Milwaukee, Wisconsin
May 14, 2001