I had previously replaced clutch fans to gain power, ability to cool without the engine running, or to switch to an electric water pump (no pulley, no mechanical drive for fan). Never waited for possible failure, before.

The guy I swapped cars with said it had always been noisy, but hadn't gotten any noisier during his ownership/restoration time, so he assumed all BMW clutch fans were this loud.

I spun the fan by hand, detected no bearing noise (not able to spin it fast, since it had normal viscous resistance), and no detectable wobble (even when running).

Nevertheless, I'm not going to keep the viscous (maybe "vicious"??, in reality) clutch, and later regret it when it blows and takes out multiple/expensive items with it.

P.S. I found a molded shroud on Amazon, ostensibly made to fit the OEM radiator, for less. Might just try it. "Topaz" branded (a good omen for my Topaz-blue X5), perhaps.

UPDATE: Despite the heat and humidity, I searched my tools and found a 32mm wrench, so I'll just need a "real" holder for the clutch/water pump bolts (tried a long screwdriver, once, but nearly poked a hole in the radiator); checked the wrench's fit, and it will work, even though the clutch fan had obviously been removed with a pipe wrench before.

The clutch is as I described, feels normal, but I noticed two fan blades have about 1" of material broken off (a long time ago, by the coloration). I won't need a new fan shroud, this one looks perfect; so I'll order a fan next week, and get to it.

__________________
01 BMW X5 E53,3.0i-5L40E, 7/13/01
topas-blau,Leder-grau,"resto-project car"

Here:
14 Lexus ES350,3.5L-U660E
09 HHR Panel,2.2L-4T45E
04 Chevy 2500HD,6.0L-4L80E
98 GMC Sierra 1500,5.7L-4L60E

Gone:
66 Chevelle Malibu 2dr ht.,327>441c.i.-TH350>PGlide/transbrake
08 Cobalt Coupe,2.2L-4T45E
69 & 75 C10s,350c.i.-TH350
86 S10,2.8L-700R4
73 Volvo 142,2.0L-MT4
72 & 73 VW SuperBeetles,1.6l-MT4
64 VW,1.2l-MT4
67 Dodge Monaco 500 2dr ht.,383c.i.-A727
56 Chevy 210 4dr,265c.i.-PGlide