Reasons why I switched from a viscous fan to an aftermarket electric fan (16" Flex-A-Lite #238/105390):
1 https://youtu.be/wm_gulIsxQ4 and

2) https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...f3507480e3.jpg


Just after I got my X5 in '21, I was cautiously going over all the repairs and refits that had been done to it by the previous owner (who had bought it, and worked on it for 3.5 years, on my behalf, before we swapped vehicles), only a few items were overlooked, one of which was the mechanical fan. The aux fan worked fine, but I knew it wouldn't be enough to cool the engine, as summer was already there.

The '01's viscous fan was roaring, and upon inspection, I found a slight wobble in the viscous clutch, and chipped & cracked fan blades as well. I had always replaced mechanical fans on my trucks (and my dragrace '66 Chevelle) with the highest cfm electrics I could fit in, and to supplement the other fans they may have had already, for towing and/or being stuck in traffic (no speed-induced airflow). The exceptions are in my '04 Chevy 2500HD and '98 GMC, which still have their original viscous fans, and never needed any help with cooling.

Here's a thread I followed https://xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/...ctric-fan.html, while over-complicating and/or redneck engineering my solution (as is my way), but the fan works as desired, keeping my M54 nice & cool, even in stop & go Texas summer traffic. I've never had a Flex-A-Lite fan fail (I do have a spare fan relay, just in case), and their blades never come apart, either.

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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