4.4 water pump nightmare

[faranks]

hello, new to this forum, bought a 2000 x5 4.4 with 80k on it about 4 months ago... water pump grenaded yesterday. looked like it was easily accessible and didn't want to pay for something typically simple, so tackled it myself. Everyone talks about removing the 32mm nut on the fan clutch being so easy (yes it's reverse threaded), maybe with the special bmw tool, but I cannot even remove the fan shroud without removing fan first, and don't see how it's possible. Anyways, does anyone know why the M62 engine needs 2 fans? it has a large electric fan that looks plenty up to the job, yet it has the other fan running through an archaic viscous clutch, that correct me if I'm wrong- just runs slower and slower as the fluid inside thins with heat. Has anyone removed that fan and just ran with the electric? Also nice $85 thermostat that sans the housing, looks just like the $6 one in my Ford truck. Love the way it drives though!! thanks