Auxiliary Fan (Compression Shroud) DIY [Air Conditioning]

[reaganomics]

Auxiliary Fan (Compression Shroud) DIY
2001 X5 3.0i with ~105k (June 2009)

Symptom
The airconditiong (a/c) was not blowing clod air when the car was not moving. Observed the Auxiliary Fan in front of the car was not turning. Fuse 61 was ok. The A/C operated fine otherwise.


Purchased
Part No. 64 54 6 921 381 -Compression Shroud with Fan
Momentum BMW West (Houtson, TX)
Parts Guy gave it to me for $425…said that was wholesale. List Price on receipt was $510. The purchase also included four sets of brake pads with two sensors and wipers, so they gave me a nice break all around.

Time
Took me 2 hours 30 minutes…and this was my first one, and I was moving slow when taking things apart I was not familiar with. Putting it all back together was a breeze. To be honest, I hardly got dirty, besides from just sitting on the ground.

Tools
Ratchet
4in extension
8mm socket
10mm socket
13mm socket

10mm wrench
13mm wrench

Small flat head screwdriver
Needle nose pliers (or anything to help pull out the plastic rivets)
Egg carton and marker (to keep track of screws).

Step 1 –Remove the Front Bumper Cover.
This guide was very helpful to print…
http://www.xoutpost.com/articles/x5/body-style/9486-bmw-x5-front-bumper-cover-removal.html

10 x 8mm bolts (# 1-2, 11-19)
9 x 10mm bolts (# 3-10)

Step 2 –Loosen the Front Bumper
The bumper has 18 bolts (8 x 13mm nuts with washers and 10 x 10mm bolts).
Take all the bolts and nuts completely off. Don’t worry, the bumper won’t drop; although you can disconnect the wires for your horn if it makes you feel safer.
The bumper also has two plastic scoops mounted to the bottom. I left them on. It made one of the 13mm nuts (on each side) hard to get to, but I managed. I did remove the plastic rivet connecting it, but I don’t think that mattered. Yes, if those plastic scoops are completely unclipped, unscrewed, and unrivetted, you could go ahead and take the bumper off and make the fan part easier, but I’m not sure it’s worth it.

Step 3 –Remove the grill off of the fan.
This is the grill clipped onto the front. I didn’t remove my bumper, so I needed to do this to make room.

Step 4 –Remove two side shields
There are two shields on both sides of the fan, that guide the air in. They are held on by two plastic rivets each.

Step 5 –Remove Aux Fan
Unplug the Aux fan. Take out the two 10mm bolts (one on each side) on the sides near the bottom. Pull the bottom towards you and pull down. The top is just slide into guides on each side.

Now pull your grill off the new fan and go backwards.


Not sure that his can be done without touching the bumper itself. I didn’t really get any specific instruction for doing this. As I mentioned, I did this without completely pulling the bumper off, because I was too lazy to disconnect the plastic it was connected to. Those plastic pieces block the bumper from coming off completely.

[urcbmw8]

Hello there,
I have 2001 X5 4.4i and I just had my radiator replaced because it broke and I still smell kind of burning coolant. However, I am wondering about the aux fan outside sitting in front of Radiator, does this fan suppose to turn or blow all the time or just when it gets hot. Does this aux fan help to cool radiator or this fan is just for A/C? The main fan inside works fine every time I turn on the engine. I just concern about the aux fan outside, does this fan have anything to do with Radiator? Why my radiator broke? Is it normal when you reach 150,000 miles. Please advise.

[rph74]

Thank you for this DIY! Got my fan working like a charm now!

[AW8]

Old thread but saw little point in staring a new one

I see rivets have been removed.

Am I correct in assuming a rivet gun & rivets are required for the refit ?

Happy for answer from OP or anyone who has swapped out their auxillary (push/aircon), fan & refitted with a new replacement item.

Thanks in advance

[meltdown325]

Originally Posted by AW8

Am I correct in assuming a rivet gun & rivets are required for the refit ?

You won't need a rivet gun.

The rivets referred to in the DIY are those black plastic rivets used throughout the vehicle. The rivets are reuseable, and the only tool needed to remove/replace them is a pair of pliers.

Good luck.

[AW8]

That's great ........many thanks for quick & accurate response.

This job will need doing at some point as aux fan not working & diagnostic fault shows on both my Peake & my independent BMW specialists GT1. I believe it is also causing a parasitic current drain so my CTEK 3600 charger is having to be used to avoid flat battery. I changed FSR within last 20k miles & know that's all good.

Will refer to the above d.i.y guide & TIS.

When I get around to doing this I will try to take & share fan removal pictures.

Sorting cracked sump on the Z3 2.2i is 1st priority, then X5 discs/pads, then the X5 Aux fan & then other odd bits. Timing not good as apart from Z3 issues I just replaced the BM54 module on the X5 - insurance renewal due this week too..... Anyway best not go off topic with my moans & ramblings.

Thanks again

[infamous212]

Hey Guys,

I know this thread is OLD... however, I need help here from you guys.
After owning my x5 for the past two months, I just happen to notice that my x5 DOESN"T have this AUX fan in front of the radiator!!! It all makes sense as to why the A/C doesn't blow cold air from the start, instead it takes a while like 5 minutes of driving. Anyways, I'm trying to figure out the mounting spot where this fan assembly mounts to the radiator but I can't find any screw holes on either side of the radiator... and where does the fan plug connects to?

I will appreciate you guys for any pics and inputs!!!


Thanks,
John

[ylwjacket]

Don't know if you found it yet, but see this:
BMW TIS - 17 40 000 Removing and installing/replacing complete auxiliary fan (M62, M54, M57)

[mysweetx5]

The BMW X5 has two fans. One fan attaches to the water pump and is driven by the engine through a viscous clutch. This fan resides behind the radiator and pulls air through it. The second fan is an electric unit that mounts in front of the radiator and pushes air through it. This is the auxiliary fan. The auxiliary fan serves two purposes. It forces air through the engine coolant radiator and automatically turns on at a low speed if the temperature of the coolant rises above a certain level. The second purpose of the auxiliary fan is to force air through the air conditioning condenser. If this fan fails in your BMW X5, pick up the replacement auxiliary fan assembly by Behr.

[infamous212]

mysweetX5, thanks for explaining in details. My confusion here is WHY '04 -'06 yr models don't have this AUX fan which is found in front of the radiator like pre-facelifted yr models?