Fan Destroyed my Radiator - Page 2

m5james · #1 03-27-2010, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weasel

The mechanical fan that is attached to the waterpump via viscous coupling/clutch is the basic design fan, not ring connected. The ones with the outer ring connecting the blades are the electric fans.

Although I have considered replacing my mechanical fan with en electric puller fan simply wired to a thermostatic control... would be easy to do and could free up one or 2 HP by putting less load on the belt most of the time. I know the AUX fan already does that, I'd likely set this one a couple degrees cooler and use it in addition to/in place of. But that is on the back burner, for a future job.

I removed the mechanical fan long ago on my 7 for a fan similar in size to the one used on the Zionsville 540/740 kits. I still plan on getting that aluminum radiator and fan combo some day, but in the meantime, my electric fan upgrade cost me maybe $100 for the fan and thermostatic controller. As an FYI, removing the fan shroud makes for an easier installation, but don't leave it off otherwise the fan will just swirl air around instead of actually pulling it through the radiator. The fan I got filled the shroud opening just as well as the mechanical fan, and it definately pulls plenty of air and doesn't give me any problems in the 100* summers I get.

J.Belknap · #2 03-27-2010, 02:58 AM

Weasel, that's very interesting... I'll post a picture of my mechanical fan tomorrow when there's daylight. If our mechanical fans don't have a connecting outer ring, then I have something very different on my X.

o/t: FWIW, I ran without the mech fan in the winter to see what would happen. (At the time, without understanding how the system worked) No noticeable change in engine response, and the X warmed up quicker. No overtemp, but it was winter. Now understanding how it works, I realized that that was pointless. (Doh)

m5james · #3 03-27-2010, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J.Belknap

Weasel, that's very interesting... I'll post a picture of my mechanical fan tomorrow when there's daylight. If our mechanical fans don't have a connecting outer ring, then I have something very different on my X.

o/t: FWIW, I ran without the mech fan in the winter to see what would happen. (At the time, without understanding how the system worked) No noticeable change in engine response, and the X warmed up quicker. No overtemp, but it was winter. Now understanding how it works, I realized that that was pointless. (Doh)

I did that on my M5 for a while, but I wouldn't recommend it. Long story short, but the car got close to overheating one time while sitting too long in traffic when I wasn't paying attention. It's not worth the risk, especially considering how prone the V8's are to overheating problems.

J.Belknap · #4 03-29-2010, 05:32 PM

After reading more about it, I promptly reinstalled it. Anyhow, I took a picture today.

you're saying that your mech fan does not have a connecting ring like this?

flatlander · #5 01-02-2011, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J.Belknap

After reading more about it, I promptly reinstalled it. Anyhow, I took a picture today.

you're saying that your mech fan does not have a connecting ring like this?

FYI.

On Autohausaz.com I saw that the fan and clutch for X5s produced up through 05/2002 were updated with an out ring on the fan as in the picture above.

The fan has an outer ring and is part number 17417504732.
The clutch is part number 17417505109.

m5james · #6 03-29-2010, 06:07 PM

Not at all, in either car. Weird. At least you've got less to worry about when it comes to the fan breaking, but I still like the electric conversion I did better. Did you notice the throttle tip-in difference w/ the fan clutch and blades removed like I did?

J.Belknap · #7 03-29-2010, 06:21 PM

Negligible... Maybe in my head, and the butt dyno registered nothing. It was more of an experiment than anything. I lump it in with "lightweight" underdrive pulleys and other snakeoil mods. Now, I'm all about that zionsville rad and electric fan option when the factory (whatever I have) fan bites the dust. I thought this was stock, and that's why I was surprised to hear about a fan blade explosion (from overspinning) on an e53.

m5james · #8 03-29-2010, 09:13 PM

I don't think my butt dyno registered an increase in power either, but I do agree that it's basically a snakeoil kind of "mod" since there is less drag on the engine. I don't think it'll add power by any means, but I'd imagine that it'll allow things to spin up easier. Also, deleting the fan clutch and plastic blades means just one less thing to worry about.

I haven't seen the Zionsville option for the E53, but it would be a nice upgrade. Like I've said though, it's interesting for me to see all the M62 problems that happened in the 5, 6, 7, 8 and M series cars finally trickling onto the X5 boards.

Nik · #9 01-02-2011, 04:37 PM

My fan has one blade broken (It was there when I bought it) Could find used fan like mine because as said above clutch is different and in BMW dealerships they are all updated. I'm realy worried about it, as vibration could damage pump. Non OE is also scary so I guess I'll have to wait till they take X apart...

tdgard · #10 01-03-2011, 04:34 AM

I've had two come off. On my E21 the fan came off and went sideways through my radiator--that one was my fault. I overtorqued the bolts into the waterpump--12lbs MEANS 12lbs. Then I had a single blade come off and go through the hood on my E34. Kind of glad it chose to go up, because fixing a hood was alot cheaper than if it would have gone through the fuse block or into the airconditioning system which is what surrounds it on that car.

Never thought about it, but I'm kind of glad the N62 uses an electric fan completely enclosed in a shroud.