Manufacturer of fan & clutch assembly for M54?

[TurnAround]

Just had some work done on my 3.0i M54. Valve cover gasket, radiator fan/clutch assembly, new tensioner pulleys, new belts.

I immediately noticed that when starting the engine cold and driving off, there is a fairly loud fan sound, in time with the engine rpm. So loud, it literally drowns out the (wonderful, and part of why I buy BMWs) sound of the engine. This fan sound lasts for 90 seconds, then its gone and everything sounds normal (you can hear the engine growel, sans loud fan).

If you accelerate off (loud fan happening), then hit the brakes, and start off again, you get the same rpm matched loud fan. IOW, It doesn't seem to matter how you drive / what you do in that 90 seconds.. the fan's gonna be loud.

If the engine is heated up, and you bring it to a stop, turn it off, fire it back up, and drive off... no loud fan. Only does it when its cold, first start.

I love my indy AutoHaus mechanic. Fantastic guys. Sooooo easy to work with, compared to the dealer. Mike says, "Drive it for two weeks. If you don't like it still, bring it back and we'll install the OEM fan and clutch". See.. part of why they're less expensive is that they will often use OE parts, as opposed to OEM. For example, my new front susp arms are OE. But.. I knew that. I'm cool with the OE parts, as long as they function IDENTICALLY to the BMW parts in every way.

Mike is saying they used a Sachs fan assembly on the recent work. If I was to have used the dealership, what is the manufacturer of the OEM BMW part?

Secondly, have any of you experienced this short lived loud fan issue?

One other thing; Mike said the old fan clutch was total toast. Just spun on the axle. IOW, I'd had NO fan for some time. One could argue that I'm only hearing this loud sound now, because I'd been without a fan at all for ___ months. But I swear to you, I've NEVER heard this particular flavor of noise from my X.

Thanks!

[ArmyX5]

The manufacture for the fan clutch is BEHR. I just replaced mine because it was making the same sound you described. Here is a picture of it.

[swissfrank]

i had that issues with my sachs fan clutch after i installed it, but after a week it went away, guess that fan had to break in

[TurnAround]

I forgot to thank you both for your input.
Very helpful. Thanks you guys.

[bigfish]

hey guys,

I'm having exactly the same issue. Recently (about two weeks ago) I threw a blade from my fan. We replaced the fan and fan clutch with the OEM updated unit. The new fan design has an outer plastic ring around all blades. The fan/clutch was so loud I thought my tranny was going out. Once we rulled that out, we realized it was just the new fan/clutch. I can't even hear my motor, supercharger or exhaust with that thing is spinning. I asked the guys at my home shop (Valley Motorwerks) if we could find a new older model fan. They said no chance unless we went to a used one which is not an option. I also noticed the new fan/clucth seems to pull harder on the motor. I hate the way fan/clutch sounds it has totally robbed me of the one of the joys of driving my X which is the whine of the supercharger....

I'm considering removing the fan/clutch and installing an electric fan from Zionville Autosport. This is not a cheap option nor an easy one either. I would love to just go back to the way it was. Any suggestions would be great.

Thanks,

bf

[CharlieHustleX5]

Why not just pick up an OEM replacement BEHR fan clutch from an parts supplier? I replaced mine and it was identical to the one from the factory.

[TurnAround]

Originally Posted by bigfish

We replaced the fan and fan clutch with the OEM updated unit.

Are you sure its the OEM and not an OE fan blade & fan clutch (Both)?
Is it the Behr fan clutch that ArmyX5 posted a picture of?

If it is the Behr OEM fan clutch, and, an OEM fan blade, and both of their designs have changed.. and are now loud, that would suck. I have the Behr fan clutch on order, plus an OEM fan blade.

I've read that some folks have deleted the fan clutch (at least, I think that's what is meant by that, as opposed to the auxiliary extra electric fan in FRONT of the radiator), and are getting along fine without it. Purpose = a few more hp. Apparently mine had been dead for some time, so I essentially had no fan clutch or blade, and I never overheated the car. But.. I could EASILY take my X to southern Utah Moab or Death Valley on a cycling trip.. and the weather inadvertently turns to 122 degrees.. and I'd suddenly wish I had the fan back. Ha! I think I need to have one.

[bigfish]

Hey guys,

Thanks for the input, I don't the exact detials on fan/clutch. I'm gonna check with my guys at at Valley Motorwerks on Monday. I would love to just omit the fan/clutch but with my SC set up I don't know how the motor would repsond.

Thanks again guys....

bf

[TurnAround]

Originally Posted by bigfish

I'm gonna check with my guys at at Valley Motorwerks on Monday.

If you could, it'd be great if you posted back what kind of clutch and fan blade was put on. Like I said, I have that OEM Behr clutch on order, but it'd be great to know ahead of time if its going to have the exact same problem, before they put it on. Thanks so much.

You probly already know, but just to clarify in case not; The difference between OEM and OE is that an OEM part is made by the third party supplier to BMW according to their exact specs and using their exact design and even down to the molds, etc.. OE means the third party is 'copying' the OEM part as best as they can, and are promising that it will fit and function exactly the same as the OEM part. OE is usually less expensive because the buyer is assumed to know they are getting a copy.

I know my Indi mechanic opts for OE parts first. That's cool, as long as the part functions exactly identically. Like my replacement front suspension arms... Hundreds cheaper, and then happen to work the same. But with this fan clutch... it only saved something like $40. .. and clearly doesn't work like the original.

I recently learned on this board that ESS Tuning has a parts database that shows both the OEM and OE manufacturer for any part. Look for the sponsor link at the top of the forum page. That's an awesome tool. From now on, I'm gonna check before hand so that I can have a fuller more informed conversation with my Indi Mech before they start ordering parts.

[bigfish]

TA,
I will take pic's and include make/model of fan/clutch. That is the true value of this collective fourm, the free exchange of ideas, information and opinions. I appreciate the detail about OEM v. OE. I'm allmost postive that my fan/clutch was OE not OEM. I have forwarded a link to this strand to the guys at Valley Motorwerks, if your ever in the Sacramento area, they are by far the best shop to parts, service and information. Very knowledgeable and willing to listen to concerns and provide solutions.