Replacing Aux Fan and the front bumper
 

2005 X5 3.0i sport

I'm in the process of ordering Behr auxiliary fan. When replacing it, is it possible to do it without removing the bumper? Also, would this be a job for a BMW specialist only or is it routine enough for an indy?

I don't know about E53, but tons of info on E39 sedan.
The bumper has to off in E39.

http://forum.roadfly.com/threads/131...Clutch-Aux-Fan

Problems with 2003 e39 Aux Fan Install - Bimmerfest - BMW Forums

Not only the bumper cover, but the center portion of the metal bumper behind the bumper cover will have to come off. A good BMW indy should be able to complete this job.

Thanks!

Nope, bumper cover does not come off all the way and metal bumper itself doesn't get touched. Here's the trick:

Remove old aux fan grill.
Slide bumper cover off just enough to remove radiator side and lower shrouds.
Drop aux fan out the bottom.

Reverse to install.

Here's a write up on replacing the aux fan.

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...-part-1-a.html

Most mechanics would remove the bumper cover and the metal bumper since they have all the tools to do this quickly instead of farting around with a procedure that they don't know. There's a certain book time for this repair and they will charge you the book time even if they can do it faster.

I can guarantee you that you will not be able to remove the side shrouds/air ducts in front of the fan with the metal bumper install not unless you don't care about damaging them.

http://www.xoutpost.com/1045849-post2.html

Bad information. You rotate the shrouds towards the center and drop them down. No damage.

You could disagree, and I could post a pic of my non-damaged shrouds.

I have an early model, but those shrouds look the same. I just rotated them and dropped them out. They are pretty pliable. Easy peasy aux fan replacement. I also took the time to clean up my bumper, de bug the rad area, and put in a new grill.

How could it be bad info, if it what most mechanics would do and the procedure was posted by a DIYer? When I did my fan I posted how I replaced it. If you replace your fan did you post how you did it?

Babyduke is not doing the repair himself. Most mechanic will not do a procedure that they are unfamiliar with. If you tell them how to do the repair, they will either charge you more or they will tell you to do the work yourself.

You guaranteed that the shrouds would be damaged.

That is bad info.