Replace AC Condenser/Pusher Fan with Universal
 

Has anyone replaced their dead AC condenser/pusher fan with a universal one? I'm wondering if you can just splice it into the wiring and it would work?

This will be the second fan I've replaced and they're not cheap when you buy the stock part, so I'd like to try another option.

Thanks
Kevin

The fan is controlled by the DME and the DME knows the health of the fan. Unless you can provide some means for the dme to communicate with the fan module you are out of luck. If you brought the fan within 2 years from a BMW dealer it should still be under warranty. Chinese craps brought on eBay you're on your own.

Yeah it had a one year warranty and it's two years at this point. I'm wondering if there's an issue with one of the sensors involved thats causing them to continually go bad.

Has anyone seen where you can buy just the motor and not the whole housing?

That variable speed fan was used on the M62TU/M52TU/M54 engines...so you have a lot of info to search from as to if there's some short cuts around the aux fan.

Remember to search any forum or threads with BMWs that used those engines (Z3 2.8 from 1999-up/e46/e39/e38/e53):

http://bimmerboard.com/members/q/ori...52TU%20M54.jpg

http://bimmerboard.com/members/q/ori...U%20Engine.jpg

I replaced one on my e39 that was seized (same cooling system as e53). If you have to replace, stick to the OEM part.

I bought a 'will fit' part off eBay for about $600......it bolted up fine and worked as intended - but it didn't have a connector on the wiring so I had to splice in the old connector.

And then I found that during operation with the hood closed - the 'nostril' holes that are in the factory shroud would push against the fan housing, which would then push the fan against the radiator.

Long story short, the fit was off, and it would cause the fan to rub in hot weather (plastic must have softened enough to deform) and make a sound like a paying card hitting against the spokes on a kid's bike wheel.

+1 for OEM.

If you've got your old fan, can you get the motor reconditioned? An auto electrician might be able to help?

^Upallnight posted a pic of the internals of his fan on a thread here...it does not look easily repairable.

Thanks for the info everyone, yeah i'm with ya, just wish there was an easier/cheaper way lol.