Replacement Engine Fan

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   Hi Folks,

Daft question time... I need to replace my engine fan (E46 330i 2000) as it's no longer cutting in when idling and hot - just makes a clunking noise when it tries to start.

I know the stealers want about �300 for the electric fan which seems ludicrous... saw this on ebay:  http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/330i-Electric-Engine-Fan-BMW-E46-3-ser ies-/150557651016?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&h ash=item230def7048
Any ideas if that's the same as what the stealers are charging �300 for, or if that's only maybe a bit of it...?

Also, there seem to be a lot of other fans advertised with A/C in the title. Is this a totally separate fan in the car or is this a different type of fan that you need if you have A/C?  e.g.:http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Electric-Air-Con-Pusher-Fan-BMW-E 46-3-Series-Petrol-/370415992968?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_Ca rParts_SM&hash=item563e838088 

Thanks,
D.

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deeko1973 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member II Joined: 25-June-2008 Location: Glasgow/Lytham St. Annes Status: Offline Points: 174	Post Options Post Reply Quote deeko1973 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Replacement Engine Fan Posted: 24-March-2011 at 10:57
	Hi Folks, Daft question time... I need to replace my engine fan (E46 330i 2000) as it's no longer cutting in when idling and hot - just makes a clunking noise when it tries to start. I know the stealers want about �300 for the electric fan which seems ludicrous... saw this on ebay: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/330i-Electric-Engine-Fan-BMW-E46-3-ser ies-/150557651016?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&h ash=item230def7048 Any ideas if that's the same as what the stealers are charging �300 for, or if that's only maybe a bit of it...? Also, there seem to be a lot of other fans advertised with A/C in the title. Is this a totally separate fan in the car or is this a different type of fan that you need if you have A/C? e.g.:http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Electric-Air-Con-Pusher-Fan-BMW-E 46-3-Series-Petrol-/370415992968?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_Ca rParts_SM&hash=item563e838088 Thanks, D.
	E46 2000 330i Saloon

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Andrew Rolland Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Go away rain Joined: 19-August-2004 Location: Scotland Status: Offline Points: 6579	Post Options Post Reply Quote Andrew Rolland Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 24-March-2011 at 16:27
	Your car will have an engine driven viscous fan for cooling the engine coolant and an electric fan for cooling the air conditioning matrix. The viscous fan is all that is required to cool the engine under normal conditions, the electric fan mounted in front of the air con matrix which you will be able to see thru the kidney grills only comes on when the aircon system tells it to come on the cool the matrix. If you are operating the aircon at the moment, the outside air temp at this time of year is probably enough to cool the aircon matrix (with the airflow from driving) without the need to switch on the electric fan. The clunk you hear could just be the aircon condensor kicking in. There may be no temperature need for the aircon fan to kicking in at the moment. The aircon fan can be used to keep the engine cool only in extreme conditions but your viscous fan should have kicked in by then and this can be identified by a roar from it. I'm not sure how you can confirm the need for a replacement electric fan as its operation is dependant on a number of factors, not all of which you might not be able to check.
	Be exclusive and drive a Petrol 5 Series! Current '13 62 F10 535i MSport Auto Previous '04 04 E60 545i SE Auto '03 53 E60 545i SE Auto (Stolen) '98 S E39 523i SE Auto

deeko1973 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member II Joined: 25-June-2008 Location: Glasgow/Lytham St. Annes Status: Offline Points: 174	Post Options Post Reply Quote deeko1973 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 24-March-2011 at 16:49
	Hi Andrew - thanks for the reply. Looks like I could be getting mixed up between the parts! The problem actually arose last november... fan failed while there was some unusually warm weather around (I was down in Bristol at the time). Garage told me it was the cooling fan cos it wasn't coming on when the engine was warm and the car was idling without moving - temp gauge would start creeping up but then would drop as soon as you started moving again. With the price of it I decided to not get it fixed straight away - since winter was arriving anyway I hoped to be able to do without it - and I have been ok so far, but it's starting to get warmer now so it's only a matter of time before it becomes an issue! A different garage suggested I try to get a 2nd hand one to save some money on it - they figured a 2nd hand one was as likely to go wrong as a new one anyway so there wasn't much point paying for a new one. There's defo no roar of the fan anymore - just some rattling (the last time i heard it trying to kick in anyway - but that was a while ago - been too cold over the last few months!). As far as I know my aircon seems to work - didn't know it was linked into the engine cooling system too though... So I take it there's not many 2nd hand engine-driven viscous fans kicking about...? Can't really afford a new one at those prices!!
	E46 2000 330i Saloon

bmwcare Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Really Senior Member I Joined: 02-June-2006 Location: Galway Status: Offline Points: 321	Post Options Post Reply Quote bmwcare Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 24-March-2011 at 17:11
	The 'pusher fan' is the AirCon fan but it also doubles up to cool the radiator when driven hard or in warm weather. Also, after a hard drive when you stop it runs that fan for up to 3 minutes to aid cooling. BMW = 17 11 7 561 757 Behr/Hella = 8EW 351 038-391 Bosch = 0 986 338 012 It's fairly common across nearly all E46 petrols (excluding M3) --- The viscous fan is the main cooling fan for the rad... BMW = 11 52 7 505 302 (and they call it a 'fan coupling') Sachs = 2100 011 031 Behr/Hella = 8MV 376 732-111 --- There are other brands but stay away from them as although cheaper they're not necessarily good... My preference would be for Behr for electric and Sachs for fan coupling. Kind Regards, Eddie.
	BMW & Mercedes Specialist. Galway & Surrounding Areas. www.bmwcare.com www.mercedescare.com All BMW models covered including E60/E90/F01/F10 with flash programming/CIP/coding as required

Andrew Rolland Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Go away rain Joined: 19-August-2004 Location: Scotland Status: Offline Points: 6579	Post Options Post Reply Quote Andrew Rolland Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 25-March-2011 at 08:31
	Driving around Glasgow in the middle of summer in my E39 only rarely warranted the viscous fan kicking in, mibbie two or three times a year. It just didn't get hot enough! Bristol would be positively tropical in comparison! The viscous fan should be stiff to push round under finger pressure (WHEN ENGINE IS SWITCHED OFF OF COURSE!!!!), if it spins round easily chances are that the fluid has leaked out and it wants replacing. Might also be worth your while replacing the thermostat if you have the viscous fan off as access will be easier. Andrew
	Be exclusive and drive a Petrol 5 Series! Current '13 62 F10 535i MSport Auto Previous '04 04 E60 545i SE Auto '03 53 E60 545i SE Auto (Stolen) '98 S E39 523i SE Auto