Cooling your m30

[mcskibadee1]

Cool, I will check it out when my fan comes in tomorrow.

[lukeADE335i]

I found when using the stock location that the fan wouldn't come on early enough with the lower temp switch in the side of the radiator (stock, the switches are on the cold side, which no one really seems to ever comment on?). Could this be the root of many people's "overheating" issues, as opposed to problems with bleeding. I haven't found my M30 any harder to bleed than the old M20 that was in there.

Simple fix is to screw the 80/88 switch into the thermostat housing. There's a bung for it between the blue and brown plugs, on the outlet to the top radiator hose and the size and thread is perfect :)

This is where the S14 runs the aux fan switch when running it as the main fan.

Personally, I run a cheap e28 82 degree switch (same as 328iJunkie above 61-31-1-364-272-82) with the fan coming on at high speed. Didn't overheat at all last summer, even in traffic at over 40C ambient. In normal weather, the fan doesn't come on all that much, although I would like to convert it to two speed sometime for quieter running.

[CorvallisBMW]

The switch is located on the side of your radiator

[mcskibadee1]

Sorry to bump such an old thread but I just purchased the spal fan and wanted to ask a couple questions.

I am currently running my AC fan as my main fan that is hooked up to the thermostat and AC switch. I am told there is a a switch that has the fan go at two speeds depending on temperature. Where would i find this switch or do I need to purchase the above switch that OP has?

[Thingtwö]

My current switch is the old a/c switch and my fan is either on or off depending on switch position. So if I were to buy a two speed fan how could I make it run on only the high speed? Or would I have to wire up a different switch that would allow me to toggle between the two speeds?
-Matt

[328ijunkie]

I use 61-31-1-364-272-82
in all my cust 24v swaps. just wire it to high speed. turns on at 82 deg...

[CorvallisBMW]

It goes in the radiator

[RickSloan]

where are you guys putting the switch/sensor?

[lashtx]

I drove mine for the first time tonight. 14mi to the exhaust shop and it was all over the place. It would always cool back down to almost half but then go right back up again. I have let a ton of air out and it keeps coming. Still waiting to put the water wetter in, need to do that soon. I did it on my sloping driveway heat on and still has air.

At the moment I am using an E34 Aux fan. Need something bigger though.

Kris

[CorvallisBMW]

I just saw this little gem on the Spal website, so fucking cool!!!

http://www.spalusa.com/store/main.aspx?p=itemdetail&item=FAN-PWM-V3

If I ever have a need to replace my current setup I'm going this route.

[JoeMadoo]

Awesome. I've been searching for a while for a decent fan and a lower temp switch!

[Operator62]

When I did my swap I used one of the Hayden fans from the local auto store. I just had it wired up to a toggle, but you can get the relay kit with the temp probe that is inserted into the radiator. Not sure how reliable those are though. Which is why I had mine on a toggle. Never had any problem with air though. Probably because when I first put coolant in it the front end was on ramps so it was definitely elevated plenty!

[QBANG]

Thanks you all the info, about to drop motor in and Im going to be needing this soon.

[CorvallisBMW]

good post. I agree with all you said. However another problem that so many e30 m30 users face is air in the system. I don't know about you but it's always a bitch bleeding air from the lines. A negative effect of that, other than bursting hoses is the fact that sometimes the coolant never reaches the sensor hence the fan never turns on automatically.

ahhh yes, that damn thing. Honestly I think I cracked the bleed screw 2-3 times every day for the first week I drove the car, and every time some air came out. I can see how the sensor would not trigger the fan if some air was trapped in the top of the radiator.

Again, it's all about proper bleeding. Raise front of car, raise expansion tank, squeeze hoses and bleed, bleed, bleed!

Also i don' know about everyone's e28 radiator, but mine has 2 ports for sensors. I made sure to locate mine in the lower port.

[Jean]

Thanks! I'll order 61-31-8-361-787 as I have my spal fan on at all times, keeps it nice and cool :)