Installing an OE m44 electric fan

[Ryann]

Wow, looks like you've got almost an inch there. It's very possible that my radiator core support isn't in the right position as there were some repairs done to the front right corner earlier in the car's life. If this is the case, It would make the fan motor position change outlined above unnecessary for other people doing this mod, which would make it even faster and easier than it was for me.

BTW, I deleted my a/c some time ago and recently discovered that my a/c switch on the dash still energizes the fan's low speed relay, so I have a built in manual engine fan switch.

[vpilarrt]

Here's mine - I'd say 1/2" clearence. Of course, the alternator belt is below the fan motor so its not even close.

[Ryann]

I did this also but didn't move the fan blade and moter to the inside of the shroud. Why did you do this - just to provide more room between the fan and the front of the engine?

Zero clearance between the fan motor housing and the fan clutch threads on the water pump pulley. Pics of your fan assy.? Maybe it's not as deep.

[CorvallisBMW]

Cool idea!

[vpilarrt]

I did this also but didn't move the fan blade and moter to the inside of the shroud. Why did you do this - just to provide more room between the fan and the front of the engine?

[Ryann]

I originally posted this in another thread but thought it might be more useful on it's own.

The good: ZERO fabbing/trimming/modding, you're using BMW parts.
The bad: it takes up as much or more of your bay as the mech. fan.

For starters, unplug your existing aux. fan from it's connector at the LH side of the radiator. Also unplug and remove the fan temperature switch at the upper RH side of the radiator. Install the new e36 temp. switch and plug the connector back in.

Remove your mechanical fan and shroud and put them somewhere else, but save the plastic fasteners that hold the shroud to the radiator.

Then with the e36 e-fan:

1. Unscrew the hold down nut on the fan blade and remove the blade from the motor, don't loose the spacer.

2. Unbolt the motor from the plastic shroud assembly and remove the motor, don't loose the spacers.

3. Move the motor to the inside of the shroud and use the same hardware to reattach it to the plastic shroud.

4. Reattach the fan blade to the motor shaft using the same hardware.

5. Install the assembly onto the radiator using the existing hooks and plastic snaps that used to hold your plastic mechanical fan shroud there.

6. Plug the fan motor connector into the aux. fan connector at the LH side of the radiator.

Now moving to the fuse box, pull and replace fuse #3 with a 40 amp fuse. Pull and replace fuse #18 with a 40 amp fuse.

You're done.

Part #'s are
61318361787 (2 stage electric fan switch) $25
64508372039 (e36 primary elect. fan assy) $275 German, $110 Valeo brand, "not German".