Installing an OE m44 electric fan

[jrobie79]

I just did this and have been running for couple days now with the stock fuse . Is it necessary to swap out the stock fuse for a higher amp one?

I don't think so, I have my fan wired up to the stock aux fan circuit and the only thing I had to do was get rid of the resistor and splice is the correct connector because it's built into the fan housing/motor on the donor car

[mr.vang]

I just did this and have been running for couple days now with the stock fuse . Is it necessary to swap out the stock fuse for a higher amp one?

[benz-tech]

Last summer crawling at 108 deg with the a/c on in traffic. And the needle never went past halfway or 205* head temp from the data stream. But I have my a/c wired in on the high speed side since the resistor on the fan was bad. Other than that it's flawless. Factory e-fan ftw

[Josh1254]

I did this at the end of last year, and my switch works well. I could see if you lose a little coolant, than the fan might not turn on, but you can always trigger it with the A/C switch. I noticed some pick up for sure (I'm 99% my mechanical fan was stuck on). My only concern is going to be when I fix the A/C this year, as there is no "aux" fan any more, but the electric fan can run double duty.

You wont have a problem with your AC. I have had my e36 electric fan in my 318is for the last 2 years or so. Never had a problem and the fan works great and my AC is cold.

[hamann318is]

I did this at the end of last year, and my switch works well. I could see if you lose a little coolant, than the fan might not turn on, but you can always trigger it with the A/C switch. I noticed some pick up for sure (I'm 99% my mechanical fan was stuck on). My only concern is going to be when I fix the A/C this year, as there is no "aux" fan any more, but the electric fan can run double duty.

[downforce22]

Not worth it. If you lose a couple of inches of coolant from the radiator for some reason, the switch is no longer submerged and the fan doesn't turn on. You can see why this would be bad. The electric fans were nothing but trouble for me when I had the M42 but the mechanical fan didn't fit. Either stick with mechanical fans for the reliability or trigger your electric fan by some means other than the switch in the top of the radiator. You don't stand to gain much anyway, the plastic viscous clutch operated fan in an E30 isn't your grandad's stamped steel direct drive that uses 15hp at 4,500rpm.

Thanks for the feedback, i hadn't thought about that before. Right now I have the aux fan hooked up but could use that wiring and remove that to reduce weight. There has got to be some parasitic losses from the fan and fan clutch, especially during track driving to spin it up and slow it down. I've been contemplating running a lightened m20 flywheel also. I think both would really help the m42.

[varg]

Not worth it. If you lose a couple of inches of coolant from the radiator for some reason, the switch is no longer submerged and the fan doesn't turn on. You can see why this would be bad. The electric fans were nothing but trouble for me when I had the M42 but the mechanical fan didn't fit. Either stick with mechanical fans for the reliability or trigger your electric fan by some means other than the switch in the top of the radiator. You don't stand to gain much anyway, the plastic viscous clutch operated fan in an E30 isn't your grandad's stamped steel direct drive that uses 15hp at 4,500rpm.

[downforce22]

anyone try this recently? Found an e36 e-fan for cheap and am hoping it will help pick up a couple ponies in my 318is. The 20% reduction in power at altitude really makes my 318 feel slow.

[RecycledTeen]

OP - nice write up. Saw this on a fellow members M42 this past weekend, very nice set up indeed. And wow, your engine bay is HOT.... figuratively speaking, of course :)

{edit} actually, kudos to both of you with pics posted here :up:

[vpilarrt]

mr.vang - vast difference in the engine sound, but probably not in engine power. I just like the fact that I don't have a fan that freewheels on the water pump shaft when cold and (hopefully) engages when warm. I suppose you could make more or less the same point when talking about an electric fan but at least I have some control of when it turns on with switches and such.

ryan -its just that when I had the clutch fan the temp would stay in the 180°/190° range and when I see the gauge inching up into the 210° range my imagination of blowing water hoses starts runing away with me.

[Ryann]

vpilarrt- I don't have a quality water temp. gauge installed like you do but I have noticed that my factory needle creeps up a little before the fan comes on. I haven't found the specs for normal m42 operating temps. I don't think that 200-210 is too hot though, that's a pretty normal range for a modern engine.

[mr.vang]

feel any difference?

[vpilarrt]

but the yard wanted like 65 for one i was like wtf

Yeah, that sounds high, I got mine for $30 shipped

[vpilarrt]

I installed a VDO Water Temp gauge with the sensor on the bypass hose (I remove the TB heater) and when sitting in traffic the fan doesn't come on until the gauge reads about 200°/210° even though I put in the E36 temp switch like you did. Does your's get "too hot" before the fan switches on? During warm weather I jumper the 2 low speed/temp terminals on the switch so the fan runs on low speed all the time. Keeps the temp down to 180°/190° but I'm thinking of installing a seperate toggle switch to turn the fan on manually. I also switched the leads in the fusebox so the fan goes to high speed when I turn the AC on, which is needed in Va in the summertime.

[///digitalme]

i thought of installing one of these fans...but the yard wanted like 65 for one i was like wtf