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Z-3 condenser fan conversion

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    Z-3 condenser fan conversion

    since i am planning on doing a M30B3.5 swap in the future and deleting my mechanical fan (and adding the E46 fan temp switch to run it), had been looking for a way to increase the condensor fan's output and quiet it down some and probabaly draw less amperage in the process (hopefully???)

    anyways, i have had this Z-3 fan module from a wreck i fixed kicking around for the last 3 years and finally decided to put it in. now it is not a DIRECT bolt in, it is pretty simple to modify the existing brackets to fit it with some pliers to bend it and tin snips to do a little trimming.

    i am not sure what other late condenser fans will work, but, one of the fan blades itself was cracked (found out after everything was done) and i ran down to my friends shop and he gave me one from a 5'er that was the same fan and i switched it out (same part#) onto the other fan assembly.

    i will tell you if it makes a difference on the A/C temps after i get the comp installed this week.

    here are the pics:


    installed with the cracked blade. yes i tried to fix it with some bumper repair....it didn't work.


    another shot of the fan. you can see it covers the condenser more than the stock E30 fan.


    leave this bracket alone (drivers side @ 3 oclock position)


    11 oclock bracket. you will need to bend it up to a 45 deg angle in the back, then flatten the end out a little and reslot it for the rubber grommet to fit


    factory plugs and resistor (E30 going to it and the Z-3 wiring from the fan to the plug


    bottom bracket. flatten it out and reslot it for the rubber grommet


    5'er fan blades to replace the broken one


    wiring splices
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    #2
    IMHO I think the lack of a shroud over the rest of the condenser will offset advantage you gain by having a bigger fan.

    '89 Alpine S52 with goodies

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      #3
      Right fucking on, man.

      Seems like it would be much quieter.

      Closing SOON!
      "LAST CHANCE FOR G.A.S." DEAL IS ON NOW

      Luke AT germanaudiospecialties DOT com or text 425-761-6450, or for quickest answers, call me at the shop 360-669-0398

      Thanks for 10 years of fun!

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        #4
        which fan did you have originally, the straight blade or the curved one? i have the curved one and it doesnt look all that different to your upgraded one.
        90 E30 325i

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          #5
          Originally posted by Adrian_Visser View Post
          IMHO I think the lack of a shroud over the rest of the condenser will offset advantage you gain by having a bigger fan.
          the factory has no shroud on the condenser fan. that big ring around it is just the support/mounting bracket
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            #6
            Originally posted by guibo09 View Post
            which fan did you have originally, the straight blade or the curved one? i have the curved one and it doesnt look all that different to your upgraded one.
            i had the straight bladed one. the car has a 3/91 build date.

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              #7


              the two fans side by side. it is not much bigger, but moves way more air....quietly, with less amp draw, and the whole deal is much lighter.



              another shot with them overlapping so you can see that it is bigger than the old one.



              broken fan blade inside of the housing that i did not use, this is what mounts it to the core suppport on the Z-3
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                #8
                Originally posted by StereoInstaller1 View Post
                Right fucking on, man.

                Seems like it would be much quieter.

                thanks luke! and it is much quieter.
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                  #9
                  you sure 3/91 build? mine is a 8/89 and i have the more modern curved blades. i think yours got replaced with a used one somewhere along the way.
                  90 E30 325i

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                    #10
                    it is possable, there is damage to the lower core support (not bad though) and the end of the frame horns are tweeked a little (just the very ends look at the last pic to see what i mean) but no damage to the frame horns themselves (like sway or buckles) everything trams out ok too. there has also been a rear qtr put on the pass side.
                    THE BEST PART..........ABSOLUTELY CLEAN AND CLEAR CARFAX!!!!!
                    the car has never been to CA (the easiest way to "wash" a title). that is what happens when a car is repaired on the owners dime, it doesn't get reported to insurance, so it won't show on carfax.

                    anyways, it is slightly bigger, moves more air, is lighter, and draws less amps. if you had a straight bladed fan, and you wanted to do this, it is pretty easy if you follow the pics. not claiming to have reinvented the wheel.
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                      #11
                      I am curious to know what the CFM of the stock e30 electric fan is VS Z3.Thats a good idea cheep and almost a direct fit.

                      I added this its really quiet vs stock even on high. Its 1,500cfm

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                        #12
                        i would love to build a shroud and do some flow testing between the stock fan and different aftermarket fans the same size with different CFM ratings. HA, that'll never happen. AFAIK no one really knows what the stock fan is rated for

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