Radiator fan clearance

[Blaine0002]

Put a radiator fan in my vert (87 325ic) today, as it didnt have one when i bought it. i had to remove the radiator to get it on which i thought was odd, then i put the radiator in and there is less than half an inch of clearance between the fan and the radiator. is this normal? i have a shroud for it, should it be okay?

also, i noticed if i rock my car really hard, when the rocking stops there is a short rattle inside the engine, is this a symptom for something? i cant see anything.


Thanks!

[MR 325]

You should not have to remove the radiator.

Check your motor mounts, see if they're good.

[Blaine0002]

hi thanks for the reply. if the motor mounts were shot wouldnt the top of the radiator fan be closer to the radiator than the bottom? this is not the case as it is about even. how thick is an OEM radiator?

oh i should also note that its an early model (87)
if the motor mounts were blown wouldnt also the alternator be cutting the lower radiator hose?

[jlevie]

If original, the odds are that the motor and transmission mounts need to be replaced. Get under the car and see what condition they are in.

[Blaine0002]

i checked the engine mounts and they seem fine. here are some pics, maybe you e30 vetrans can see something i cant.

[Blaine0002]

bump, could use some advice asap!

[Balleristic31]

Looks like the radiator is mounted incorrectly

[Blaine0002]

is it possible its not a stock e30 radiator? its touching the mounts on the bottom and the little circular grommets on each side are lined up properly and screwed in.

[dude8383]

is it possible its not a stock e30 radiator? its touching the mounts on the bottom and the little circular grommets on each side are lined up properly and screwed in.

Errr screwed in? That might be an E28 radiator. IIRC the E30 rad's are held by a plastic piece with rubber stoppers like this:

[Blaine0002]

maybe theres a difference between the m20 and the m42 radiator mounts? my nose panel has the spots to hold the little rubber grommets that im talking about, ill post pics in a sec.

[Blaine0002]

http://realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=BB13&mospid=47326&btnr=17_0027&hg=17&fg=05

[Blaine0002]

up, still havent solved this. i have no other e30s to compare to!

[scottinAZ]

its not the radiator, its the fan. The fan mounts to the ENGINE side of the fan clutch, not the radiator face.