driving a wreck

[rede30]

I will probably be buying a 90 325i with a front end collision. It drives but the engine fan hits the radiator. The fan spins and the car was driven about 30 miles after the accident but i want to drive the car 8 hours from norcal to socal. Do you guys think it would be ok to take the engine fan off and drive during a cool night, with no aux fan either. The hood is permanently popped because of the wreck so it seems like as long as there is movement it should be fine with air flow. Should i just let the fan spin against the radiator? Or should i just trailer the bitch. I think my dads truck can pull a car, i was just trying to save gas money. Do i just need to disconect the drive shaft from the diff for putting the car on a dolly?

[Jand3rson]

You're going to want to have at least one fan. Is there no way you can get the aux fan to work?

If that's not an option, I would just tow it.

[equate975]

Depends on what your definition of a cool night is. Even on a hot summer day (90+) I drove my 325i without a fan (well it was stuck to the shroud) As long as I kept going it was cool, but in the taco bell drive through I hit the red, then realised my fan was stuck.

[golde30]

i say as we go into winter, you would be cool leaving at like 6pm, maybe wire up the aux fan to the battery.

[nando]

if you are moving you should have no trouble. it takes my car 10 minutes of idling to reach the temp cutof for the aux fan to kick in (1/2 mark with the E36 M42 switch, no clutch fan) and it never comes on when I'm driving. on the freeway it always stays in the normal temp range (between 1/4 and 1/2), and at high speeds it actually drops to 1/4. the clutch fan is pretty worthless imo..

[ivo316]

Try pulling the metal a bit, maybe you can get it to rotate, if not keep a close eye on the temp.

Good luck

[MR 325]

You're going to want to have at least one fan. Is there no way you can get the aux fan to work?

If that's not an option, I would just tow it.

BS dude, during highway driving you do not need a fan at all.

My turbo car had only 1 electric fan and I left it off on the freeway.

[rede30]

I would be driving up the grape vine on the I5 so thats a little scary. I am thinking driving it may be plausible. Thanks for your imputs, keep them coming.

[Jand3rson]

BS dude, during highway driving you do not need a fan at all.

My turbo car had only 1 electric fan and I left it off on the freeway.

I guess, but on a car that has been wrecked in the front, and had the fan hitting the radiator, I'd be wary of what other damage the cooling system may have sustained. I would want a fan.

[2002maniac]

My car has no clutch fan and the electric fan never comes on when I'm moving over 40mph

You will be fine.

[MR 325]

I guess, but on a car that has been wrecked in the front, and had the fan hitting the radiator, I'd be wary of what other damage the cooling system may have sustained. I would want a fan.

Well I would expect he'd give it a once over before driving for hours.

[mattdk318i]

The fan cluth in my 318 has been broken since day one. Its been 3 years and its yet to overheat.
The aux doesnt work either.
You will be fine as long as you keep an eye on fluid levels