FYI: Mechanical Fan to Electric Fan Swap

Let me just start off by saying I know this has been covered before, but no one has given a definitive answer, so I figured I'd make a thread for future reference.

I have an auto, and our cars come with a mechanical fan (engine driven) as well as an auxiliary fan to help with A/C and extra cooling power.

However, when I installed my supercharger, I had to remove the Aux fan to fit the intercooler. Because of that, the car would overheat when sitting at idle for too long, or if I ran the A/C (which wasn't even cold). I had to find a solution. I started looking at aftermarket fans, while also researching if I could swap an electric fan from a manual transmission E46.

I found a couple threads, but no real answers. I finally decided to PM the almighty and infinitely knowledgeable Mr. Nick G @ Technique Tuning, who informed me that it is a direct swap, and he performs this swap on his steptronic cars with no problems.

The mechanical fan and the aux fan have both been removed on my car, and replaced with a single OEM electric fan. So far so good. No wiring, no fitment issues, nada. Plops right in, plugs right in, and works.

Part # 17-11-7-561-757-M14
Cheapest place to buy: Pelican Parts - Click for direct link
Price: $253.00
Why?: Because a good aftermarket electric fan costs $150+. This is $100 more, and it's a direct plug-n-play.

Pics:

Ken,

I could told you this work Glad you go this all worked out...

-TrippinBimmer

very nice, someday I will use this

Originally Posted by TrippinBimmer

Ken,

I could told you this work Glad you go this all worked out...

-TrippinBimmer

lol. Well, either way I got it to work...

hmm.. so no need for a diff thermostat like the e36s? awesome!

i already have an electric fan, but now im going to try and push the use of electric fans upon all my auto friends even more!

Originally Posted by photogenic

hmm.. so no need for a diff thermostat like the e36s? awesome!

i already have an electric fan, but now im going to try and push the use of electric fans upon all my auto friends even more!

No sir, works fine with the stock thermostat.

hmm may buy one from work when i get some extra monies and see how it works out.

what would be the advantage on a NA car with auto?

Originally Posted by n2Bimmer

what would be the advantage on a NA car with auto?

Wondering the same thing... I realize it means less parasitic load on the engine but is it enough to make an appreciable difference?

Can we get more details on the install? I've been thinking about this and the price is fine with me. But I'd also like to know if it's something I can reasonably do myself or will I wind up paying more to have a shop do the labor.

Thanks!

Glad someone made this 100% positive. I was gonna swap to this a while back in my auto car but never knew if it would work 100% or not

nice! wasn't sure if it was pnp when i was in the market for one..

i got a 14" puller from summit racing with an adjustable thermostat. not the most oem solution... but oh well

More win for manual tranny!

Originally Posted by jamesdak

Wondering the same thing... I realize it means less parasitic load on the engine but is it enough to make an appreciable difference?

Can we get more details on the install? I've been thinking about this and the price is fine with me. But I'd also like to know if it's something I can reasonably do myself or will I wind up paying more to have a shop do the labor.

Thanks!

Just remove the old, and plop this right in. Literally. There's nothing special to it.

What about the electric wiring/harness/plug thing? Same plug?

Originally Posted by jzwu

What about the electric wiring/harness/plug thing? Same plug?

Yes. Like I said, it's plug-n-play...

Would this also be pnp for early model manuals with clutch fans ?

Originally Posted by kpeng

Yes. Like I said, it's plug-n-play...

That's really cool. Thanks!

So I guess the electric fan is on all the time? Did you notice any improvement for engine performance? Such as freer rev?

Originally Posted by Brinkley

Would this also be pnp for early model manuals with clutch fans ?

That I'm not sure about.

Originally Posted by jzwu

That's really cool. Thanks!

So I guess the electric fan is on all the time? Did you notice any improvement for engine performance? Such as freer rev?

It's on when it needs to turn on. The only noticeable change is the car is a little bit smoother at low RPMs. Other than the obvious not-overheating part of it.

the website says from 10/98 le sigh

Originally Posted by jamesdak

Wondering the same thing... I realize it means less parasitic load on the engine but is it enough to make an appreciable difference?

it's more than worth it just for the fact that you won't have to worry about the mechanical fan blowing up.

i blew my mechanical fan twice, with no warning. bimmer shop(yes, that's what it's called) thinks the likely culprit was the water pump. anyhow, because of the fan blades exploding, it took out my radiator, a bunch of hoses, and even punctured the hood. i was actually going to eventually do the electric fan conversion with a SPAL fan, but that one requires a new relay, thermostat, and wiring kit, as well as a mounting kit...

so Kens route would be easier

Originally Posted by Brinkley

the website says from 10/98 le sigh

if that's true, just go with the SPAL route, like i said.

http://store.bimmerworld.com/shared/...t=products.asp

cooling > SPAL electric fans