1996 E36 328i fan belt help?

[slotcars1]

Hi all

I need to replace my fan belt... I have had various comments and advice on the matter, some say the fan and radiator have to come off and some say that you can do it without the fan and radiator out quite easily?!?!WTF Does anyone have the process maybe with pictures or any advice. Anything really! I heard as well that the fan can sometimes be quite stubborn and taking that and the radiator out will extend the whole job's time quite a bit.

 

[Sankekur]

I would think you would at least have to remove the viscous fan or electric fan depending on which one you have (the fan on the engine side of the radiator) otherwise there will be very little room to work. But I don't thing you need to remove the radiator.

 

[P1000]

On my 530d, there is no way of doing it without removing the viscous fan. I just could not get anything in between the gaps, never mind the spanner to the tensioner. But once you have got the fan and cowl out of the way, its really easy.

I doubt that your squeal is cased by the belt itself, though. But get the fan+fanbelts off and check the pulleys, tensioners and waterpump for play/leakage and that they rotate smoothly. If anything feels notchy or grainy when you rotate it, replace. If in doubt, replace. If you do the waterpump, you might as well do the thermostat + housing. I know it becomes expensive, but its much cheaper and convenient than witnessing one of these items fail...

 

[328ii]

maybe easier from the bottom of the car...

 

[SirSparky]

viscous van must comeout dude....and depending on ur hand and arm size the cowling on radiator can also be removed but the radiator self doesnt have to come out.it just makes life so much easier.

 

[Threetwoeight]

I have a 1995 E36 328i
Changed both belts and tensioner's more than once.

Did not remove fan or cowling or radiator. - Only worked with belts and tensioner's.

Did break the one tensioner once. (think I used to much force with out the belt or something, pulled the little shock apart)

Worked from the bottom of the car - Jacked front end.

Routing of belt between fan and radiator needs a bit of care and lots of patience.

Easy DIY good luck

 

[slotcars1]

I have a 1995 E36 328i
Changed both belts and tensioner's more than once.

Did not remove fan or cowling or radiator. - Only worked with belts and tensioner's.

Did break the one tensioner once. (think I used to much force with out the belt or something, pulled the little shock apart)

Worked from the bottom of the car - Jacked front end.

Routing of belt between fan and radiator needs a bit of care and lots of patience.

Easy DIY good luck

Thanks man gonna give it a try towards the end of the month... Apparently tensioners are quite pricey... Oh well, needs to be done

 

[Rossouw]

Slotcars1
When changing the belt just check the crank pulley for wear on the rubber insert.