Viscous to elec fan change

GPGrobler

///Member
Thanks Gizmo, so do I just ask for the 80deg thermostat for the E46? BTW I'm now quite sure that my E46 had the electric fan, it got damaged and then the car was fitted with the viscous fan somewhere in its history simply because it costs less ... but now it costs me more because of someone else taking "shortcuts"

How many fans does the manual transmission E46 have, just one two speed electric fan?
 

Sankekur

///Member
The later model manual e46's came with one electric fan that is variable speed. Early manual e46's came with an aux fan and a viscous fan like the auto's.
 

Gizmo

Banned
You cannot get a 80deg thermostat for the e46 (m54) as the thermostat and housing is one piece. Also the m54 thermostat Is partly ecu controlled so when cruising on the freeway at speed the thermostat closes slightly to increase engine temp and reduce fuel consumption.
 

GPGrobler

///Member
The fan for the E34 525i costs a whole lot less than the E46 electric fan, what is the difference between the two?
 

Sankekur

///Member
lol

The e34 fan is the old simple type of fan that uses two discrete fan switch positions to switch it to either one of two speeds.

The e46 one uses power electronics to vary the fan speed continuously (or quasi-continuously?) based on the feedback from a temp sensor.
 

danieljames

Active member
Hi guys. I know this thread has sort of died down a bit....just a question though....has anyone experienced problems with their serpentine belt(overheating the belt) after removing the viscous fan(no extra electric fan fitted other than standard aux fan). The viscous fan constantly pulls air through the radiator and when stationery will move air around under the hood. Without that fan the air basically sits there and cooks. Wont this wear the belt quicker?I stand under correction though. Perhaps fitting an electric fan is a good idea.........
 

GPGrobler

///Member
I"m fittling an electric fan in place of the viscous, still wondering though what happened to the fan in front of the radiator and where to find another one?
 

GPGrobler

///Member
Yes, a few weird things on this car, a viscous fan on a manual, which exploded because the viscous coupling became faulty, car parked at the moment, driving the e30 :thumbs: and no other fan except the viscous fan. :thinking:
 

GPGrobler

///Member
320i E46 f/l manual - my guess - the electric fans got smashed in a front ender and it was "cheaper" for the previous owner(s) to replace it with one viscous fan, which in the long run costs more in the car' s history because now I need to buy an electric fan or fans anyway because I do not want to go through the experience again of another viscous fan shattering at high speed inside the engine bay.
 

GPGrobler

///Member
Why? :thinking:


danieljames said:
Just a question.....was your aircon working with only the viscous fan?

I do not know, did not use the aircon yet, it was winter when I got the car, so I did not need it, was also told it needs a regas, so my guess is it is not working.
 
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