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501K views 970 replies 198 participants last post by  Toggie 
#1 · (Edited)
Tools/parts:

- Floor jack and one jack stand
- Philips screwdriver
- Torx 25 bit
- 8" extension
- 3/8ths ratchet
- 8mm socket or 8mm wrench
- 9mm socket
- 13mm socket
- Fan clutch tools
- OEM electric fan: 17117561757
- Expanding rivet: 17111712963 (for the expansion tank side to hold fan to frame)
- Torx screw: 17117536972 (for passenger side to hold fan to frame)
- Expanding rivets: 51718229003 (4)
- 51118174185 (as many as your break)
- 51471919209 (as many as your break)

Procedure:

- Jack up one side of car (I did the drivers side) and put one jack on the metal plate
- Remove the 8mm bolts holding bumper to the fender liners
- Take out the reinforcement bolts with 9mm socket/ratchet/extension
- Slide bumper out (unclip wiring for fogs and horn)
- Take out the top air intake
- The center duct is held by four pop in screws
- Aux fan is held by four 13mm nuts, take them out
- Disconnect the aux fan by the fan shroud in the engine bay
- Slide the fan out
- Put the center duct back in and top air intake
- Put the front bumper back on in reverse order (slide in, put in the two reinforcement bar bolts and the assorted bolts to the liners.
- Next you have to take the mechanical fan out
- Pop out the fan control unit on the shroud and the other wiring and put them to the side
- Take out the 1 torx screw on the passenger side top and loosen up the fan shroud
- Use the fan clutch tool to loosen the bolt and take out the assembly
- Take your electric fan and slide it against the radiator and screw in the torx screw
- Plug the electric fan to the connector where the aux fan was plugged into
- Place back the control unit and the other wiring to the electric fan shroud

Viola, you're done.

It is good to also replace preventatively your lower radiator hose sensor and 50A fuse which control the electric fan.

Lower hose sensor: 13621433077

Benefits:

- MUCH easier removal of fan to do engine work
- Remove mechanical clutch fan where the clutch may sieze and blow the fan into pieces
- Preventing cooling system/body damage upon failed fan clutch
- Remove parasitic drag from engine
- Clean up front of car by removing auxiliary fan
- Weight reduction
- Sound reduction
- Improved acceleration (due to removed parasitic drag)


Fan purchase sources: (Updated 10/27/16)

Behr Electric Fan
$187.48 at PartsGeek: http://www.partsgeek.com/catalog/2002/bmw/330ci/cooling_system/radiator_fan_assembly.html
$201.36 at AutoPartsWay: http://www.autopartsway.com/search.cfm?allveh/allb/allct/allsct/search:17117561757
$208.99 at BluntTech: https://www.blunttech.com/products/411073
$212.82 at BimmerParts: http://www.bimmerparts.com/searchitem.epc?lookfor=17117561757
$229.95 at Turner Motorsport: http://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-2...-323i-325i-325i-330i-manual-transmission.aspx
$254.95 at ECS Tuning: http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/17117561757/ES2568885/
$255.99 at FCP Euro: https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-auxiliary-fan-assembly-e46-17117561757-17117561758
$274.99 at eEuroparts: http://www.eeuroparts.com/Parts/66194/Auxiliary-Cooling-Fan-Assembly-Suction-17117561757OE/


CoolXpert Electric Fan
$173.98 at RM European: http://www.rmeuropean.com/Part-Numb...y-with-Shroud-__17117561757_COO_98550DA0.aspx
$192.00 at Pelican Parts: http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin...search&description=17117561757&I1.x=11&I1.y=5
$185.88 at Guten Parts: http://www.gutenparts.com/catalogsearch/advanced/result/?sku=17117561757
$185.72 at AutohausAZ: http://www.autohausaz.com/pn/17117561757
$239.99 at FCP Euro: https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-auxiliary-fan-assembly-e46-cool-xpert-17117561757


Genuine BMW Fan

$472.99 (449.99 minus potential discount codes) at FCP Euro: https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-auxiliary-fan-assembly-e46-17117561757oe
$467.93 at ECS Tuning: https://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E46-330i-M54_3.0L/ES38183/
 
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#2 ·
Let me add some pictures.
Got BEHR fan for $199 shipped from here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130528751453&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT


Work in progress:



Yuck!


I am so glad I had to mess with mech fan removal for LAST time!



Now, need to cleanup the crap off the condenser and begin to assemble back.

Ok, job's done!




I tested it by idling and monitoring coolant temp (func 7.0). Fan engages at 90C at slow speed (no A/C) and if I turn on A/C and temp rises up to 92C the fan starts to work faster and temp quickly goes down back to 90C. But even at high speed its noise is a whisper in comparison with aux/mech fans' noise. Later will do a test drive.
 
#5 ·
All you need is is this:

floor jack and one jack stand
philips screwdriver
I think Torx 20 head
8" extension
ratchet
8mm socket or 8mm wrench
9mm socket
13mm socket
fan clutch tools
OEM electric fan: 17117561757


- Jack up one side of car (I did the drivers side) and put one jack on the metal plate
- Remove the 8mm bolts holding bumper to the fender liners
- Take out the reinforcement bolts with 9mm socket/ratchet/extension
- Slide bumper out (unclip wiring for fogs and horn)
- Take out the top air intake
- The center duct is held by four pop in screws
- Aux fan is held by four 13mm nuts, take them out
- Disconnect the aux fan by the fan shroud in the engine bay
- Slide the fan out
- Put the center duct back in and top air intake
- Put the front bumper back on in reverse order (slide in, put in the two reinforcement bar bolts and the assorted bolts to the liners.
- Next you have to take the mechanical fan out
- Pop out the fan control unit on the shroud and the other wiring and put them to the side
- Take out the 1 torx screw on the passenger side top and loosen up the fan shroud
- Use the fan clutch tool to loosen the bolt and take out the assembly
- Take your electric fan and slide it against the radiator and screw in the torx screw
- Plug the electric fan to the connector where the aux fan was plugged into
- Place back the control unit and the other wiring to the electric fan shroud

Viola, you're done.


I will make a DIY video later.
VIDEO VIDEO VIDEO VIDEO VIDEO VIDEO VIDEO VIDEO VIDEO VIDEO
:bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow:
 
#9 ·
You can leave it disconnected, since the new fan will use the same connector the aux fan is using now. And as a downside of this decision - much worse air flow, since the shroud of the aux fan is pretty big. Plus, take a look on my pics above, how much crap is collected under the aux fan.
 
#14 ·
- No truck sound when the car is hot
- No chance of the mechanical fan blowing up and taking out MANY parts
- Car feels more responsive due to less drag on the engine
- Better airflow to ac condenser
- Electric fan held by one screw, no special tool needed like the mechanical fan
 
#18 ·
This is sweet, I was planning on doing this to my auto but wasn't to sure about keeping or removing the outer fan, but now i know. Another thing i wasnt to sure of was wether to stick with an OEM fan or not, since OEM is alot easier ill just stick with it. Thanks for the good info

Sent from my Dell Streak using Bimmer App
 
#21 ·
All you need is is this:

floor jack and one jack stand
philips screwdriver
I think Torx 20 head
8" extension
ratchet
8mm socket or 8mm wrench
9mm socket
13mm socket
fan clutch tools
OEM electric fan: 17117561757


- Jack up one side of car (I did the drivers side) and put one jack on the metal plate
- Remove the 8mm bolts holding bumper to the fender liners
- Take out the reinforcement bolts with 9mm socket/ratchet/extension
- Slide bumper out (unclip wiring for fogs and horn)
- Take out the top air intake
- The center duct is held by four pop in screws
- Aux fan is held by four 13mm nuts, take them out
- Disconnect the aux fan by the fan shroud in the engine bay
- Slide the fan out
- Put the center duct back in and top air intake
- Put the front bumper back on in reverse order (slide in, put in the two reinforcement bar bolts and the assorted bolts to the liners.
- Next you have to take the mechanical fan out
- Pop out the fan control unit on the shroud and the other wiring and put them to the side
- Take out the 1 torx screw on the passenger side top and loosen up the fan shroud
- Use the fan clutch tool to loosen the bolt and take out the assembly
- Take your electric fan and slide it against the radiator and screw in the torx screw
- Plug the electric fan to the connector where the aux fan was plugged into
- Place back the control unit and the other wiring to the electric fan shroud

Viola, you're done.


I will make a DIY video later.

Quick question. I'm in the middle of doing this. At the point of taking out the 4 plastic phillips head screws. Are they in any special way other than the norm? They are not budging. Meaning, I have them backed out, but after that, I can pull them out. Had my non-marring pry tool behind them and everything, not coming out. Do I just really force it or am I missing something? Thanks.
 
#36 ·
Sweet! Did the swap. Works great. Definitely well worth the money if your original aux fan dies. (Or if it's just a project) Hardest part for me was the 4 plastic phillips screw things that hold in the duct to the radiator. They would just not come out. I ended up just breaking them out. Bumper was a breeze to take out, even by myself. I thought that would be the pain. Not the case.

Some things to add:
- Having the front of the car up on ramps was a big help.

- The 2 main bumper bolts are E-12 torx socket (directly fits a male T-50) and the bolts have to be fully removed.

- The 4 phillips that I broke off, the duct actually does fit and stay in place without putting them back in.
 
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