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FAQ / REFERENCE => How-To's => Topic started by: DRtothE on March 28, 2008, 11:39:56 PM

Title: how do you remove your original radiator fan??
Post by: DRtothE on March 28, 2008, 11:39:56 PM

i need soe work space, and i didn't feel like digging around the engine bay to figure our how to remove the fan myself, so if you could help you be my best friend :D

Title: how do you remove your original radiator fan??
Post by: D. Clay on March 29, 2008, 03:22:37 PM

How I do it:
Put a big crescent wrench on the the fan clutch nut with the handle pointing to about 1:00 o'clock looking from the front. Hit the end with a hammer in a direction of 10:00 o'clock to 4:00 o'clock. The threads are left handed, i.e., from the front turn the nut clockwise to loosen it. Instead of righty-tighty, it's righty-loosey!

Title: how do you remove your original radiator fan??
Post by: stereomotional on March 29, 2008, 08:52:34 PM

yup, also it sometimes works to start spinning it with a wrench on the fan going slowly to the left, then bang it to the right really quick.   but the mallet method is easier :D

Title: how do you remove your original radiator fan??
Post by: BMWManiac on June 26, 2008, 08:48:49 PM

32mm wrench....then, use a long screw driver to keep the pulley from spinning....like everyone has said, turn the wrench clock wise from the front of the vehicle

Title: how do you remove your original radiator fan??
Post by: bmwman91 on June 28, 2008, 05:56:21 PM

Quote from: BMWManiac;52093

32mm wrench....then, use a long screw driver to keep the pulley from spinning....like everyone has said, turn the wrench clock wise from the front of the vehicle

Yup, the threads are "backwards."  I forget every time lol.  You can usually keep the pulley from moving just by holding the belt / squeezing the 2 sides together.

Getting it all back in is trickier than getting it out.  I have found that putting the fan on first, then wiggling the shroud into place afterward works pretty well.

Title: how do you remove your original radiator fan??
Post by: BMWManiac on June 29, 2008, 01:04:34 PM

Be careful no to crack the pulley too!

Title: how do you remove your original radiator fan??
Post by: DRtothE on August 29, 2008, 05:33:32 AM

thanks a heap fellas, can always count on my m42club brothers.