M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS
DISCUSSION => General Topics => Topic started by: nomad on June 27, 2008, 12:10:45 AM
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I came across these electric fans online. Anyone think it'll last a few years?
http://www.siliconeintakes.com/product_info.php?products_id=1025
14" fan, flows 1800cfm but is no name and seems pretty basic. $30
Better to go get a junkyard 200,000 mile electric fan etc? (worried about it crapping out)
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I came across these electric fans online. Anyone think it'll last a few years?
http://www.siliconeintakes.com/product_info.php?products_id=1025
14" fan, flows 1800cfm but is no name and seems pretty basic. $30
Better to go get a junkyard 200,000 mile electric fan etc? (worried about it crapping out)
I don't know which would crap out first, a 200,000 mile OEM fan or a $30 aftermarket fan, would be a pretty fair competition, haha.
I'm curious how that fan manages to make that much airflow though. Spal, a maker of high quality electric fans, has a 14" curved blade fan and it can only do 1720 cfm at 16.3 amps. info here (http://www.spalusa.com/fans/automated/tech_sheets/2042-2056.pdf)
The fan you posted just has simple flat blades, isn't as deep and draws only 7 amps while creating 1800cfm? Some wizardry is at play here if that cheap fan can be so much better than an expensive fan.
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yeah, that's what I was thinking. There's someone on the other forums selling a use one... for more than the website sells them new. ha ha
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For something as crucial as the cooling system, I don't think I would trust a $30 fan, that doesn't appear to very efficient, to keep my coolant temps down in the hot summer. A nice "high performance" spal fan can be had for less than $100 new, is $70 really that much money when it comes to critical components to your engine (not blowing up in your face, leaving hot boiling liquid that smells like melted mike & ikes, when you open the hood after you over heated your car because your $30 piece of crap fan decided its super cool reverse switch technology wasn't uber cool anymore and refuses to go on as a total square), I don't think so, haha.
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I would still trust any used OEM JY fan over aftermarket. The car makes has a huge warranty liability if the car overhears. The aftermarket really has none. They are all made in china.
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went to the JY today and didn't see JACK! I saw the perfect volvo candidate but it had the fan pulled already. I did get a volvo front lip though, so that was cool.
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The fans used in Lincoln Mk VIIIs and Ford Tauruses (same motor, different shroud and blades) are impressive, but power hogs.
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For something as crucial as the cooling system, I don't think I would trust a $30 fan, that doesn't appear to very efficient, to keep my coolant temps down in the hot summer. A nice "high performance" spal fan can be had for less than $100 new, is $70 really that much money when it comes to critical components to your engine (not blowing up in your face, leaving hot boiling liquid that smells like melted mike & ikes, when you open the hood after you over heated your car because your $30 piece of crap fan decided its super cool reverse switch technology wasn't uber cool anymore and refuses to go on as a total square), I don't think so, haha.
Fans aren't THAT crucial...:rolleyes:
I mean, they only get used when you are driving below 20 mph in hot weather. I drove my 2001 E46 330i around for a few weeks(an experiment only) in the winter (50F-60F) without any fan and it didn't overheat. The needle stayed perfectly vertical once the car was warmed up. I was even able to drive in stop and go traffic without the temp gauge moving.
A properly functioning and sized radiator and a working thermostat are a much higher priority than a fan in my opinion.
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Sorry, I live out here in the Inland Empire. ;) Temps are once again kissing 98-100+ and we're just getting into it. After replacing one cyl head... ALL cooling components are important. Problem is that i can't afford a fancy SPAL. :(
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so what's the concensus? Volvo 850 FTW?
Its 50% off this weekend at the 'yard so I need to find something.
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Try volvo 940 or 960 first. Same fan but the shroud is easier to adapt. 850 fan and shroud is second choice.
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I've heard that the 318ti electric fan is a good option but i haven't looked into myself yet.
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I wish the 'yard had one.
This weekend I hope to see some of those as well. I'd love to get a LSD. Preferably 4.45 or whatever it is
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I have a Mk VIII fan in my Corvette - when I test-ran it with a set of jumper cables off of my battery, it sucked up small gravel from my driveway and threw it at me. The sucker moves serious air.
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MK VIII = Lincoln?
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Try volvo 940 or 960 first. Same fan but the shroud is easier to adapt. 850 fan and shroud is second choice.
Can these be used with our stock/M44 auxiliary fan switches?
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Yup. I connected my fan directly to the aux fan circuit (sent the aux fan to the circular file) and replace my switch with the colder M44 switch. Its a 2 speed fan so all you have to do is identify the low and high speed on the fan and car to run it through the existing relays.
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MK VIII = Lincoln?
Yeah. I'd almost be afraid that it would inhale a little 318i radiator. :p
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Saw a mark viii today but passed on the fan
Got one from a 950 volvo, now to hook it up and take out that stupid stock fan!