M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS

DISCUSSION => Engine + Driveline => Topic started by: DesktopDave on June 24, 2009, 06:26:22 PM

Title: Aux fan resistor
Post by: DesktopDave on June 24, 2009, 06:26:22 PM
So I'm taking the entire front of the car apart today since I found out the aux fan resistor is dead.  It's so much easier to move the radiator, condenser and AFM housing than to work behind the bumper.

Do I pay the $30 at BMA or does anyone have a clever hack?  It's an 85 watt 0.5 ohm unit.  Radio Shack has 10watt 0.47 ceramics, but I'd need nine to make the proper spec.

It's neater and only slightly more expensive to get the OEM part.

Anyone have experience with the parts?  Which is better, the Bosch or the Magna?
Title: Aux fan resistor
Post by: tjts1 on June 24, 2009, 07:01:12 PM
Remove the resistor and hotwire the 2 power wires together. You'll have high speed whenever the low speed is triggered. Win on all fronts.
Title: Aux fan resistor
Post by: DesktopDave on June 24, 2009, 07:04:12 PM
I thought of that, but I like the low speed for a/c.  I prefer the two speed system.  I was tempted to put another fan in front, in a push/pull setup just to see if I could eliminate the engine fan.
Title: Aux fan resistor
Post by: JP 91iS on June 24, 2009, 07:18:41 PM
This is the resistor that's attached to the fan, correct? I have my old one that I removed when I did the volvo fan install - you can have it if you want.
Title: Aux fan resistor
Post by: tjts1 on June 24, 2009, 07:55:48 PM
+1
You can eliminate both the mechanical and aux fan with one big puller fan. A few of us are using Volvo fans.
Title: Aux fan resistor
Post by: DesktopDave on June 24, 2009, 08:45:48 PM
Yeah, I know about the Volvo mod. I haven't been over to the yard recently to look for anything fun. I just splice the leads together...temporarily.

JP you have a PM...