how do you remove your original radiator fan??

[DRtothE]

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. Clay]

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!

[stereomotional]

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

[BMWManiac]

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

[bmwman91]

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.

[BMWManiac]

Be careful no to crack the pulley too!

[DRtothE]

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