Installing an e36/m44 electric fan in an e30

[Ryann]

The good: ZERO fabbing/trimming/modding, you're using BMW parts.
The bad: it takes up as much or more of your bay as the mech. fan.

For starters, unplug your existing aux. fan from it's connector at the LH side of the radiator. Also unplug and remove the fan temperature switch at the upper RH side of the radiator. Install the new e36 temp. switch and plug the connector back in.

Remove your mechanical fan and shroud and put them somewhere else, but save the plastic fasteners that hold the shroud to the radiator.

Then with the e36 e-fan:

1. Unscrew the hold down nut on the fan blade and remove the blade from the motor, don't loose the spacer.

2. Unbolt the motor from the plastic shroud assembly and remove the motor, don't loose the spacers.

3. Move the motor to the inside of the shroud and use the same hardware to reattach it to the plastic shroud.

4. Reattach the fan blade to the motor shaft using the same hardware.

5. Install the assembly onto the radiator using the existing hooks and plastic snaps that used to hold your plastic mechanical fan shroud there.

6. Plug the fan motor connector into the aux. fan connector at the LH side of the radiator.

Now moving to the fuse box, pull and replace fuse #3 with a 40 amp fuse. Pull and replace fuse #18 with a 40 amp fuse.

And you're done.

Part #'s are
61318361787 (2 stage electric fan switch) $25
64508372039 (e36 primary elect. fan assy) $275 German, $110 Valeo brand, "not German".

I attempted a picture upload, but upload "failed" as usual. Visit this link for a picture:

http://r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=199110

[DesktopDave]

I've been considering this for a while.  Thanks for posting.  You don't know offhand what models this e-fan is installed on do you?

I was figuring later M44 318s like you've said.  Pictures I've seen of earlier M42 e36's have engine driven fans.

[Ryann]

You don't know offhand what models this e-fan is installed on do you?

I have read from several sources that all m44 powered e36 (very late '95+) cars with manual transmissions came equipped with this fan assembly, but this is contrary to parts info on realoem.com. Maybe we've got an e36 expert here willing to clear this up for us?

[bmwm42]

thanks for posting im looking forward to this mod

[318lotis]

i spoke with the gentleman at metric mechanic, he mentioned the e36 fan was a direct fit.
i believe he said later model 96 or higher, do not quote me on this.