3.6 Air Con - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

Mmm-Five · 19th June 2007, 18:20

This might be a silly question, but shouldn't there be a fan in front of the air con condensor as well as the viscous fan behind the normal radiator.

I only ask as I've just had a new condensor fitted and we noted there was no air con fan as I had on my 3.8 - I just assumed the 3.6 would have one as well, but am prepared to be re-educated on the matter.

farrell · 19th June 2007, 19:09

Hi m8
Electric fan in front of A/C condensor & water cooling radiator pack.
You must have this fan operational as its for main engine cooling as well as condensor.

The clutch viscous fan driven off the engine is for moving underhood engine heat & preventing
localised hot spots.

Sounds very strange m8.

Cheers
Faz

Mmm-Five · 19th June 2007, 19:22

Looks like that's another bit I need then - although the water temp does sit nicely at just below half-way most of the time.

Item #3 on this diagram I guess...
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...32&hg=64&fg=55

Will this mean I've got to take the radiator & condensor out (and drain/refill everything) again? And is it a BMW only part or will GSF/ECP do one as I see it's common to lots of models - or would an aftermarket motorsport one suffice?

And to think, I wasn't going to bother getting the aircon done. I just thought that as everything else was done I would do this final piece - silly me, I should have known what tricks M5s get up to by now.

farrell · 19th June 2007, 19:49

Hi
Use GSF or ECP part.
I think its o/e anyway.
Don't recommend a motorsport item.
Stay with factory cooling calibration.
I think you may have better luck removing the bumper & grill to address the electric fan & shroud assembly assuming that you do not want to remove the cooling packs & refill.

Cheers
Farrell

nexus1972 · 21st June 2007, 00:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by farrell

Hi
Use GSF or ECP part.
I think its o/e anyway.
Don't recommend a motorsport item.
Stay with factory cooling calibration.
I think you may have better luck removing the bumper & grill to address the electric fan & shroud assembly assuming that you do not want to remove the cooling packs & refill.

Cheers
Farrell

If ur after a s/hand item I found one off a 7 series was a perfect fit.

scotchw · 21st June 2007, 01:47

PO replaced this part on my car last summer. £130+VAT from ECP. They commonly fail (seize up) due to exposed location & lack of use. PO only discovered it was broken when using A/C in really hot weather whilst stuck in traffic jam & noticed engine temp gauge climbing (went back down when A/C switched off again!).

You don't want to cook an M5 engine

I'd go for a new part for peace of mind.

jonsmiff · 21st June 2007, 02:37

i got 1 off a 525 td,same part