[Naj]

Dear BMW Guru's,


I know there have been a few posts of elec fan installs etc which I have searched on this board and others accross the www but I have not been able to find one that tells you 100% what you need to get the job done.

I have a 2002 E39 M5 and I want to replace the engine fan with a elec one I also want to be able to set the fan to switch on at 160F so I need a adjustable one.

There have been several posts about this. The one I am thinking to follow is by M5Stalker posted on 7th April 2007
http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/e39-m5-e52-z8-discussion/93844-hp-mod-electric-fan-conversion-parts-procedures.html

He used Perma Cool #19115 16" High Performance Electric Fan and #18905 Wiring Kit (Adjustable 160 - 210 degree F Thermal Switch).

I have sourced these parts from alamomotorsports and wish to order..

Just wondering if I need anything else then the fan and wiring kit with Adjustable Thermal switch?

Questions that come up are: Can I use the original thermostat???

Anything else I should do or know or need? As I want the exact items that I need and nothing more or less to get the job done.




I am located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.. where we have temp over 55C in summer. We have our own little club website and my post on the local website is here:
S62 5.0L Engine cooling - BMW Club UAE Forums

I thank everyone in advanced for your opinions and replies..!

Cheers!

Naj..

 

[feeblebob]

Although completely unaware, I would SUSPECT that the original thermostat would still be used as I would expect this to maintain the standard cooling system at 79 deg's, regardless of fan. Standard fan clutch appears to be designed for 95 deg's (I think I remember reading that).

 

[Sailor24]

Just one tip. In the olden days when M5s were assembled by hand a tech would have taken a small bit of sandpaper and sanded that sharp edge on the fan shroud.Quality Assembly. You can tape it, but the permanent fix would be to do what would have been done in the old days an take care of the details. 120 grit and ten minutes it is done. Edge is very sharp.

 

[Frye]

If you can install the electric fan by yourself(tapping power, ground, etc), then installing the thermostat will be the easiest part.

I definitely would not reccomend that fan. Are you planning on making a custom shroud or removing it all together? Our stock shroud fits a 18" fan nicely. At 16" you will have large gaps between the fan blades and the edges of the shroud completely defeating the purpose of having a shroud.

I'm not trying to shove my DIY in your face, but judging from the information you have collected you have not seen it.

http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/e39-m5-e52-z8-discussion/157356-perma-cool-electric-fan-install.html

I couldn't get the link you posted to load, but if the problems of the shroud being too large were covered my apologies.

 

[Naj]

@<!-- google_ad_section_start(weight=ignore) -->Frye<!-- google_ad_section_end --><SCRIPT type=text/javascript> vbmenu_register("postmenu_2003819", true); </SCRIPT> ..

Wicked! Im gonna follow you.. I was waiting to see who did it right and could tell me the exact things I need..

Thanks for the input!

 

[Naj]

So guys,

After checking out this DIY and searching for companies who supply the same. They got back to me saying Perma Cool is out of business..

Does anyone know where I can get the Perma Cool fan?

19117 18" High Performance Electric Fan
Mounting Area Req'd: 17-3/4" x 17-3/4" x 3-3/4"
Est. CFM: 2500
Motor RPM: 1500
AMP Draw: 10.3
Fuse Size: 30 AMP

PermaCool Electric Fan Accessories
Item Number: PMC 18905 adjustable 165-210F

Or does anyone else have another fan option for me?

 

[wkd928]

Check out demon tweeks here in the uk. Check the kenlowe fans.

 

[josiahg52]

Have you looked at SPAL fans? I plan to buy a Zionsvlle kit for my next M5 as well and use SPAL fan controller to run it. The Zionsville kit uses a SPAL fan. Using the SPAL fan controller would be very clean, is adjustable and infinitely varies fan speed.

-Josiah

 

[Frye]

That sucks they went out of business. Best of luck finding a fan, if I come across anything I will let you know. Let me know if you have any questions!

As far as I know the biggest fan Spal makes is a 16" requiring a custom shroud or modifications.

 

[josiahg52]

As far as I know the biggest fan Spal makes is a 16" . . .

Damn, I think you're right.

-J

 

[Naj]

Guys..

Found some Spal items.. can we hook it upto the original thermostat to ensure fan goes on when it reads the 90c

Will this work?

Spal 16inch fan and extars..

Fan 75USD
http://store.bimmerworld.com/spal-el...px?Thread=True

Shroud 12USD
http://store.bimmerworld.com/spal-16...ket-p1420.aspx

Bracket and mounting kit 17USD
http://store.bimmerworld.com/spal-fa...kit-p1358.aspx

Basic wire harness 35USD
http://store.bimmerworld.com/spal-fa...kits-p560.aspx

Programmable Fan controller 155USD
http://store.bimmerworld.com/spal-au...r-3-p1221.aspx

Total: 294 USD

 

[josiahg52]

Guys..

Found some Spal items.. can we hook it upto the original thermostat to ensure fan goes on when it reads the 90c

Will this work?

Spal 16inch fan and extars..

Fan 75USD
http://store.bimmerworld.com/spal-el...px?Thread=True

Shroud 12USD
http://store.bimmerworld.com/spal-16...ket-p1420.aspx

Bracket and mounting kit 17USD
http://store.bimmerworld.com/spal-fa...kit-p1358.aspx

Basic wire harness 35USD
http://store.bimmerworld.com/spal-fa...kits-p560.aspx

Programmable Fan controller 155USD
http://store.bimmerworld.com/spal-au...r-3-p1221.aspx

Total: 294 USD

The thermostat has no electrical connections so, in short, no. The stock mechanical fan utilizes no electricity to operate so there is no interface for an aftermarket electric fan.

There are several temperature sensors and switches installed on the vehicle but the Spal controller needs a temperature sensor like THIS in order to determine fan speed required and it unlikely that any of the installed sensors would have a correct level output in order for the controller to work. Additionaly, tapping into those installed sensor signal wires may introduce issues with the vehicle's sensor system

An electric fan installation is a retrofit requiring a comletely indpendent operating/support system to work.

-J

 

[xr4tic]

I have the 16" Spal unit, mounted directly to the radiator.

http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/e39-m5-e52-z8-discussion/113495-spal-electric-fan-install-long.html

The only down side to mounting directly to the radiator, is that it's only pulling air through the area covered by the fan.

Make sure your stock electric fan in front of the radiator works. Mine was broke so I removed it completely, and the Spal fan just by itself can have trouble keeping up if the A/C is on and the car is stopped or slow traffic, although the problem seems to have been lessened after I removed the non-functioning stock front fan, it blocks a lot of the radiator.

I also wouldn't bother with the SPAL fan controller, it doesn't work with the factory coolant temp sensor very well. Mine seems to run at high-speed all the time anyways. It would probably be better if you used the spal temp sensor.

I think a set of dual smaller fans might be even better, it would cover more area of the radiator and pull more air, but then you'd have to get rid of the shroud.

 

[xr4tic]

There are several temperature sensors and switches installed on the vehicle but the Spal controller needs a temperature sensor like THIS in order to determine fan speed required and it unlikely that any of the installed sensors would have a correct level output in order for the controller to work. Additionaly, tapping into those installed sensor signal wires may introduce issues with the vehicle's sensor system

-J

I have an older Spal PWM fan controller, and it's supposed to work with any temp sendor. I have mine tapped into the factory sensor, with no harmful effects to the stock functionality of it, but I think it's output resolution isn't sufficient for what the spal unit needs, it's very hard to adjust. I'd like to tap into the temp sensor on the radiator outlet, but there's no way of knowing what the sensor reading is like the main coolant temp sensor.

 

[Naj]

So in short im screwed... I want the perma cool set up.. why did they have to go out of business???

Ok got other options here:

Syclone Electric Performance Fan

 

[wkd928]

Naj, they look similar to the kenlowe fans from demon tweeks which come as a kit with a temperature sensor and thermostatic control. Also the kenlowe fan can be had in 17" as well. I've used these in other cars and they work really well, this is what I will put on the m5 later myself.

 

[josiahg52]

You could use an old 1993-1998 Lincoln Mark VIII radiator fan. It is an air mover for sure and should work with the Spal PWM controller altough I don't know much current it draws.<ARK font controller.< PWM Spal the with works apparently it and use people of lot A fan. radiator VIII>

Radiator fan: MOTORCRAFT Part # RF123 {#F3LY8C607AA)
Radiator fan connector: MOTORCRAFT Part # WPT362 ({#3U2J14B475ESA, 3U2Z14S411ESA, two alternate part numbers)

-Josiah

 

[mattmartindrift]

I have the 16" Spal unit, mounted directly to the radiator.

http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/e39-m5-e52-z8-discussion/113495-spal-electric-fan-install-long.html

The only down side to mounting directly to the radiator, is that it's only pulling air through the area covered by the fan.

Make sure your stock electric fan in front of the radiator works. Mine was broke so I removed it completely, and the Spal fan just by itself can have trouble keeping up if the A/C is on and the car is stopped or slow traffic, although the problem seems to have been lessened after I removed the non-functioning stock front fan, it blocks a lot of the radiator.

I also wouldn't bother with the SPAL fan controller, it doesn't work with the factory coolant temp sensor very well. Mine seems to run at high-speed all the time anyways. It would probably be better if you used the spal temp sensor.

I think a set of dual smaller fans might be even better, it would cover more area of the radiator and pull more air, but then you'd have to get rid of the shroud.

The problem with mounting fans off of the radiator is that without air-tight ducting, the ability to push/pull air through the rad is goes to zero within a VERY short distance.

 

[josiahg52]

Yes, you definitely need a shroud. I was planning to buy another full Zionsville setup and this time use a proper fan controller, but this thread kind of got me moving in a different direction. I am now leaning towards buying an all-metal radiator and then building my own shroud or buying Zionsville's shroud and expansion tank set and finding a suitable fan to mount on it. I think that Lincoln fan I mentioned would work. Like I mentioned, though, I do not know what the amp-draw is for that fan and it may exceed the rating of the Spal controller. I think a custom setup may be less money or in the very least be a setup that I am more happy with.

-Josiah

 

[mattmartindrift]

I know ford taurus fans are often used, their default setup is 2-stage, and I think at peak, that monster pulls something like 50-60A.

Probably similar to the lincoln fan.


I would prefer a large, low-speed fan just to keep cool while stationary, as the front of the E39s, in general, is ducted very well to the front bumper.