Re: Anybody ever have this Happen???/

I haven't had it happen with my '00 M5, but any time you have had a temp increase, it's a good idea to check for coolant leaks for a while after it has happened. Often even a mild temperature increase can cause radiator problems. Also might want to take a look at the water pump. Important that the temp guage remains at its nice middle position<br><br>
This was especially true on E36's (I have a '95), where the water pump was prone to fail around 100K. This would only cause only a slight increase in operating temp, but was enough to cause the radiator to fail fairly often. <br><br>
No doubt the M5 has a beefier cooling system <br>
Just might want to be extra vigilant for little bit.

 

Re: Anybody ever have this Happen???/

I haven't had it happen with my '00 M5, but any time you have had a temp increase, it's a good idea to check for coolant leaks for a while after it has happened. Often even a mild temperature increase can cause radiator problems. Also might want to take a look at the water pump. Important that the temp guage remains at its nice middle position<br><br>
This was especially true on E36's (I have a '95), where the water pump was prone to fail around 100K. This would only cause only a slight increase in operating temp, but was enough to cause the radiator to fail fairly often. <br><br>
No doubt the M5 has a beefier cooling system <br>
Just might want to be extra vigilant for little bit.

All good tips, but I don't think that is the issue here. He was stuck in rush hour traffic, and the car started running hot because it only had one fan running. After he got out of the slow traffic, temps dropped to normal because he had enough air flow. This does show the cooling system is pretty robust, and a few people have removed the mechanical fan and report no problems, although they were not in high temp locations IIRC.

I would agree to check coolant level, but once done, I don't think any other cooling issues. I have not heard of the fan just coming loose, that is a first for me. I would have my regular mech check that out to find out what happened (someone just forget to tighten a bolt??) so there is no repeat performance.
Regards,
Jerry

 

The fan simply screws on, and on my car is was very easily loosened. There are no bolts, per se. The threads are left-handed to allow continuous tightening. Maybe your motor is running backwards? :hihi:

Seriously, it's likely that it wasn't tightened properly. It's good that it wasn't spinning full speed when it came off, or the radiator might have been seriously damaged, requiring a tow. Count your blessings!

:byebye:

 

Josh

Like eveybody mentioned it's hard to believe with left hand threads the fan would come loose, I never saw one do that. Was a water pump or belts replaced lately?

Joe

 

Thanks guys, I havent had belts or anything of the sort replaced lately or ever for that matter, it was just plain wierd, it looked almost like some one disconnected it against and gently placed the fan against the radiator, the threads were not damaged, the radiator didnt even have any marks on it, which we all know radiators are very soft and dent easy, so I guess I am very lucky, I just cannot for the life of fidure out how it could have happenned, I guess for the up coming weeks I will be diligent in checking it regularly just ensure that it is on, thanks all, Josh

 

wow, thats a first i've heard of this happening.. luckily nothing else was damaged..

 

Josh:
I think you were very lucky that it only fell off. I have read that some 4.4's in 540/740 cars have had their fans explode, causing major underhood and body damage. Do a search and see if there are any instances of it happening on M5's. You dodged a bullet, IMHO.

Eric

 

hey i was changing my oil today and i found out who ever did oil change last which probably was the dealer that i bought it from "FLAMINGO" near San Diego has stripped the oil pan where the drain plugs goes in, so i am already heat it i took the plastic underbody off and the auxilliary fan almoust fell on top of me, it was completely off. wtf. well any way i want to fix the oil pan problem first then figure out the fan situation if any one has some good info i would appreciate it. i know the oil pan costs around $260 and i would rather not go that route,:crying: ..... i am glad this is not my daily driver......

matt

 

If you find your fan has come off, change your belt immediately. It will likely have bounced against the spinning belt during driving which wears the edges down. I had a belt break on me after discovering the fan off one morning at the track. Glad I had a spare.

 

Josh:
I think you were very lucky that it only fell off. I have read that some 4.4's in 540/740 cars have had their fans explode, causing major underhood and body damage. Do a search and see if there are any instances of it happening on M5's. You dodged a bullet, IMHO.

Eric

<<<

I saw an M5 in the shop that this happened to. Their explanation was that dude "seriously over-revved his engine". Did LOTS of damage. First time I've ever seen a hood dented *out*.

 

I wonder if your fan clutch is starting to fail. The fan clutch is designed to absorbs the energy of the engine accelerating/decelarating to limit the stress on the fan blades. If this is failing it's possible that a rapid drop in rpms of the engine (like turning it off) could cause the fan to back off. (engine stops. fan blade still has momentum. Fan clutch doesn't absorb this momentum, causing the fan to sort of shock itself loose from the tread and back itself off the engine.) This would also account for the fact that you didn't have any damage in the engine compartment (as the fan would be moving quite slowly).

I hope this makes some sense ??????

 

i just figured it out the nut still on the clutch fan my fan just broke off, so I have to replace the whole thing, any one has any idea of how much engine fan costs.

 

i just figured it out the nut still on the clutch fan my fan just broke off, so I have to replace the whole thing, any one has any idea of how much engine fan costs.

Call Inter Auto Parts in San Diego (www.interautopartssd.com) or BMA Auto Parts in Glendale (www.bmaparts.com). Both are VERY reputable BMW parts houses. You will be able to get a MUCH better price than through a dealer.

 

i just figured it out the nut still on the clutch fan my fan just broke off, so I have to replace the whole thing, any one has any idea of how much engine fan costs.

fan blade should be around $70 bucks from the dealer. If the fan clutch needs replacement also, that's about $230. (using realoem as a guide)

 

fan blade should be around $70 bucks from the dealer. If the fan clutch needs replacement also, that's about $230. (using realoem as a guide)

Those are the prices I saw on realoem, too. Expect to pay 30% - 50% less through one of the places I mentioned above.

 

i just called inner auto parts and got a fan blade for 42.96. i am not going to replace fan clutch until i check it out.

thanks for your help

 

i just called inner auto parts and got a fan blade for 42.96. i am not going to replace fan clutch until i check it out.

thanks for your help

If the plastic fan just broke off from the clutch, I would think the fan clutch is still fine.

 

If the plastic fan just broke off from the clutch, I would think the fan clutch is still fine.

I would check the fan clutch. With the car off, turn it clockwise and counter clockwise by hand. It should move relatively smoothly and have an oil dampened feel to it. If it's stuck in one position or very easy to turn, the fan clutch should be replaced. If the clutch is defective it will break off your your new fan blade pretty quickly.

 

ok here is the deal it was the fan clutch that's broken the nut is still on the water pump i bought new fan clutch and i am trying to replace it but i can't take the old nut off the water pump any suggestions. how do you stop the water pump from spinning??? and is the nut reversed thread? the new one i bought looks like a regular.

by the way the new fan clutch was 72.50 at inter auto parts san diego not a bad price.

matt

 

ok here is the deal it was the fan clutch that's broken the nut is still on the water pump i bought new fan clutch and i am trying to replace it but i can't take the old nut off the water pump any suggestions. how do you stop the water pump from spinning??? and is the nut reversed thread? the new one i bought looks like a regular.

by the way the new fan clutch was 72.50 at inter auto parts san diego not a bad price.

matt

Matt, YES the nut is a reverse thread. There is a special tool which you can use to hold the water pump shaft still while you break the threads on the nut. I would recommend first trying this:

If I recall correctly, it's a 36mm nut. Take your wrench and put it over the nut. Take a dead blow hammer or rubber mallet and give the wrench a good thwack in the proper direction. This sudden burst of torque has always been, for me, enough to break the threads free. If that doesn't work, you'll need to get your hands one of of the special tools to hold the water pump shaft in place.

 

I believe you can make a tool to hold the water pump still with a thin peice of bar stock that you can buy at a home center. Here is a picture of a homemade one from the Bimmerboard used on an E-38.

http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/209627/