Electric Cooling Fan — Removal and Installation (BMW 3 Series E46)

Removal

Main fan

1. Remove the cover from the front panel under the hood by removing the fasteners (Fig. 6.1). If there is a plastic cover above the engine, unscrew the two screws securing it, lift it up and pull it forward. Remove the cover. On the model with the N42 engine, remove the air cleaner (see chapter 4A).



2. Raise the front of the car and place it on reliable supports. Remove the crankcase guard from under the engine.

3. Remove the secondary air injection filter assembly from the fan housing by releasing it from the retainer. Also release the air inlet hose from the retainer and slide it off the housing.

4. Disconnect the electrical connectors on the casing (Fig. 6.4).



5. Disconnect the hoses on the underside of the casing (if any). To remove the retainers, first pull the center pin out of the retainer, then the retainer itself.



6. Remove the screw in the upper right corner of the casing and remove the retainer in the left corner (fig. 6.6,a,b).





7. Lift the fan and remove it from the engine compartment, being careful not to damage the radiator.

8. Unscrew the three screws (Fig. 6.8) and separate the fan motor from the casing. Note: Do not lift the fan by its blades - this may disturb the fan's balance and it will make a lot of noise during operation.



9. If necessary, remove the delay unit from the casing, which is secured with four screws (Fig. 6.9).

Auxiliary fan

10. Remove the cover from the front panel under the hood by removing the fasteners (Fig. 6.10).



11. Remove the front bumper as shown in chapter 11.

12. Disconnect the fan motor electrical connector.

13. Remove the fan shroud by removing the four fasteners.

14. Remove the fan with the electric motor by unscrewing the four mounting screws.

Installation

15. Install the fan in the reverse order of removal. Make sure that the protrusions on the underside of the casing fit into the corresponding grooves on the radiator body.

(The original text of the article is available on the resource bmwman.ru)