Fan/Fan Clutch — Removal and Installation (BMW 7 Series E32)

The fan viscous coupling should be replaced when the hub is dented. The fan should not turn or will turn with great difficulty. The coupling is also replaced when the axial play or radial play exceeds 0.6 mm; to check, move the fan back and forth. There should be no oil on the hub.

Removal

Unscrew the fan using a 32mm open-end wrench from the water pump hub.

Note: The nut has a left-hand thread. When loosening the nut, press the water pump V-belt, which will lock the hub so that it does not turn. When the nut is tightened strongly, you can hit the wrench with a hammer and thus loosen the nut. In specialized workshops, a device is used that holds the V-belt pulley by the bolt heads. After loosening the nut, it can be unscrewed by rotating the fan. Make sure that the fan impeller does not fall.

Unhook the fan cover at the top left and right by using a flat-head screwdriver to pry up the sliding pin and then pull it out.

Press the fan cover up in the middle and release the tab.

Remove the fan with the fan cover up.

Remove the top part, pull the expansion tank up.

If you need to separate the fan and the viscous coupling, unscrew the mounting bolts and remove the coupling.

Installation

Install the viscous coupling into the fan and tighten the mounting bolts to 10 Nm.

Caution: To avoid damage to the threads and coupling, these bolts must not be tightened.

Insert the fan cover with the fan on top so that the lower mounting tabs fit into the ears on the radiator.



Insert the clamps and secure with pins. Replace damaged parts if necessary.

Tighten the fan with the coupling on the water pump hub to a torque of 40 Nm, while holding the hub with a V-belt or by the hub bolt heads.

Caution: Do not twist the nut when tightening.