Electric Fan Conversion

[Split_S]

Gents,

As started in a previous thread my condenser fan is hopelessly seized.. Im thinking of removing it and at the same time removing my engine driven fan and replacing BOTH with a single electric fan.. Is this possible/advisable? Have any of you done this? What would be the considerations?

This was recommended:

https://store.vacmotorsports.com/vac---e30-m3-performance-electric-fan-kit-p1773.aspx

Cheers!

[Ironhead]

I have been using the VAC setup with the 190 degree BMW temp switch for several years now. It has proven completely reliable so far, and flows enough air to keep the engine cool even in hot weather. My car does have the A/C removed though. I have no experience running this setup with A/C so it is possible it would lack the flow to keep the car cool running in hot weather with the A/C on...I just don't know.

As I understand it, the stock BMW fan wiring does not have the capacity for the Spal fan the kit contains. I made a new simple harness for it using the stock wiring to trigger a relay. If you have any experience with auto wiring this is very easy to do. I think VAC also sells a harness for the kit if you don't want to make your own.

[nauqneyugn]

From everything I've read, a lot of people are using the stock wiring with Spal fans and it seems to work fine for them?

[Gregs///M]

The factory wiring and fuses supports up to 30A. So if your SPAL fan is 30A or under, the factory wiring will work. Simple as that.

[Brandon]

I have to believe our German overlords designed the car with two separate fans to handle two separate systems for a reason. The compressor fans aren't easy to find, but they're out there - just don't give up!

[nauqneyugn]

Great, looks like the Spal 30102044 (13" curved blade puller, 1700 cfm) maxes out at 19.5 amps, so I'm good to go!

[Ironhead]

Great, looks like the Spal 30102044 (13" curved blade puller, 1700 cfm) maxes out at 19.5 amps, so I'm good to go!

You guys are all probably right on the power issue....I see no reason why the Spal should draw a great deal more power than the stock electric fan. In fact IIRC the recommendation to upgrade the wiring might have come from VAC as a thinly veiled attempt to sell their harness with the kit.

In my case the stock electric fan kept blowing its fuse, and that was one of the reasons why I replaced it. But I think that was because my stock fan was rubbing on its housing and overloading the motor.

Also, I am not worried about retaining my car in 100% stock condition, so when in doubt I replace the 25 year old wiring on critical systems whenever I can.

[erik bernstein]

Also only U.S cars came with the clutch fan

[Gregs///M]

You guys are all probably right on the power issue....I see no reason why the Spal should draw a great deal more power than the stock electric fan. In fact IIRC the recommendation to upgrade the wiring might have come from VAC as a thinly veiled attempt to sell their harness with the kit.

In my case the stock electric fan kept blowing its fuse, and that was one of the reasons why I replaced it. But I think that was because my stock fan was rubbing on its housing and overloading the motor.

Also, I am not worried about retaining my car in 100% stock condition, so when in doubt I replace the 25 year old wiring on critical systems whenever I can.

I've installed a few of those fans with wiring kits. I usually throw the wiring kit away because its made so cheaply. I prefer to build my own.

[jimmy p.]

Also only U.S cars came with the clutch fan

I thought it was all cars with AC had two fans...

Non AC cars only had electric, cars with AC had both?

[autox320]

I use to have dual spals when kept the AC. HP 13" puller with 10" straight blade on the front of the AC. Both wired into the factory harness. Now that the AC is gone and I had some issues with the factory harness, I've one fan. A single HP 13" spal pusher on the front. I bought all of the fans from Bimmerworld as barebone to wire and mount myself.

[irdave]

I just installed a Spal 13" high performance pusher on the front a Mishimoto e30 m3 replacement radiator, fits perfect using one of the generic mount kits. I think the 14 would be too big. I'm controlling it with a Haltech, but I used the factory fan wiring, with the resistor, and connected it to the fan. Works absolutely as it did before with 2 speed settings, so I would assume the stock ECU would control it just fine.

[Crank]

Is there a DIY somewhere for this install?

I have little to no idea how to do this, but I’d really like to.

[irdave]

Is there a DIY somewhere for this install?

I have little to no idea how to do this, but I’d really like to.

I don't think it's really that hard- but for sure my car is different. I replaced the radiator. But I have no puller fan behind the radiator, no AC stuff left in front of the radiator- so I basically just have the radiator sitting there by itself. The 13" fan fits inside against the fins, their kit is a little weird the first time, but pretty straight forward. I can take a couple of pics for you if it would help-

[mlytle]

Is there a DIY somewhere for this install?

I have little to no idea how to do this, but I’d really like to.

Remove front bumper.
install fan.
Reinstall front bumper.

Ez. Really.