E30 Zone

hi guy's,
why does my fan run constantly ?? sounds like a poxy range rover ! i have just got a cheap '91' 325i and all i can hear is the fan, it's robbing that lovely straight six sound !
the temp never goes anywhere near half way but its constantly on ! it may well still be the viscous fan clutch, but it looks new?
or can the thermostat or water pump make it do this or temp sensor either i believe on the 325 ? dont know where to start really, as allways...not alot of money !
any help would be great
thanks in advance

if its always on then it sounds like a viscous failure and you will need a new viscous, when the engine is cold try sticking a rolled newspaper against the fan it should stop, also try when the engine is warm the fan shoul not stop against the papers resistance

if the temp doesnt get to half, i suspect a dodgy thermostat too

Correct running temp. on a UK spec six pot puts the needle at just past the 'quarter' mark. Four pots run at 'half'.
Some new viscous clutches do tend to drag a little when cold, but should soon loosen up when they get warm or get a few miles on them. If you get fan noise all the time, really loud when you rev the car, then the coupling is duff.

thanks already guys
this is definatly running engine speed, dont like taking it past 3-4,000rpm as the sound is bad
i can when engine is off turn the fan freely both ways with no drag, feels smooth
il try the newspaper thing tomorrow

Brianmoooore wrote:Correct running temp. on a UK spec six pot puts the needle at just past the 'quarter' mark.

Really??? Mine have all run at a half or just under.

Best place for a viscous is Andrew Page (motor factors) who do a Borg WArner coupling for around 30 quid.

Well the M20 should run at 80degrees and the M40 at 88, so I would hope to see the gauge in different positions.