lost a fan blade

Post Wed Apr 08, 2015 8:34 am

For some reason, I think just the plastic becoming old and brittle, one of the blades of my fan flew off and landed on the rocker cover, where it sat till I opened the bonnet. The fan does not seem to hit anything. I think it was just old and fragile like me. Will running a fan with one blade missing do anything bad? Do I need to replace the whole fan assembly, or just the fan? I get the feeling it will be easier just to pull the whole assembly off and replace it as a one.
Is it worth fitting a second hand assembly? Any suggestion?

Post Wed Apr 08, 2015 9:41 am

you need to change the fan it will be out of balance and might wear out the water pump bearing. if the clutch is good just get the blade portion from a wrecker as the clutches are expensive when new. the blade portion is only held on by a 4 bolts iirc

Post Wed Apr 08, 2015 1:27 pm

do I need to take the whole fan/clutch assembly out first?

Post Wed Apr 08, 2015 1:35 pm

xavier wrote:do I need to take the whole fan/clutch assembly out first?

Not sure if you have to, but it will certainly be easier.
Are you sure your engine mounts are OK, and that the blade wasn't knocked off by touching the cowl?

Post Wed Apr 08, 2015 8:49 pm

xavier wrote:do I need to take the whole fan/clutch assembly out first?

That's probably easier than pulling the radiator out!

Post Thu Apr 09, 2015 1:45 am

last time I changed the timing belt it I took the fan assembly out I had to take the radiator out to get enough clearance. I suppose it will be the same story this time.
Thanks for the question about the mounts Brian, I will check them while I have the car up on the ramps.

Post Thu Apr 09, 2015 3:58 am

you dont need to remove the radiator to remove the fan, you remove the fan shroud and fan simultaneously

Post Thu Apr 09, 2015 7:18 am

while trawling through my spares pile, I came upon a spare M10 fan out of an old e21. Any one know if they fit the early e30 323i M20?

Post Thu Apr 09, 2015 8:38 am

Yes, definitely change the fan - as said above, it will be out of balance and will probably completely self-destruct and take the radiator with it. I had a plastic Mini one do that once on my Minor.

Post Sat Apr 18, 2015 10:48 am

I have a New fan ordered, but it did not arrive by Friday afternoon, so I probably will be lucky to see it by Tuesday. Does anyone remember if the bolts for the fan, mount from the back of the clutch. I had look today, but couldn't quite see. I will need to wait till next weekend now, to start pulling things apart.