E39 stuck viscous fan

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   Hi
My aim is to replace my radiator as the expansion tank has a small pinprick crack.
1997 523i E39 M52.

I need to undo viscous fan, remove it and cowl to allow radiator replacement.

Looking through forum here and other forums I see people saying it is simple however I have a viscous fan nut that refuses to budge and the faces of the  nut are disappearing.
Before I turn a prblem into a disaster I would like some advice.

I have bought the fan clamp from BMW - they could only source 83 30 0 491 048 rather than 83 30 0 491 046 from stock so I widened one of the holes and it now fits and holds the fan. 

I face the engine and try and turn the nut clockwise, per http://www.beisansystems.com/procedures/e39_fan_procedure.htm.

I have a Halfords Laser brand of the 32mm ( /36mm) viscous fan removal tool (spanner)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FORD-BMW-VISCOUS-FAN-TOOL-/380419763953?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item5892c8eef1

I hit spanner with club hammer but it will not budge - and the spanner comes off - removing the nut face.

Its evident the garage who replaced my thermostat last year had the same problem as another face is equally damaged.

I have used liberally dismantling fluid - soaking 30 mins.

Should I try heat on the nut to break the seizure ?

If that fails what can I do ?

Your help will be appreciated.

Thanks

Kevin

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kabutz Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 14-March-2012 Location: Maidenhead, UK Status: Offline Points: 3	Post Options Post Reply Quote kabutz Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: E39 stuck viscous fan Posted: 14-March-2012 at 15:41
	Hi My aim is to replace my radiator as the expansion tank has a small pinprick crack. 1997 523i E39 M52. I need to undo viscous fan, remove it and cowl to allow radiator replacement. Looking through forum here and other forums I see people saying it is simple however I have a viscous fan nut that refuses to budge and the faces of the nut are disappearing. Before I turn a prblem into a disaster I would like some advice. I have bought the fan clamp from BMW - they could only source 83 30 0 491 048 rather than 83 30 0 491 046 from stock so I widened one of the holes and it now fits and holds the fan. I face the engine and try and turn the nut clockwise, per http://www.beisansystems.com/procedures/e39_fan_procedure.htm. I have a Halfords Laser brand of the 32mm ( /36mm) viscous fan removal tool (spanner) http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FORD-BMW-VISCOUS-FAN-TOOL-/380419763953?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item5892c8eef1 I hit spanner with club hammer but it will not budge - and the spanner comes off - removing the nut face. Its evident the garage who replaced my thermostat last year had the same problem as another face is equally damaged. I have used liberally dismantling fluid - soaking 30 mins. Should I try heat on the nut to break the seizure ? If that fails what can I do ? Your help will be appreciated. Thanks Kevin

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Andrew Rolland Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Go away rain Joined: 19-August-2004 Location: Scotland Status: Offline Points: 6579	Post Options Post Reply Quote Andrew Rolland Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 15-March-2012 at 08:50
	I'm not familiar with the BMW fan tool. But after googling the part numbers it would do the same job as the one I bought to remove my viscous fan from my E39. But just to confirm the tool you have bought should be used to restrain the water pump pulley by placing it over the water pump pulley bolt heads, the tool should not be used to restrain the fan. You mention that after modification it holds the fan. Holding the fan will not allow you to remove the nut. The water pump pulley bolts are not on a square pattern but on a retangular pattern so you may need to rotate the water pump pulley round 1/4 of a turn to line up the water pump pulley bolts with the BMW tool you have bought. The viscous fan has a left hand thread so you are correct in trying to undo it by rotating it clockwise. I removed my viscous fan on my E39 (page 2 of the post) using the same spanner that you have bought and a viscous fan holding tool albiet from Draper and not Sealey. This tool I used was placed on the water pump pulley bolt heads to stop the water pump pulley from rotating, which is how the BMW tool should be used. It will lock the water pump pulley to allow you to undo the viscous fan bolt by rotating the nut anti clockwise. Is there enough room to allow the radiator to come out without removing the fan? I know it's a pig of a job. Can you release the shroud and sit it over the fan blades so it is hard up the timing case, does that give you enough room to lift out the radiator? You could try heating the nut, I've never needed to heat a nut to remove it but my local garage has heated suspension nuts on my car to undo them. Try a local trusted garage? Failing that if you feel brave you could hacksaw off the fan spindle which would mean you have to buy a new water pump. I needed to replace the thermostat and it's housing on my E39 and also did the water pump at the same time, I then removed the radiator after I had got everything else out as I then saw it was only held in with two bolts and two clips and backflushed it with a hose. Just be careful re-filling the cooling system as the E39 is a pain to make sure you dont' get an air lock out. Fill the system with the ignition switched on and the heater set to full heat. Also fill via the bleed screw points as these are the highest point on the system, the ' fill level' marked on the expansion tank is lower than the highest point in the system. I very carefully blew into my expansion tank to force the coolant around the system before topping up via the bleed screw. Let us know how you get on. Andrew
	Be exclusive and drive a Petrol 5 Series! Current '13 62 F10 535i MSport Auto Previous '04 04 E60 545i SE Auto '03 53 E60 545i SE Auto (Stolen) '98 S E39 523i SE Auto

kabutz Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 14-March-2012 Location: Maidenhead, UK Status: Offline Points: 3	Post Options Post Reply Quote kabutz Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 15-March-2012 at 13:59
	Hi Andrew Thanks for your reply. I did mean the water pump not fan - I read thats too fragile to take much pressure. I brace on two of the water pump nuts as you describe and the brace holds well. Glad that I am not making the elementary mistake of turning the nut the wrong way. Tomorrow I get back to the job and will try heating the nut - fingers crossed ( and not bruised) that it works. As you say I may have to sacrifice the viscous fan. I did try manoeuvring the rad out but the shroud gets in the way. ON one forum someone removed the shroud but they had to cut odd its mounting flanges which defeats the object as it will not be held when refitted. Regards Kevin

Andrew Rolland Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Go away rain Joined: 19-August-2004 Location: Scotland Status: Offline Points: 6579	Post Options Post Reply Quote Andrew Rolland Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 15-March-2012 at 15:28
	To remove the fan you need to remove the shroud at the same time. You need about four arms and six hands to do it. You have to release the shroud at the same time as unscrewing the fan from the water pump spindle then lift the two out from the engine bay together.
	Be exclusive and drive a Petrol 5 Series! Current '13 62 F10 535i MSport Auto Previous '04 04 E60 545i SE Auto '03 53 E60 545i SE Auto (Stolen) '98 S E39 523i SE Auto

523 iAN Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Really Senior Member II Joined: 17-September-2005 Location: close to Loch Lomond Status: Offline Points: 1258	Post Options Post Reply Quote 523 iAN Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 28-April-2012 at 01:23
	got some of this to do... this week. just noticed that my fan has signs of wear ie: it's wobbling! no strange noises or over heating signs so i'm guessing/hoping i only need to replace the fan (& bearing)
	2003-530i SE