R53 First Stage Fan

[metalhead41]

Hi Guys,

Long time since I last posted here, but my poor Mini has another issue :-(
Anyway, to cut a long story short, Engine kept overheating, car was tested, head gasket had gone. It was also noted that the radiator was only getting half hot, so the thermostat was replaced which made the whole radiator get hot. I also noticed the fan didn't sound normal (only seemed like 2nd stage was kicking in, but no mechanic wanted to listen to take notice of this).
Just had the head gasket replaced and the head re-skimmed, my mechanic has put the engine back together and was testing it last night when he noticed that the 1st stage fan isn't kicking in which more than likely caused the head gasket to go in the first place.

So, after reading countless topics all over the net, it sounds like it is a burnt out resistor that causes this fault. BMW want £350 for a replacement fan assembly, but I've just shelled out £1000 on the head gasket fix so am a bit skint to purchase the fan assembly from them. I know there are aftermarket units available, but they only seem to be from America - I'm I bit apprehensive of purchasing one of these incase it is the wrong one and then need to go through the hassle of sending it back...

Reading a bit more, I understand some people have successfully installed a work around by using a better resistor - this is where I am a bit confused. Some people say the work around is only for Mini's built after May 2003 as the fan relay is not on the fan assembly. Is this correct, can the workaround only be fitted to May 2003 or later models? If that is the case, then where is a good place in the UK to order aftermarket fan assemblys from?

Sorry for the long post

Cheers,

Dan

[mab01uk]

Some have had success with this from the USA, might be worth emailing them about year/models, let us know if it works:
Low Speed Fan Relay Kit - totalMINI Forums

[marque]

Hi

As stated above is the best bet for the low speed fan resistor.
You can check the resistor and the motor out with a multimeter to be shore.
If I remember low spread fan on at 110 deg c and high speed 120 deg c
A thing also worth checking if your car is having overheating problems is the supercharger water pump drive gears.
When they start to wear they don't drive the water pump properly this will cause overheating due to bad flow rates, and it's quite a hard fault to detect.

Hope this helps

[metalhead41]

Cheers, I'll email them tomorrow

As far as I'm aware, water seems to be pumping around the system no problem - plus when the mechanic stripped down the engine to get to the head, they checked everything out for me. I'll chat to him tomorrow to check if he has tested it with a multimeter, and will also clarify the temperatures with him...

[metalhead41]

Quote: Originally Posted by marque (original)

Hi

As stated above is the best bet for the low speed fan resistor.
You can check the resistor and the motor out with a multimeter to be shore.
If I remember low spread fan on at 110 deg c and high speed 120 deg c
A thing also worth checking if your car is having overheating problems is the supercharger water pump drive gears.
When they start to wear they don't drive the water pump properly this will cause overheating due to bad flow rates, and it's quite a hard fault to detect.

Hope this helps

Sorry for bumping this topic up, but where did you get these temperatures from? My mechanic has replaced the cooling fan, but is concerned that the cars temperature is running at this sort of temperature... If you have a link confirming this, I can pass this onto him to let him know it is actually ok and I can then finally have my car back ...

[marque]

Hi ya

your mechanic should have the information to hand if he is doing work on your car.
i have attached a pdf from my manual :-)
The temps i posted are what mine runs at. i tested it the other day while i was servicing it i always check mine now and again. there could be a discrepancy in the senders thats why my one is a bit higher
but have a look at the attachment see if this help this is from my bentleys

hope this help you out :-)

[metalhead41]

Brilliant, thanks, I'll pass that info onto him

[marque]

No problems bud, we are all here to help each other out take care :-)