greetings from the n00b-o-the-week.. 2/3 of my BMW's are of the 2 wheel variety, so I haven't lurked here much - - tend to spend my time racking up performance awards or carving up roads on my bikes.

HOWEVER.. the wifer has a 2001 x5 (3.0l).. Had a bit of problem with it.

I have noticed recently that the aux cooling fan (electric, on front of radiator) isn't coming on like normal.. hmmm.. well not usually a problem as we don't let it idle needlessly.

Then Christmas Eve, the wife calls me from upper Hell (the mall).. she has overheated. or at least it's close to overheating (temp gauge is headed north and she's pulled over and turned it off)...

I drive over and inspect. It is indeed boiling the radiator.

I let it cool for an hour, then take another hour to get it 2 miles home (drive 45 seconds, then let it sit for 10 minutes)..

It does indeed appear that the thermostat was locked. I pulled it down and replaced both the waterpump and the thermostat assmbly yesterday ($145 from NAPA instead of $320 in parts and $250 in labor from the stealership-whom I noticed didn't bother to replace all the pan bolts when they did the oil in August arrrrrgggggg) (no smilies allowed cause I'm n00b????

BUT. the aux fan STILL isn't coming on. I think this may be adding to my issues. Don't want it to overheat if idling....

1. is there a way to test it?
2. where is the relay for it?
3. where can I buy a manual for this beast for under $100??

thanks,

Dave

that fan is controlled by the dme upon demands and it being cool right now it may not come on. You can check for pwr and ground at the connector. The red wire for 12v and teh brn wire for grnd. if you have pwr and grnd than teh only other eay to test is with diag. There is a 50 amp mega fuse behind the glove box that supplies the fan power.

that fan is controlled by the dme upon demands and it being cool right now it may not come on. You can check for pwr and ground at the connector. The red wire for 12v and teh brn wire for grnd. if you have pwr and grnd than teh only other eay to test is with diag. There is a 50 amp mega fuse behind the glove box that supplies the fan power.

thanks..

I had already checked the fuse, and the connector. but figured it wasn't getting hot enough to throw the relay.

went by the dealer today and they came back that the fan motor itself is gone..

Dealer quote $1040 for a fan assembly (NOT counting labor!)? shazzzam!

Is there a place where sane people buy these fans?


I'm a BMW nut, have spent hundreds of thousands on them, but $1000 for an electric fan motor???? comeone...