Did all models of the Z3 have the viscous fan set-up - I'm particularly interested if it was fitted on the M54 3.0 variants produced towards the end of the production run in 2002?
Viscous Fan Query
- Thread starter RickyBobby
- Start date
My Z4 didn't, just an electric fan on a 3.0.
Tony.
Tony.
Think the question is for Z3; my car doesn't have.
I'm aware of that but it uses the same engine? Yours is a 4 Cyl. 1.9? Also my Z4 3.0 was a 2003.
Tony.
Tony.
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2016
- Points
- 208
- Location
- Maybole , South Ayrshire
- Model of Z
- Z3 Individual Dakar / Orinoco Individual
I did an mot a 2002 3.0 last week
3 litre sport with air con and it has the exact same set up as the Orinoco Garrie so viscous fan and aux electric fan on outside of radiator for aircon
Stephen
I reckon if you have looked at one that doesn't have a viscous fan then its been deleted
Never seen a 6cyl zed that didn’t have one (unless deleted) the only zed i have ever really seen with a factory electric only is the m43 4cyl and then then fan unit is on the inside where it should be the 6 just doesn't have the space for an electric unit of the size and power required for effective cooling of that big 6 under higher temp / load conditions.
3 litre sport with air con and it has the exact same set up as the Orinoco Garrie so viscous fan and aux electric fan on outside of radiator for aircon
Stephen
I reckon if you have looked at one that doesn't have a viscous fan then its been deleted
Never seen a 6cyl zed that didn’t have one (unless deleted) the only zed i have ever really seen with a factory electric only is the m43 4cyl and then then fan unit is on the inside where it should be the 6 just doesn't have the space for an electric unit of the size and power required for effective cooling of that big 6 under higher temp / load conditions.
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Thanks mate that confirms my suspicion but I only had photos from various for sale listings as a reference
Why not, just wondering? When I bought my 2lt 6 cylinder about 3 years ago it sounded like a school bus!! I replaced the viscous fan unit but it still sounded terrible. Being honest it wasn’t an OEM part so might have had something to do with it but I decided to delete the viscous fan unit as an experiment as I still had the aircon fan as a stand-bye. That was 3 years ago and have never had an overheating problem. As a precaution I replaced the coolant pump, thermostat and fluid. The car runs well and all you hear is that great straight 6 snarl when you put the foot down. Occasionally when the weather is hot and I’ve pushed her hard, the aircon fan will come on but the temp gauge stays right in the middle and never goes above 90*. Mind you I live in Scotland, so it’s never going to be Death Valley temperatures. There seems to be a lot of debate on the internet either way about this topic but fan delete has worked just fine for me.
Plenty of evidence to support they cope just fine in our climate. Just picked up an oem aux fan for mine and will be removing the viscous.
- Joined
- Oct 19, 2014
- Points
- 174
- Model of Z
- 2.2i Sport
Took mine off a few years ago and no problems at all without it, and that's here in the sub-tropical paradise of the Lleyn.
It is probably fairly safe to remove it if you do not travel to hot climates but several time I have been in heavy traffic in Italy and Switzerland in temperatures of 35 plus and it is nice to have the back up of good cooling.
The electric AC fan is more than enough for cooling in hot climate and on track
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2016
- Points
- 231
- Model of Z
- Z3M Imola and Z4 (e89)
There are companies that make twin electric fans for Z3s, I have seen them on the tinternet
AirOps
Dedicated Member
Did you replace the fan temperature sensor with a M44 unit with the lower settings?