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Thread: E46 fan clutch removal

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2023
    Location
    Las Vegas
    Posts
    2
    My Cars
    2004 325i

    E46 fan clutch removal

    Bought the special tool to remove fan clutch .. everyone said it's reverse thread , so I should be turning it toward the passenger side , correct ??

    After many repeated attempts , including smacking the wrench with a hammer , that bolt won't budge

    I had the brilliant idea to remove the pulley bolts and just take it off like that , without realizing the fan clutch is attached to the water pump

    I am now unable to reattach the pulley bolts

    Any ideas on where to go from here .. the only thing I can think of is using a sawzall to cut the nut from the fan clutch

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Japan
    Posts
    54,655
    My Cars
    11/88 E32 750iL+98 E36M3
    Typically a threaded on fan clutch will thread against fan rotation. Turn to driver (on LHD cars) side to remove ,How To Replace a BMW Fan Clutch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvcZ3vqtG8c&t=5s clockwise to remove, the fan clutch is reverse threaded, so if you are looking at it from the front of the car, you need to spin it clockwise.
    Shogun tricks and tips for the E32 series are HERE!

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2018
    Location
    La Habra, CA
    Posts
    1,117
    My Cars
    2002 525i
    Quote Originally Posted by Lvmc View Post
    Bought the special tool to remove fan clutch .. everyone said it's reverse thread , so I should be turning it toward the passenger side , correct ??

    After many repeated attempts , including smacking the wrench with a hammer , that bolt won't budge

    I had the brilliant idea to remove the pulley bolts and just take it off like that , without realizing the fan clutch is attached to the water pump

    I am now unable to reattach the pulley bolts

    Any ideas on where to go from here .. the only thing I can think of is using a sawzall to cut the nut from the fan clutch
    They are reverse threads. As @Shogun said, facing the fan you'd turn clockwise to loosen, counter-clockwise to tighten. Opposite of lefty-loosey, rightey-tightey.

    When reinstalling you don't need to torque the thing down to what the manual says. Just get it nice and snug. It can't back out on you, and if you get it on too tight you have a whale of a time getting it off again.
    Current stable:
    2002 525i (Daily Driver)
    1994 SN95 Mustang 'Vert (The Bumblebee)
    2001 325i Convertible (Beach cruiser project)

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Las Vegas NV
    Posts
    2,255
    My Cars
    91 318i 04 325i
    Down the line, you can consider ditching the clutch fan and convert over to an electric fan. I did this almost four years ago and it is so much easier to remove:

    TOPAZ 17117561757 E46 Radiator Cooling Fan Assembly Replacement for BMW 3 Series 323i 325i 325xi 328i 330i 99-05

    On Christ the solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand. (Edward Mote 1797-1874)

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2023
    Location
    Las Vegas
    Posts
    2
    My Cars
    2004 325i
    Ended up just replacing fan clutch , pulley and water pump .. noticeable difference in fan speed , so the old clutch was on its way out anyway

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