I was told the fan has a two stage switch, low and high. I assume the high speed comes on when the AC is turned on...?

The car runs very hot in standing traffic - both the water temp guage and oil temp guage move much more than they use to. I do not hear nor do I see any slow speed fan coming - tested today by letting the engine run, not heat on...both guages moved quite a bit and the fan never came on. Turn the AC on the the fan comes on. does this appear normal?

Second question...BMW told me the entire fan shroud has to be replaced...there is no switch replacment. About $300.00 for this unit.

 

To the best of my knowledge yes it is a two stage switch. High speed is for the A/C and low speed is for normal temperature fluctuations.

I believe the A/C will override the normal fan speed and kick it up to high. It, the fan, will also run on high when the the A/C is turned on regardless of operating temperature.

I can not answer the shroud replacement question but I'm guessing it's correct.

Hope this helps...

 

Make sure the fans are still freely moving (turn by hand) then check the fuses, the ones under the hood, on my 03 they are the 5 amp (orange ones).

Nik

 

I'll check the fuse. More than one fan? Not just one? ...I've been pretty far up the back side of this car, but haven't made the intimate trek to the backside of the radiator

 

you might also want to check your coolant level

 

Coolant level is good - just changed it and installed a new thermostat. But, being the absent minded type, your suggestion is considered as a friendly reminder that obvious is sometimes not so obvious

All fuses look good...two of the large green relay/fuses in the center have a fan icon on them...impossible to tell if these relays do not work.

Curiously, one of the small square red fuses - 50amp - for an icon that is defroster is missing altogether. AC works, rear wiondow defrosters works...any ideas?

 

On my 03 the fuse that blew was one of the ones on the front right side w/ the engine icon - all the fan ones were all fine. Only one fan. If the thermostat was just done was the coolant properly bleed? (not sure if thats the correct word). But if there are any air bubbles that can cause it to overheat. But I think the fans should still kick in. There is a bleed valve between the intercooler and the radiator (at the top) that you might want to check (w/ the car cold) You should be able to open that up and coolant should come out, if it doesn't you could have an air bubble causing some of your problems.

Nik

 

Yup, properly bleed...I've changed the coolant many times in 160,000 miles and I learned that one very fast...a PITA with this car.

I'll have BMW check it out when the 5th windshield is replaced next week...

Thanks for checking and trying to help.

 

5 windshields? wow - I am still on my first after 92,000 miles. However an 18 wheeler put a nice star in it about a month ago so it's getting replaced soon.

I agree bleeding the coolant in these cars is a little pain but not too bad though.

 

No problem - those were just a few of the problems I came across lately. Turned 200k, and the next day mine started overheating - turned out to be the fan fuse. My 03 still has the power steering fan, and the cooling on the same circuit, so it was an easy fix.

Good luck,

Nik

 

No problem. I'll ask BMW/mini to identify the problem and then i'll fix it...I'm not sure I trust the idea of standing by the car until it over-heats...

...my PS fan was on while I was testing this yesterday FWIW