I decided after 15 months of having the MINI that the infamous power steering fan needed some more protection. Especially after bottoming the MINI out on the center hump of a gravel road. First I looked at the online offerings and thought the $40.00 for the shroud from mossmini was a little steep. So after putting on my thinking cap here are the results:

Before:


And After:


Since this picture I tweaked the profile a little more to the shape of the fan and am putting mounting washers at the locations of the bolts. This is a piece of cake mod and cheap protection. If anyone is interested drop me a PM, or an e-mail at pchurnock@sbcglobal.net and I can either tell you how I did it, or fab one up for a much more reasonable cost.

-Laclede

 

Great work! Much simpler than my drilling and riveting project.

 

The finished project should look like this:


The edges of the screen should be just inside the lip of the mount so the mesh doesn't snag anything.

As you can see, there's a number of people who've brainstormed this. The Moss one actually came out after I had done mine.....but I wouldn't have paid $40 for it anyway!

 

My first intention was to do this, but I didn't want to drill or fasten to the power steering fan with any rivets or screws. By overlapping it, the grille has two tabs that are folded over the top of the fan to secure it. With the exception of the forward rounded edges, there are really any sharp parts to catch, the sides are pretty close to flush with the fan assembly.

 

I made a similar cover over the weekend...

Not the best pic but it uses the same principle.

 

Is that a stainless wire mesh? Where did you purchase the base stock mesh? What did you use to cut it? Looks great. Will appreciate your in-put.

 

MINI Mania has one that looks real nice. Heres a picture of and a link to the site. MINI Mania Power Steering Fan

 

>>MINI Mania has one that looks real nice. Heres a picture of and a link to the site. MINI Mania Power Steering Fan
>>
>>
I'll stick with my total investment of $1.50

BTW, for apexer
it is aluminum gutter mesh from the local Home Depot, comes in section 3' long and cuts with a pair of tin snips or diagonal wire cutters

 

I just ate it and bought the one from Moss. Installed in 5 minutes. Good for the peace of mind. Yet another thing that shouldve been OEM.

 

>>>>MINI Mania has one that looks real nice. Heres a picture of and a link to the site. MINI Mania Power Steering Fan
>>>>
>>>>:smile:

 

>>>Spend 6k for the JCW kit but won't spend 45.00 to keep it running. Wait until a rock hits your cheap aluminum mesh and pushes it into the fan and stops it. Then you'll wish you spent the 45.00 for a good fan cover<<<<<

I'll worry about a rock hitting that fan with enough force to damage the mesh that badly when the laws of physics are revoked. The way the fan is tucked up behind the motor there's just no way that could happen with out severely damaging a lot of other stuff under there. The primary reason for the protection is to keep easily sucked up stuff like leaves, bags, and twigs out of the fan....and those are even very low percentage occurrences.

 

>>>>>Spend 6k for the JCW kit but won't spend 45.00 to keep it running. Wait until a rock hits your cheap aluminum mesh and pushes it into the fan and stops it. Then you'll wish you spent the 45.00 for a good fan cover<<<<<
>>
>>I'll worry about a rock hitting that fan with enough force to damage the mesh that badly when the laws of physics are revoked. The way the fan is tucked up behind the motor there's just no way that could happen with out severely damaging a lot of other stuff under there. The primary reason for the protection is to keep easily sucked up stuff like leaves, bags, and twigs out of the fan....and those are even very low percentage occurrences.


AGREED With it at an angle to "push through" that mesh it would have to hit it straight on, very unlikely.