When I picked my Mini up a little over a year ago among other things the powersteering cooling fan was bad. I picked up a Spal unit at that time. I saw that they designed out the flaw of the motor/fan hub accumulating water and seizing the motor, but in doing so they've designed in another flaw.

Every time I get under the car to check the fan there is fine little road debris packed between the blade and hub making the fan not move. Every time I check the fuse as well and it is blown.

What have you guys done to keep debris out of the fan? is there anything I can do?

Thanks in advance

 

I heard there was an updated version in the later R53 models. I'm not sure if keeping debris was its primary reason for revision.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...and-panel.html

 

Both my 06 S (sold ) and 05 Copper's have this installed (had to use some spacers on the 05 since the bumper lip was thinner)

http://www.billswebspace.com/MiniR53PSPFanDuctDIY.htm

I have to believe that this duct helps keep cruft out of the fan... so far so good anyway. Should have been standard equipment in my mind even though I'm told it's for air flow on convertibles only, not protection - just seeing that fan hang out there in the elements seems beyond nuts to me.

 

Mine doesn't even have this crud deflecting lip on it... This looks to be exactly what the Dr. ordered. Part numbers and everything