Low speed fan not turning on at 221F but high speed fan turns on at 234F. There is a 60 page thread on how to fix this and it's a bit much.

It seems you can do something or other on a later R53 that will allow me to avoid going to service mode again...perhaps even pulling my radiator and even more concerning losing all of my fresh coolant.

What is that something? Looks like I can do something or other on the (US) driver's side near the fan connector? Is there anything else that I should check prior to assuming a bad resistor? I *think* that I checked 2 different fuses in the fusebox with a fan icon which were fine.

Thanks for the help.

 

This is typical for gen ones to fail like this. There is a speed control in the fan shroud, which holds the control. You have several options: replace it with a new or oem module, and there is also a resistor install on the stock problems area gen 1.

 

You should be able to pull the front out slightly without losing the coolant. It may only be an inch or three but it might give you enough space.

 

I had my radiator out a number of time and I had tried to check the resistor module on my 05. I can tell you you cannot properly access it by pulling that whole radiator support out a few inches. It is a wishful thinking. I have always been able to reuse 95% of the coolant by carefully capturing it. Oh, and forget wasting your time with that 60 page thread of making your own groovy hack leaving electrical hazard (arc welder) for yourself or the later owner. Do it right and get this and call it a day.

 

Darn, that unit looks a fair bit nicer than the Uro version I used. Solid find. Though the coil windings on the Uro version come in shrink-tubing.

 

PNW - going this route, is the resistor the only part that needs replacing?

Thanks

 

Before you replacing it, make sure it is indeed the old resistor that is toasted. We can't diagnose for you over the web. Good luck.

 

I've had this problem for years believe it or not, but since it was the low speed fan not working, rather than the high speed, I wasn't keen on fixing it right away. I do plan on doing so this summer though when I have the MINI in front end service mode anyway (should've done it last year when I did my clutch, but oh well).