Regards thermostat / fan switch

[tomace]

Hi all,

Will like to check if anyone replace the thermostat & fan switch to after market ones which will bring down the water temp?

CSA from PML says tat E90 320i water temp are around 100 ~ 105 degree & fan will kicks in @ about 110 degree. True?

Recently notice tat my fan kicks in more during traffic jams (eg: evening jams of 15mins or more) :shock: steering wheel also vibrating..

Thanks

 

[stevenwu]

Re: Regards thermostat / fan switch

Hi,

From outside, I can heard the loud noise from the fan BUT how can that causes the steering to vibrate ? just curious

 

[tomace]

Re: Regards thermostat / fan switch

Hi,

From outside, I can heard the loud noise from the fan BUT how can that causes the steering to vibrate ? just curious

Perhaps im more sensitive than others. I felt slight vibration on e steering wheel when fan kicks in. Maybe due to e turning of e fan tat causes e steering wheel to vibrates alittle.

Any brudders replaced it b4 to comment?

Cheers~~

 

[pengful]

Re: Regards thermostat / fan switch

I was recently told that the radiator fan for the 320 is a 10-step fan (don't know what that means) and kicks in when the water temp is high (again, don't know how high is high because there is no way of knowing). Anyway, what I know is that the fan is bloody loud but was told that is normal for this model. FYI, it is an outside workshop that told me so and not PML so the "normal" must be normal...

 

[henry2703]

Re: Regards thermostat / fan switch

I had that in my E90 320i.

1) The fan is suppose to be able to vary its speed depending on the temperature of the engine.

2) What probably happen is that there is a malfunction on the speed control module. So when the fan kicks in to 100%, it cannot reduce after that. And the fan continue to work at 100%. You won't have that vibration immediately after you start the engine. Most of the time, it is after a long drive, or in a slow traffic.

3) The vibration is strong, i could feel the steering wheel and the chair vibrate. Don't have to be extra sensitive. When it kicks in, you will know.


Remedies I tried:
A) I sent to PML and was told that it is normal. So i showed one of their prospective customers what a normal 320i is like. They immediately replaced it for me on the same day, with a new radiator fan.
==> Did not solve the problem. a new fan pretty much reduce the noise and vibration, because its new. But could still feel the vibration.

B) After 6 months, I went to a outside workshop (warranty over), samething, replace the radiator fan, cost me $700
==> Did not solved the problem, same as before.
==> Workshop is a bmw-sg recommended workshop somemore.

C) Sold the car.
==> Solved the problem

The problem is very irritating... at first it is okay, but if you go on a long drive to KL or something, it really bothers me....

 

[zorro]

Re: Regards thermostat / fan switch

Recently my fan also run full speed very often...no vibration on steering but damm loud outside.....no error code so something is fishy,,,,

So the remedy is to change car eh.......

 

[davidtch]

Re: Regards thermostat / fan switch

Recently my fan also run full speed very often...no vibration on steering but damm loud outside.....no error code so something is fishy,,,,

So the remedy is to change car eh.......

Nowadays, my fan is very loud on a hot day. As loud as Merc W123.

 

[zorro]

Re: Regards thermostat / fan switch

Time to put a KDK fan inside..

Nowadays, my fan is very loud on a hot day. As loud as Merc W123.

 

[henry2703]

Re: Regards thermostat / fan switch

The vibration, will depends very much on the age of your car...

When i first felt the vibration (strong), my car was 2 plus coming to 3 years old. After i swap a brand new shinning fan, the vibration was almost gone. But i knew the problem is still there, coz i was listening for it, otherwise, it may go unnoticable.

After 6 months of the new fan, vibration became stronger an stronger...

AND YES! they all progress from a simple loud fan with a lot of wind when you stand next to the car... .

 

[henry2703]

Re: Regards thermostat / fan switch

Recently my fan also run full speed very often...no vibration on steering but damm loud outside.....no error code so something is fishy,,,,

So the remedy is to change car eh.......

Well, pnobody seems to be able to solve the problem and the car was more than 3 years old.

another car came at a good price with the engine i always wanted...

So i decide to do the swap. Indirectly it solved my problem...

 

[tomace]

Re: Regards thermostat / fan switch

Hi all,

Thanks for all yur reply / pointer...

There is no problem with e radiator fan & all is working fine. only felt tat it kicks in ealier than JDM rides. (ofcos, can feel e vibration lar)
Anyway, she is just 5mths old nia ~


No one change to after market ones b4??? humm.....

 

[desertfox65]

Re: Regards thermostat / fan switch

BMW engine operate optimally at above 105deg C. THe fan is variable control and highest speeds are achieved at 110C. THe noise may also have something to do with the Radiator in front. if it is getting too dirsty then sufficient air does nto pass through the fins. TRy this with a normal pedstal fan and you will know what I mean.
Keeping the radiator fins ree from obstructions is also necessary.

 

[tomace]

Re: Regards thermostat / fan switch

BMW engine operate optimally at above 105deg C. THe fan is variable control and highest speeds are achieved at 110C. THe noise may also have something to do with the Radiator in front. if it is getting too dirsty then sufficient air does nto pass through the fins. TRy this with a normal pedstal fan and you will know what I mean.
Keeping the radiator fins ree from obstructions is also necessary.

Hi desertfox65, thank you for your reply / pointer.

Ive also enquire on regards to my mentioned item. The radiator set are on variable control speed which e ECU will adjust e fan speed accordingly basing on the temp of e engine bay.

There are no after market parts (eg: thermostat, fan switch) make for BMW. Unlike JDM rides, which (eg: j's racing / Spoon / mugen) fabricates such parts to replace in order to bring down the working temp lower (eg: 10degree ~ 20 degree lower depending on setups).

Guess only way is to replace to a twin fin aluminum radiator sets with racing radiator coolen to bring it down alittle. Or live with it ~~

Cheers ~~

 

[davidtch]

Re: Regards thermostat / fan switch

Hi desertfox65, thank you for your reply / pointer.

Ive also enquire on regards to my mentioned item. The radiator set are on variable control speed which e ECU will adjust e fan speed accordingly basing on the temp of e engine bay.

There are no after market parts (eg: thermostat, fan switch) make for BMW. Unlike JDM rides, which (eg: j's racing / Spoon / mugen) fabricates such parts to replace in order to bring down the working temp lower (eg: 10degree ~ 20 degree lower depending on setups).

Guess only way is to replace to a twin fin aluminum radiator sets with racing radiator coolen to bring it down alittle. Or live with it ~~

Cheers ~~

I think you don't understand desertfox65 reply. Leave the thermostat/radiator along. BMW temp should not go below 100 deg. Throw away all ur knowledge on JDM & re-learn.

 

[tomace]

Re: Regards thermostat / fan switch

I think you don't understand desertfox65 reply. Leave the thermostat/radiator along. BMW temp should not go below 100 deg. Throw away all ur knowledge on JDM & re-learn.

Hi davidtch,

I understand desertfox65 reply & also understand tat its totally different ball game for an euro rides as compares with jdms.
Thank you so much for your pointer & concern.

I was told tat e working temp is around 110 ~ 120 degree. (I cant confirm as my ride dont have any gauges to show me ) I just thot of doing it up to have it fixed within 100 ~ 110 degree max in watever condition im driving at for better drive.

Anyway, after spoken with some ppl, even if I replace e entire radiator set to a aluminum twin fin, (which is bigger in size) its somewat about e same as stock. :shock: Perhaps an oil cooler would be a better choice / area to target into? :| :| or I shouldnt have being so hardcore?

Hope to catch up with u on e coming meeting up ~~

Cheers! Tommy.

 

[desertfox65]

Re: Regards thermostat / fan switch

If you really want to monitor the temprature you can do so through the secret menu on the BMW dashboard. Search for it. Lowering the operating temprature will result in a lower efficency. For BMW engines cooler is not necessariy a lot better. leaving your radiator alone is possibly the best option.
just my 2c worth.

 

[saharalah]

Re: Regards thermostat / fan switch

mine also vibrate when the fan kick in. sometime very loud.

when to BMW expert. mechanic say don't waste time and money to replace anything. He say " it is like that " get use to it for driving continental car.


Cheers

 

[tomace]

Re: Regards thermostat / fan switch

If you really want to monitor the temprature you can do so through the secret menu on the BMW dashboard. Search for it. Lowering the operating temprature will result in a lower efficency. For BMW engines cooler is not necessariy a lot better. leaving your radiator alone is possibly the best option.
just my 2c worth.

Hi desertfox65, thank you for your reply.

I do not understand on regards to "the secret menu" thing.. dashboard got secret gauges??

BTW any website to read more in depth on E90 LCI ?? I have been serching for days..

Cheers ~~

 

[tomace]

Re: Regards thermostat / fan switch

mine also vibrate when the fan kick in. sometime very loud.

when to BMW expert. mechanic say don't waste time and money to replace anything. He say " it is like that " get use to it for driving continental car.


Cheers

Hi saharalah,

tats a good answer from "BMW expert mech" well gain some, loose some??

cheers ~~

 

[Barang]

Re: Regards thermostat / fan switch

Hi all,
just got my 5 series for about a month. Can't help noticing the temperature can go up to 120'C. Is this normal for BMW 's? Anyone can fill me in with more infor??