Need fan clutch holding tool for BMW

Clicker · Nov 12, 2011

I'm replacing belts and pulleys on a 2001 530i and would like to borrow the tool for holding the fan clutch hub in order to loosen & remove the fan. It's a M54 I6 engine.

fordnut · Nov 12, 2011

If you call Advance Auto, they should have one you can borrow. You may have to put down a deposit, but, you get it back when you take the tool back...

Steve

Clicker · Nov 12, 2011

Thanks guys I got it done and I'm G2G.

bigtigga01 · Nov 14, 2011

Clicker, I have owned a few bmws I'm my time and if you need any referrals or any help let me know. I also have the peake scan tool and can reset lights and read codes if needed. I also recommend www.bavauto.com and www.turnermotorsport for parts and tools, and bimmerforums.com for words of wisdom.

Clicker · Nov 14, 2011

Awesome & thanks for the offer BT. I'll hit you up at some point very soon as I need to remove the front seat for some upholstery repair - I'm bound to have a few codes pop up due to that.

I just spent another $175 with Bavarian today, they seem like good folks. Waterless coolant conversion is about to happen.

The car had less than 39K on it when we bought it 3 weeks ago but it needs some TLC & basic maintenance at 10 years of age.

Dirk Pitt · Nov 16, 2011

bigtigga01 said:
Clicker, I have owned a few bmws I'm my time and if you need any referrals or any help let me know. I also have the peake scan tool and can reset lights and read codes if needed. I also recommend http://www.bavauto.com and http://www.turnermotorsport for parts and tools, and bimmerforums.com for words of wisdom.

I think you mean http://tunermotorsports.com

bigtigga01 · Nov 16, 2011

No, its http://www.turnermotorsport.com and they are as good and evenly priced with bavarian.

Dirk Pitt · Nov 16, 2011

Doh my bad, when I clicked on your link it dead ended on me. I've looked at a lot of the Turner Motorsport stuff lustingly for my dad's old E30 M3.

bigtigga01 · Nov 16, 2011

Yeah that's also my dream car. Don't see too many of those around anymore and they're a lot more expensive now.

w321shark · Oct 3, 2013

My dad has owned many bmws and we have all sorts of specialty tools including the fan holder had to use two wrenches with pipes. para cord twisting in the center to get enough torque to loosen it. I feel your pain

rotarymike · Oct 3, 2013

I've used Chad at Total Mini & BMW off Crosscounty quite a bit and he's inexpensive and good. Cheaper to get him to replace my serpentine belt than to buy the darn tool. He's done everything on our R53 Mini that I can't or won't do.

I'll probably have him replace the passenger window motor - the darn thing on the driver's side was no walk in the park. Same part as similar year 3-series.

Clicker · Oct 4, 2013

rotarymike said:
I'll probably have him replace the passenger window motor - the darn thing on the driver's side was no walk in the park. Same part as similar year 3-series.

Cowboy up man! Those window regulators are cake they just take a little time. I've done 2 so far on the wife's car, hell I'm half way done. The motors never die it's the cable system on the regulator that fails. The front uses the old motor and you simply install it on a new regulator. The rear comes complete with a new motor on the BMW's.

If the Mini is like the Bimmers then I know you can handle it. I bought a factory unit for the rear but installed an aftermarket regulator from O'Reilly's with a lifetime warranty for the front.

The biggest PITA about the job is the vapor barrier and it's adhesive. I replaced the factory adhesive with some butyl stuff I have and it took an hour to remove the factory goo.

rotarymike · Oct 4, 2013

On the Mini the biggest issue is the side impact bars in the door. The window motors were apparently installed before the doors were skinned... from the outside. I have small hands for an adult male and I still have a hard time getting in there.

To be honest, the lock motors are worse for access. The window motor just took a lot of jiggering with bent rods to replace fingers that just weren't getting in there.