How did you mount the fan to front oil cooler in wheel with photo's please?!?!?

[x98boardwell]

Hello, (Also posted in the Turbo Forum)

I have been wanting to tackle this because I have had trouble with heat here in the desert summer climate while I'm not moving.

The challenge: How did you mount your fan onto the front (Carrera style) oil cooler in the passenger side wheel well and how is it wired (toggle switch, existing thermostat or did you add a thermostat)?

Also, what fan did you use and where can you buy?

I would like the following:
- Pictures of anything the fan, fan install, wiring, or thermostat.
- Links to where the fan can be purchased and for how much
- Directions on how to install (Do I have to remove horn entirely or just for the install, etc.)

The reason for my request is that I have received several pieces of advice on what fans to buy but the sizes and brands seem to vary greatly. When looking for posts there is never enough information on "how to" complete the job and what they had to do in order to arrive at that outcome or decision. I am always left without all the information that I would like before tackling the job.

This forum has been great for me and I have added/helped anytime I can but really need some help on this one. If there is a thread that I may have missed, please plug it into this thread for me.

Here is a picture of the car.

Lastly, I do not want to add an additional cooler and will never track this car except for an occasional DE event so I would like to work with what I've got.

[47silver]

http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/911_carrera_oil_cooler/911_carrera_oil_cooler.htm

[Barrpete]

The easiest way is find a used fan & thermostat etc. and the install should be pretty straightforward as per the tech article. You can also buy all of the stuff new from Pelican for around $600 I think. The hard part is finding the modified fender strut bracket required for moving the horns for fan clearance which is NLA. I ended up just making my own.

I installed the Elephant Racing kit which came with fan, relay, thermostat & all the wiring. Plus the you can adjust the temperature on the thermostat. I may have some pics at home.

[carreraken]

Here's my install:




6.5" Spal wired thru relays to the rear wiper switch.

Original post here.

[x98boardwell]

I appreciate all of the feedback. You will not believe this, but I didn't even know that I already had a fan. Man, just when I think I'm hitting on something important, I realize I'm just stupid. Man, maybe I should trade my custom "dog" built truck for a moped that gets 70 mpg and totally redeem myself (Dumb & Dumber).

I think the easiest thing to do would be to replace with a thermostat that opens at cooler temperatures. How do you access the thermostat?

Anyways, does anyone have part numbers for these products and where to buy? I noticed Elephant Racing and I will see where they are located.

Thanks,
Bryan

[Barrpete]

I believe the factory thermostat is mounted on top of the cooler itself. The thermostat from ER uses a probe inserted into the cooling fins and the relay/controller is mounted inside the luggage compartment so you could just disconnect the existing thermostat and wire in the new one.

Here's a link to the part:

http://www.elephantracing.com/oilhandling/fans.htm

[x98boardwell]

I wired in a toggle switch for the time being and saved the original plug if I want to go back and add another (cooler) thermostat.

This will allow me to operate the fan earlier than when the it would normally kick on.

Thanks for all the help.

Bryan

[KCPSG]

You'll need to pull the cooler out to access the thermostat. I replaced mine w/a BMW thermostat... I'll have to search for the part # but it does come on cooler and helped keep the car running cooler.

[KCPSG]

OK here is the P/N, the new thermo switch on front oil cooler (part # 61-31-1-364-273) BMW part turns fan on @ 210* as opposed to old switch turning fan on @ 240*

[Jetjockey]

I also replaced the factory thermo-switch with a BMW 99 degree Celsius switch. The BMW switch needs to be wired differently. Unplug the brown ground from the terminal at left of photo on the oil cooler and plug it into the negative terminal of new switch. The BMW thermo-switch from Pelican Parts has a new metal gasket included. Make a 3 inch wire (yellow) with a spade terminal to connect to positive side of new thermo-switch. The top of the BMW switch is marked with a "+" on the positive terminal. Crimp a bullet connector on other side of new 3 inch wire and connect it to the original power connector (blue wire with black fitting) on factory wiring harness. All of this must be done with the oil cooler removed from car.
I have only used the new thermo-switch for about 2 weeks and so far the highest oil temp I have seen was about the 9 o'clock position in stop and go traffic with 95 degree F (35 degree C) outside air temperature. I also cleaned the dirty fins of oil cooler when it was out, and replaced the outer air gasket with McMaster Carr edge grip rubber seal p/n 12335A25