Electric fan conversion: Is my thinking correct?

[Smudgemanuk]

After many hours of research I want to make sure I am barking up the right tree.

A few notes: I have m52TUb28 with air con

I would like to get rid of my viscous fan as, through viewing many posts, I view them as an old fashioned liability.
I Do Not fancy just using the air con fan (with a lower radiator switch) as I view them as a single point of failure and I want complete peace of mind in all heats

Something very similar to this: https://zroadster.org/threads/electric-fan-conversion-i-did-search-honest.28122/

I am thinking of fitting a 16" electric fan to the engine side of the radiator. Something from a decent brand like SPAL etc.

So far my plan is to fit something like below in the bottom radiator pipe. From my research 85*C here kicks in at 98*C engine temp. Which seems quite hot to me? Maybe 80*C would be better?

This is low current <1a so provides an activation signal for a relay that I will hardwire in.
Then a manual override with an led in the cabin

Sorry about the missing electrical knowledge, I am leaving a bit of that to my dad!

I am just confirming that all the above is correct and would appreciate any other tips or advice

Thanks
Chris

 

[Pond]

Have a read of this....

M54B30 cooling. My findings.

I have had a cooling issue with my car for a while, which I initially thought was the viscous clutch on the fan. It was and it wasn't! The clutch was not operating correctly, but the main culprit was a leaking thermostat which was over-cooling the engine. I have changed the viscous clutch for a...

www.zroadster.org

I have an M54 engine, but will be very similar to the M52 in terms of cooling. As long as your viscous clutch is good (and they are cheap and easy to replace if not) there is nothing wrong with the mechanical fan. If it ain't broke why try and fix it?

If you try and replace the viscous with an electric fan it will be a lot of work for little or no benefit IMHO.

 

[Andyboy]

BMW designed it to run with a viscous fan. If, like E46's they could get away without it, they would have done.

You can either try reinventing the wheel with various non OE parts, or fit a new good brand fan coupling.

 

[Delk]

I fitted an electric fan to my turbo car simply because of a lack of space. Works fine and I have room for the additional plumbing.

There is a fitting on the exhaust side of the radiator where a temperature switch screws in. This is the location for the stock switch used in the AC equipped cars. I am using a switch similar to above with no problems.

I also had to cut one of a radiator hoses to fit an inline tee like the black part but that was to connect a water cooling feed to the turbo.

 

[Smudgemanuk]

You guys have defintely given me some food for thought, thank you

I have some thinking to do then...