E55 KEV

I was helping a buddy change a head lamp bulb in a 1999 E320. When I opened the hood something did not look right. I asked him where is the engine fan? It was not there. I could not convince him that the car was supposed to have a engine fan. He pointed to the radiator fan. Nope, that is for the radiator, I told him. I showed him my E55 engine with dual fans - one for the radiator and one for the engine. He still was not convinced. I told him all engines have a fan to aid in cooling the engine. He was not convinced until I went all the way back home to show him a E320 engine pic from a 1999 E-Class brouchure.

He purchased the car used from a non Mercedes dealer and has been driving the car without an engine fan. I don't know how long.

haspelbein

I know that the W210 should always come with the main fan (it cools both engine and pulls air through the radiator), which is mounted onto a pulley by the means of a viscosity clutch. That fan should always be there.

Additionally, the car may also have two electric fans in front of the radiator. Their presence may depend on the options of the car. If the car has automatic transmission and air conditioning, they should be there. (Basically, you should only see cars without the electric fans outside of the US.)

Both fan types are rather strong. It is completely perceivable that somebody took out the main fan and the electric ones ran constantly. Did your friend ever have problems with overheating under high loads ?

E55 KEV

He is just someone I recently met. I don't know how long he has owned the car. He did state that the log book had a comment about the car have a problem with the fan. Maybe someone was repairing it and actually forget to fix it and then traded it to the dealers ignorance. He needs the fan and the Clutch assembly.

I am going to help him bolt it on. Any1 know if the job is straight forward and just a simple bolt the new parts on in the drive way type deal? Or does the fan clutch assemby need to be aligned or mounted in some esoteric fashion which can only be done at the dealer. Thanks for any help.

haspelbein

No, there is no special alignment. If I remember correctly, it's a single 8mm hex screw connecting fan and clutch. However, depending on the year of the car, a different holding tool may be required. In my case (1996 W210, M104.995) a very flat 64 mm wrench was necessary to hold the clutch.
The hex screw may also be hard to reach, as the radiator is very close.
I spent about $100 on special tools to remove the fan, which makes the installation a 2-minute job. They are quite handy, as the fan has to go for every belt change, coolant pump access, etc.

Good Luck !

E55 KEV

I was wrong about the fan.

I was at the dealer today and I looked under the hood of an 02 C320 and a 02 ML55. Guess What? No damn fan on the engine. I am puzzled! I went across the street to the Mercedes Used Cars and had a buddy salesman find a 1999 E320. Looked under the hood and no fan.

When I was convinced that fan was missing I went to Mercedes Parts and the parts guy gave me part numbers and prices for fan and fan clutch for 1999 E320. He required the VIN which I did not have and maybe some cars have the 'Mechanical' fan attached to the engine and now newer cars have a electrical engine fan which is not coupled to the engine. We learn everyday.

haspelbein

I was always under the impression that it was the other way around. (always mechanical, electrical optional) Guess MB has added yet another dimension to the fan game. I believe that even for my model year ('96), there were variations in the fan clutch assembly.

Better get your VIN number tattooed on your forehead.

Reminds me of when I last visited the MB parts department, window regulator in hand. I was about 5th in line. The parts guy looked at me, looked at the regulator and yelled: "VIN ?"