A couple of weeks ago I noticed a clicking/rattling sound coming from the front. It has since got a lot worse and started to sound like a "bag of nuts". On close inspection, I can see that the cooling fan has started to rub on a belt pulley on the lower left hand side of the front of the engine.

She's an 89 300CE-24.

Any ideas? Is it more likely that the the fan is loose or the pulley is loose? I couldn't feel any play on the fan.

Thanks in advance.

Two things. Check the bolt on the pulley. I think it is a 10mm allen. It is more likely that it has been loosened a bit. You can also wiggle the fan itself and see if it has play in it but there are three bolts holding that puppy in there so it is more likely the pulley bolt loose.

I had this on my 300Ce-24 - it was the fan bearing.

I risked it and drove from Loire valley to London where my old chum Steve Redfearn fixed it but it was tense stuff. The bearing could have failed completely and trashed quite a lot.

"Play safe", is my advice.

RayH

Could also be motor mounts and or transmission mounts.
When they start to collapse it can cause the fan to hit the shroud.