Fan blades and fan clutch

56WEDGE

MEMBER
1997 BMW 540I
5.5L
V8
2WD
MANUAL
175,000 MILES

I have had my fan blade explode three times in under ninety days. First time my fan and fan clutch was replaced. Second incident the motor mounts were replaced. Now the third time, new fan, radiator, upper radiator hose. What is could be causing this? My shop is stumped. No answers or guarantee that it wont happen again. All three times I was starting from a stop. In first gear, not accelerating hard at all. Twenty feet them boom.

3 Replies

KEN L

MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
42,833 POSTS

Yep, it sound like the drivers side engine mount has separated allowing the engine to raise up which will contact the fan blade to the shroud. You can confirm by looking for rub marks at the underneath side of the top of the shroud. Please let me know. Cheers, Ken

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Wednesday, December 19th, 2018 AT 12:57 PM

56WEDGE

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Ken, thanks for the response. I'm still concerned. Both engine mounts were replaced after the second incident. The most recent - the third time was with the new engine mounts installed. Any additional thoughts?

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Thursday, December 20th, 2018 AT 5:03 AM

KEN L

MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
42,833 POSTS

Can you check for contact around the fan shroud, its must be hitting something. Also try to brake torque the car with the hood open to see if the engine moves around. Both forward and reverse.

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Thursday, December 20th, 2018 AT 9:44 AM