Paul Wegweiser
Well-Known Member
Since I wasn't about to pony up $300+ on a genuine BMW center bolt style fan clutch, I figured I'd give the Uro brand one a shot (cost: under $100 +/-)
I bought the genuine BMW adapter hub and the locking cone fitting, and the Uro clutch itself, to install the 9 blade fan assembly on the stock original style water pump.
Imagine my disappointment when I found out the aftermarket Uro fan clutch is SUPER tight, and is engaged pretty much ALL THE TIME at all rpms and temperatures. Makes my poor car sound like a Hoover vacuum cleaner! I have since removed it and installed a later E28 M30 water pump and an OEM (Sachs / ZF) spin-on clutch set-up. WAY quieter. You will need a different water pump pulley, as the bolt spacing between the original E3 / E9 144mm pulleys is different than the later ones. E3/E9 have the four bolts arranged in an square pattern, whereas the later pumps / pulleys have them in a slight "rectangle" like the old 2002 pulleys.
So... yes: The Uro fan clutch will solve your fan engagement / overheating issue... but be prepared for a lot more fan noise under the hood. With that said.... If anyone on a tight budget needs this set-up... I'll offer it for sale here, before returning the fan clutch to WorldPac as "defective". Also have nearly new hub adapter and cone fitting for it.
Let my bad experience and careless expenditure save you from the same fate.
Hope this helps!
Paul
I bought the genuine BMW adapter hub and the locking cone fitting, and the Uro clutch itself, to install the 9 blade fan assembly on the stock original style water pump.
Imagine my disappointment when I found out the aftermarket Uro fan clutch is SUPER tight, and is engaged pretty much ALL THE TIME at all rpms and temperatures. Makes my poor car sound like a Hoover vacuum cleaner! I have since removed it and installed a later E28 M30 water pump and an OEM (Sachs / ZF) spin-on clutch set-up. WAY quieter. You will need a different water pump pulley, as the bolt spacing between the original E3 / E9 144mm pulleys is different than the later ones. E3/E9 have the four bolts arranged in an square pattern, whereas the later pumps / pulleys have them in a slight "rectangle" like the old 2002 pulleys.
So... yes: The Uro fan clutch will solve your fan engagement / overheating issue... but be prepared for a lot more fan noise under the hood. With that said.... If anyone on a tight budget needs this set-up... I'll offer it for sale here, before returning the fan clutch to WorldPac as "defective". Also have nearly new hub adapter and cone fitting for it.
Let my bad experience and careless expenditure save you from the same fate.
Hope this helps!
Paul
