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2006 BMW 325i

Question: very loud fan / motor noise

Question

GregS, Mililani, HI, June 16, 2011, 00:41
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 Rookie

my 06 325i has a very loud noise like a fan motor - sometimes it sounds like an airplane engine is revving out of control. It is especially loud while sitting at stop lights - where I can hear it start revving up. I did have a low radiator coolant situation which was corrected and the auto shop checked for any sort of radiator leak and found none.

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  • Answer #1

    patrick mannion from Greg Solow's Engine Room, June 16, 2011, 03:22
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    Older BMWs used a viscous coupling type cooling fan driven off the water pump pulley when the fan hub failed it would lock on the fan and make a load sound as you describe, (it would normally only operate or "lock up the fan hub" when the gel expanded due to heat in the radiator and contract when the radiator had been cooled down). I am not sure but I had thought you car uses an electric fan mounted to the radiator in which case my answer is incorrect. I have no access right now to my workshop manuals.

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    GregS, June 16, 2011, 09:09
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    thanks - i'll check this out. is it safe to drive - at least to a repair shop?

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