On a 1996 E320

1. Remove the front grill using a plier or a screwdriver to loosen the clamps.



2. the grill is ready to be removed.



3. aux fan exposed, it is a duo fan, one with the motor driving the other with a belt, which is the subject of this DIY.



4. Remove the cover plate above the fan by removing four 10mm bolts, two at each side;
and a 10mm bolt in the middle between the fans as in the picture above using a flat wrench.








5. The cover plate removed and turned over:



5. Remove the electric connector behind the small plastic cover at top right of the fan assembly





- to be continued -

__________________
1996 E320 since 1/16/08, 171K miles as of Feb 2011

---------------------------------------------------------
1989 300CE - R.I.P. Dec 29 2007
Other MBs (sold): 1992 300E-24 - 1979 350SLC - 1984 230E - 1990 300CE

7. Fan assembly loosened from the screws and ready to be taken out. Note that the tube in front of the fan motor is in the way and need to be bent a little, or according to Matt L you can make the job a bit easier if you remove the horn and the extra bracket. Also, it is not necessary to bend the power steering cooler pipe. Remove the screw on the left side, and one additional screw just in front of the window washer fluid tank, and the cooler pipe will easily move out of the way. I was a bit lazy :-)




8. The fan assembly taken out, with the broken belt and the new one






New belt inserted, ignore my foot bottom right :-)



9. Cleaning the radiator with a vacuum cleaner



10. and everything back in reverse order

__________________
1996 E320 since 1/16/08, 171K miles as of Feb 2011

---------------------------------------------------------
1989 300CE - R.I.P. Dec 29 2007
Other MBs (sold): 1992 300E-24 - 1979 350SLC - 1984 230E - 1990 300CE

The job is a bit easier if you remove the horn and the extra bracket. Also, it is not necessary to bend the power steering cooler pipe. Remove the screw on the left side, and one additional screw just in front of the window washer fluid tank, and the cooler pipe will easily move out of the way.

Thanks Matt for the tip! I guess I was half lazy half ignorant :-)

__________________
1996 E320 since 1/16/08, 171K miles as of Feb 2011

---------------------------------------------------------
1989 300CE - R.I.P. Dec 29 2007
Other MBs (sold): 1992 300E-24 - 1979 350SLC - 1984 230E - 1990 300CE