I'm sure you'll find far better advice from 'the pros.' But to me it sounds like a bad overvoltage relay. I am addicted to this site like it's a crackpipe and although I'm not a professional mechanic, I recall several other posts where people have had weird electrical things happen like you described. The culprit in almost every case has been a bad overvoltage relay. This may also explain why your aux fans haven't been kicking on.

Good Luck. And wish me good luck on my new purchase! A '97 E420!!