It should rotate, but not what I'd call "freely". The fan is bolted to a pretty big fan "clutch" that is in turn rotated by a fan belt.

The fan clutch is supposed to allow some slippage when the engine is at normal temperature, and then start "locking up" when the engine gets hotter.

So, on your car, you should see approximately the following behavior. Grab the fan carefully and give it a good spin attempt, being careful not to cut yourself or bend a blade. Just a reasonable spin, not excessive or anything. The fan should stop within one turn or less.

If it just spins freely then your fan clutch has gone bad and will never lock up when your car needs it the most.

Not a cheap part either. But its something you can probably do without over the winter in a cool climate.

Ken300D

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1982 300D at 351K miles
1984 300SD at 217K miles
1987 300D at 370K miles