Anyone here make the switch?Do you feel more power?Fuel mileage?Can you just use stock fan for AC,if you have no AC?
Trying to save hard earned cash.

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1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran

IMHO, if you save any money on fuel at all (your right foot is likely to have a much larger effect), you will be a long time recovering the cost of an electric fan to replace the stock mechanical fan.

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"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

I think this was discussed in the diesel performance tuning section recently and the concensus was that there isn't a whole lot of improvement in power or fuel economy from switching a fan/fan clutch to an electric fan. I don't think the auxillary fan would be capable of removing enough heat from the radiator. Its not shrouded and the fan is just to small.

Here is the link
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=234663

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'83 300D 198,000mi Howard
'03 Saturn Vue CVT 75,000mi(wifeys)

If the fan clutch fails, it usually fails by not releasing and giving constant airflow. If the electric fails, the lost air flow could cause overheating.

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Charles
1983 300D, bought new, 215k+ miles, donated to Purple Hearts veterans charity but I have parts for sale: http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=296386

Well it looks like a clutch is over a $100,and a junkyard fan $20.
With the Great Depression 2 here,I'm trying to cut expenses.Mine is noisey in cold weather.Some say they will wipe out the radiator.

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1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran

Go with a direct drive fan like the 240d has if you want to save money. I've run with an electric fan and they do not provide enough cooling capacity in the summer when heat loads are high. You could probably remove the fan for the winter.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Direct drive tell me how.Like a flex fan? mine has nylon blade.I saw somewhere a guy fitted a flex fan with a spacer,and bolts sheared.I sometimes see 4500rpms.

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1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran

A 240d fan from the junkyard.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Thanks.

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1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran

Go to the junkyard and find a transverse GM V8 and get a thermostatic relay from your local parts store and push it through the radiator fins carefully. I got mine from a '91 oldmobile for $10 at pick-your-part when my fan clutch seized up. I must say, there is some power to be had when the fan is off, but make sure your auxillary fan is in proper working order before going to electric, just in case of failure.

head of the bolt broke off, I am assuming the previous owner cracked it, and the fan eventually came off, going into the radiator and tore it up pretty good. I got a plastic one now.

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1996 E300 D
1992 300D
1990 Ford E-350 7.3 Diesel AKA "the Deep Fryer"

Its a total waste of time.

The HP and economy difference is almost nonexistent. When the radiator is cool the fan is freewheeling and taking almost no power. The fan doesn't even start to lock up until 164*f air temperature (about 90*c coolant). You would need to be frequently driving in the mountains or towing a trailer for an electric fan to save any money.

The A/C fan isn't anywhere near big enough for cooling the engine.

If you want reliability stick with the clutch fan. It has 1 failure point- The clutch. Electric fans have 5 failure points- Motor, relay, temperature sensor/switch, fuse and many electrical connections.

OK,I've found a clutch at a very good price.Thanks for discussion.
Forced is my Idol.

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1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran

Dang clutch was for metal fan.So got rid off fan and clutch.Using a E Fan.Wow what a difference.My clutch must have been locked all the time.I've got more power to the tires.

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1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran

Can the fan BREAK if its direct shaft??? I mean How much stress can the fan handle till it turns into a grenade.....

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Current Garage
2008 Mercedes GL320 CDI 188k mi Repair/Work in progress
1994 S350 160k mi Garage Queen & prepping for repairs
2005 E320 CDI 203k mi Healthy & Daily Driver
1994 S350 357k mi Retried as parts car
1984 300TD 214k mi Blown OM617 Poss OM603 Swap??

Sold
1987 300SDL 200K+
1994 S320 181K mi
2008 E320 Bluetec 127k mi
1999 S420 130K mi
1980 240D 360k mi
15+ Others that has come, stay and gone

GONE, BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
1995 E320 SE 220k mi
1984 300SD 350k mi