I moved from NY to DC back in October. However the wife is still up in NY. This means (lucky me) that I get to drive 700 miles a weekend to go up there and back. Well this weekend she took Monday off and was going to drive down to me. She was driving Fritzie, the 1984 528e, which is her daily driver.She got onthe #$%%^%$# NJ Turnpike to get to I-78, got stuck in traffic and overheated the car. The D@MN aux fan chose that time to burn out and the ridiculous plastic fan driven by the engine is not worth the HP it uses! She had the car flatbedded back to NY and guess where I am right now!
Of course the fan is not working even when I jump it to the battery so I am looking to buy a replacement $400.00! for a Bosch fan!!!

I am having a GREAT weekend so far!

Sorry for the rant, but the forum is cheaper than a shrink (not that I can afford one after buying a new fan)


On the good side, this is not the first time Fritzie has overheaded (all aux fan related issues -- resistor, switch, relay all failed over the years) and unlike our aluminum engines she has not cracked her head -- yet

__________________
"I have no convictions ... I blow with the wind, and the prevailing wind happens to be from Vichy"

Current
Monika '74 450 SL
BrownHilda '79 280SL
FoxyCleopatra '99 Chevy Suburban
Scarlett 2014 Jeep Cherokee
Krystal 2004 Volvo S60
Gone
'74 Jeep CJ5
'97 Jeep ZJ Laredo
Rudolf ‘86 300SDL
Bruno '81 300SD
Fritzi '84 BMW
'92 Subaru
'96 Impala SS
'71 Buick GS conv
'67 GTO conv
'63 Corvair conv
'57 Nomad

Which aluminum engines are you speaking of? Mercedes and bmw of that era have iron blocks and aluminum heads.

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

That's what I meant... Specifically the OM603 and the M20. It seems like the M20 can stand up to thermal abuse much better than the OM603 can. Atr least I hope it can...

__________________
"I have no convictions ... I blow with the wind, and the prevailing wind happens to be from Vichy"

Current
Monika '74 450 SL
BrownHilda '79 280SL
FoxyCleopatra '99 Chevy Suburban
Scarlett 2014 Jeep Cherokee
Krystal 2004 Volvo S60
Gone
'74 Jeep CJ5
'97 Jeep ZJ Laredo
Rudolf ‘86 300SDL
Bruno '81 300SD
Fritzi '84 BMW
'92 Subaru
'96 Impala SS
'71 Buick GS conv
'67 GTO conv
'63 Corvair conv
'57 Nomad

Its never good to overheat an engine, doubly so if it has an aluminum head.

Sorry you are having trouble, good luck sorting it out.

Tom W

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Thanks. She "forgot" to look at the gauges and ran the car until it boiled over. There goes $50 worth of Zerex

The engine seems all right. I ran it this morning and it seems to behave it always does.

__________________
"I have no convictions ... I blow with the wind, and the prevailing wind happens to be from Vichy"

Current
Monika '74 450 SL
BrownHilda '79 280SL
FoxyCleopatra '99 Chevy Suburban
Scarlett 2014 Jeep Cherokee
Krystal 2004 Volvo S60
Gone
'74 Jeep CJ5
'97 Jeep ZJ Laredo
Rudolf ‘86 300SDL
Bruno '81 300SD
Fritzi '84 BMW
'92 Subaru
'96 Impala SS
'71 Buick GS conv
'67 GTO conv
'63 Corvair conv
'57 Nomad

Cross your fingers and toes!

Tom W

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

There does seem to be plenty of E28 cars in the junk yards. You probably can find a fan for 20 - 30 bucks.

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1959 Gravely LI, 1963 Gravely L8, 1973 Gravely C12
1982 380SL
1978 450 SEL 6.9 euro restoration at 63% and climbing
1987 300 D
2005 CDI European Delivery
2006 CDI Handed down to daughter
2007 GL CDI. Wifes

This is just a guess, but the other issue might be a weakened head gastket if it got a little too warm...

Keep on eye on the exhaust and watch out for any signs of leaking coolant...

Check the garage floor, now, for a "before/after" comparison...then you've at least established a "benchmark" for things to watch out for...

Good luck...

__________________

M. G. Burg
'10 - Dakota SXT - Daily Ride / ≈ 172.5K
.'76 - 450SLC - 107.024.12 / < .89.20 K
..'77 - 280E - 123.033.12 / > 128.20 K
...'67 - El Camino - 283ci / > 207.00 K
....'75 - Yamaha - 650XS / < 21.00 K
.....'87 - G20 Sportvan / > 206.00 K
......'85 - 4WINNS 160 I.O. / 140hp
.......'74 - Honda CT70 / Real 125
.
“I didn’t really say everything I said.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ~ Yogi Berra ~

If it's any consolation...

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'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.