Additionally if you remove the ac piping, radiator, wiring, and sensors behind the firewall (dash needs to be removed) you can save about 10lbs. Great video! For my car I needed to trick the hvac system to think i still had ac connected (b/c the oem electric fan was costantly on). I just used resistors at the condesor plug to get 2.5v output, now everything works perfectly
My car is a convertible so I may do this even though it’s for street use only. This and a lightweight battery is getting on for a 50lb weight saving, wow!
I followed this but aftet i did it my fan is blowing was strong and it wont stop. Its just always on full blast. I have the clutch fan delete and have electric fan mod using the aux fan module. Not sure if it has relation to this. Help for input. Why is it blowing on full blast
How long did it take to remove everything? My compressor broke last summer and I cut the belt to get a few HP. I'm not planning on fixing it so I may remove everything.
Not for stock suspension or TC Kline coilovers. However, with the Ohlins coilovers (fatter strut) I had to run a thin 5 mm spacers in the fronts. Max tire up front was 255/35/18 with camber and fender work. The E90s (non M) don't have much room (no fender flares).
If you're referring to the stock auxiliary fan, you don't need that since it blocks direct airflow to the radiator. With or without AC, I deleted the stock auxiliary fan long ago. I run a mishimoto electric fan with an upgraded CSF radiator and oil cooler.
On stock E46s, the fan between the engine and radiator is a clutch fan which spins with the motor. I upgraded my stock clutch fan to an aftermarket Mishimoto electric fan. This electric fan has a sensor probe inserted into the radiator and an adjustable relay I can set for the fan to come on/off. Do you have an aftermarket electric fan? If so, you may want to check if it has an adjustable relay to control it.
European Manual E46’s have just an electric fan, no clutch fan. Only automatic ones have both a clutch and electric fan. No idea about US market cars. Anyway I have this problem now too, the factory electric fan runs 24/7 since the AC got removed
I'm trying to actually fix the AC in my E46 and your video has been almost a complete tutorial mate! Cheers :D
Highly recommend just taking the front bumper and headlight assemblies off to pull the AC condenser straight out
I removed my AC and followed this tutorial ... now i dont have any air blowing through my vents. Help!
Additionally if you remove the ac piping, radiator, wiring, and sensors behind the firewall (dash needs to be removed) you can save about 10lbs. Great video! For my car I needed to trick the hvac system to think i still had ac connected (b/c the oem electric fan was costantly on). I just used resistors at the condesor plug to get 2.5v output, now everything works perfectly
Yes, good point. Here's a video on some wiring delete: ua-cam.com/video/vTpuU-jKOio/v-deo.html
Good video. The only con is driving it to the track during winter as it might fog up, especially when raining.
I left the heater core and heater so no issues with fog.
My car is a convertible so I may do this even though it’s for street use only. This and a lightweight battery is getting on for a 50lb weight saving, wow!
So what did you do with the serpentine belt for the alternator
Goodquestion. I know some guys had to get another belt measured, when they did an A/C delete.
What do you do with the openings in the bulkhead that the AC lines used to connect to? Presumably these need to be blocked off or something?
Would the belt not lose tension without the ac installed? I thought you’d need to do something to regain the tension in the belt?
AC belt and tensioner is on it's on. The main belt has it's on tensioner and idler. No downsides of removing the AC besides summer days.
Nice video. Very detailed.
Thanks Ken!
What type of electric fan are you using?
I followed this but aftet i did it my fan is blowing was strong and it wont stop. Its just always on full blast. I have the clutch fan delete and have electric fan mod using the aux fan module. Not sure if it has relation to this. Help for input. Why is it blowing on full blast
Great vid! What did you do for a shorter belt now the AC is gone?
The AC is a totally different belt than the main belt. You don't need a shorter belt.
I removed my ac belt too and the car runs beautifully
yup!
doing this on my g tmrw:)
Could I do this on my e46 320d Touring?
mam i love saving money on mechanical and weight a diy job i can do 330 uk spec sparw time
How long did it take to remove everything? My compressor broke last summer and I cut the belt to get a few HP. I'm not planning on fixing it so I may remove everything.
1-2 hours. Actually quite easy.
OT question - on your E90 did you have to run any spacer to clear strut or calipers with the 17x9.5 +35 ARC8s?
Not for stock suspension or TC Kline coilovers. However, with the Ohlins coilovers (fatter strut) I had to run a thin 5 mm spacers in the fronts. Max tire up front was 255/35/18 with camber and fender work. The E90s (non M) don't have much room (no fender flares).
Thanks Sean. Apex themselves told me a spacer was needed for ST60s but it seemed otherwise.
These wheels were specifically designed to clear BBKs. I had the ST60, 355mm kit on the front of my E90.
Hi my stock electric fan is always running since I delete the a/c did it happen to you also? I have a 330ci clubsport but it the same a/c
If you're referring to the stock auxiliary fan, you don't need that since it blocks direct airflow to the radiator. With or without AC, I deleted the stock auxiliary fan long ago. I run a mishimoto electric fan with an upgraded CSF radiator and oil cooler.
SeanS54 not the auxiliary the one between engine and radiator
On stock E46s, the fan between the engine and radiator is a clutch fan which spins with the motor. I upgraded my stock clutch fan to an aftermarket Mishimoto electric fan. This electric fan has a sensor probe inserted into the radiator and an adjustable relay I can set for the fan to come on/off.
Do you have an aftermarket electric fan? If so, you may want to check if it has an adjustable relay to control it.
European Manual E46’s have just an electric fan, no clutch fan. Only automatic ones have both a clutch and electric fan. No idea about US market cars. Anyway I have this problem now too, the factory electric fan runs 24/7 since the AC got removed
Hey Sean, How did you remove the Aux fan? I'm stuck into this and not sure how much i need to remove to get that out? Thanks
Can I get an F in the chat for all the complaining gfs out there from this 🤣
Hey Sean. Binging ur channel as of late....love it. Wondering if this throws a CEL? I got an e92 but i’d assume it’s the same thing. Thx :)
Man a busted radiator line. Working on this car is a huge pain in the ass it's really tight spaces.
That factory line is thin plastic and $70. I could've avoided that by unclipping it but I got overzealous.
SeanS54 i know. At that point you just wanna get it done. Ive been there before.
You didn't mention anything about releasing the refrigerant! It just sprayed me when I loosened the first bolt
D***a**! If you’re going to comment a negative remark make sure you know what you’re talking about!