John535is

If it's cracked and you have easier access at the moment I would be replacing it. There are some write ups on this site from others who have removed the fan and put in electric ones, also a write up on owners who have removed the fan and the clutch and installed the A6 one which works out cheaper than the Allroad fan.
I suppose removing it all together would depend on the local climate. In Australia we run a hot weather option which just has some slight differences to the standard European pack, but deleting the fan would not be an option here unless you were based in Tasmania.

MrKid

I live in the northeast, US. We rarely see temps over 90, and when we do, it's only a few days. More likely to see single digit temps. I think I'll remove it for now, and I have any issues, it will be pretty easy to put an A6 fan on later.

MrKid

Any know for sure whether or not I should use rtv on the half moon seals? I have seen arguments for both using and not on line.

Prospeeder

I use just the littlest bit on the corners of the half moon. Seems to work well.

MrKid

I did mine over the weekend. Horrible shape! I ran a thin bead to bond it to the head, then put a dab on each side, then in the lower corner of "dog leg" on the gasket. Now I have to figure out how to change the cam cap on the back of the drivers side head. I'm thing, try and tap it out with a screwdriver? It has the raised bumps that may be enough to knock it out.

Prospeeder

Oh remove the T30 bolts holding the bearing cap over it, and just pluck it out, and replace.

MrKid

This on the other side. It's pressed in to a blind hole.

Prospeeder

Still, remove the cam sensor, remove the 4 T30 bolts remove the large bearing cap.

MrKid

If you look at the head on the left, you can see the cap I am talking about. It is the cap on the left with the raised bumps un it. There is no cap to remove, like there is on the other head. This is the driver's side, and is up against the firewall.

Prospeeder

Yes, remove the entire retaining cap, I can see the 4 T30 bolts you need to remove and it will come off, exposing both the cam seal behind the cam sensor and the plug. It spans the whole head instead of being like the little short one on the other side. You may need to give it a little tap tap from the side to get it to come loose.