N55 owners definitely need to remove the fan.
DCT equiped cars need a single torx screw removed from beneath to release the transmission cooler which is secured to the fan shroud.
6MT owners just pull the fan up after removing the clips.
Your new tensioner should come fully locked in the un-tensioned position with a pin holding it in place to make belt re-installation easy (you’re supposed to remove the pin once you put the belt on and the tensioner will properly tension everything)
This video is a good resource as well, but DCT owners beware - you need to remove your transmission cooler screw from beneath before you pull up. Failure to do so and you will break something!