A friend has a '99 C280 and the blower motor is starting to squeal. Dealer says $450 for parts and labor. The part is $195+tax.

Anybody here ever done this job before? If so, any tips?

 

I just had mine out a week ago, to lubricate it.
Total time to remove,lube & re-install, about 30 minutes.

 

Where do I start? I don't have the car here, but I want to have an idea so it goes fast. Any special tools?

 

You will need a phillips head screwdriver. Basically you remove the panel under the passenger's side dash, just like you were replacing the cabin air filter.

I wrote down what I did as the following:

http://www.luddite.net/c280/fan.htm

-Tad

 

Good write-up nazrat.
Yes, a philips screwdriver & torxhead ( it's either T-20 or T-25 ).

 

had mine out 3 moths back. Lubrication did not worh, so I put a small washer between the housing and motor. that fixed the problem

 

thank you so much for bringing that up...mine just started squealing and its sooooo annoying, i end up bashing the dash sometimes to make it go away....when i get a chance, im gonna oil it up

 

My blower squeals, but it happens when the heat is on too. Actually, I don't even remember now (since it hasn't been hot here for a while) if it happens or not with the A/C on. Regardless, whenever the blower for the heat is on, it makes a squealing, or more like a chirping, noise. If the fan speed is set anywhere below 3 or so bars, it makes a noise. When I crank it up higher, it goes away. Is this the same blower you guys are talking about? It sounds like it is coming from directly behind the middle of the dash.

Thanks,
Mike

 

Same noise. Lubricate it, or replace it and it will go away.

 

We'll see if my issue is solved. It certainly helped. Thanks for the documentation on this issue and I have a C230.