Was able to remove the fan by removing the three allen bolts. No special tools; just an orinary L-shaped hex wrench. (I guess the 260E has only three of these vs four as I read elsewhere.)

I was also able to download a diagram for how to thread the belt over the pulleys, as someone was good enough to post in another forum.

Looks like all the pulleys are pretty tight, though I only have 7, not 8 (no air pump). I was able to remove the belt only after it jumped the alternator pulley when my cleaning rag got caught in it

I recall yet another thread which said it can be replaced by loosening the alternator; since I have the fan and shroud off already, would that be preferable to loosening the tensioner?

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2008 E350 4matic / Black/Anthracite

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Gone but not Forgotten:
2001 E430 4matic, 206,xxx miles, Black/Charcoal
1995 E320, 252,xxx miles, Black/Grey
1989 260E, 223,00 miles, Black/Black