I've never understood why that tube was designed to be a piece of foam. Only guess is that it won't transmit vibration from the fan to the top of the dash (which would act as a drumhead). Anyone else have an idea? Obvously. M-B could have used solid plastic -- others here have done so.

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"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970