How hard is it to get to the blower motor in W201?
 

My blower motor is chirping and I want to get to it to lube the bearings. It used to only chirp on low speeds, now it does it on all speeds. I want to make this one last as long as possible before I have to replace it. I haven't looked into what the motor costs yet. Please help.

Probably too much work to just remove it to lube it. It's below the wiper assembly, so you need to remove that first, then there is a cover over the blower motor. I'd just replace it if it's questionable, unless you're really willing to screw around with it awhile, just to have the noise return in a month.

Gilly

Hmm yeah. Well I found a new one for 100 bucks. I will probably end up doing that. And while I'm in there I will lube the wiper linkage and all that, it screams when it's cold. It's annoying.

It's a fairly easy job. But I agree, you might as well replace it once you've removed the wiper assembly.

Good deal. I will let this blower motor die then! heh The squeaking can be covered by the stereo! :) If I'm going to replace it, why not wait till it breaks?

Thanks for the help guys. This is what I wanted to know. That it's easy! Thanks again!

The only thing to consider is how important your heater and windshield defroster is. If the fan dies suddenly under the wrong conditions, you may be kicking yourself for not replacing it before it died (of course your cold-numbed leg may not work well at kicking yourself, OTOH your cold-numbed posterior wouldn't feel it, either!). Or if it would fail at a time when you have lots of other things to do. You may want to replace it at your earliest convenient time.

Gilly

I have a few pictures of the procedure on my web site, as I replaced my evaporator unit a little bit ago.

Nate, the bushings in blower motor are made of soft alloy that eventually wears out. They cannot be lubricated. I paid $99 on line for my blower motor. It took me 4 hours the first time (put in a used part-big mistake), two hours the second time. The motor will not seize for a long time , but your brain will (that sound is annoying).

You need to remove the plastic cover under the windshield (that's when the MB "vertical" hood supports come in handy), remove the wiper assembly, unscrew the top 4 firewall screws, unplug everything, open up the cover (pressure clips), remove the motor (another clip), switch the turbines (make sure you mark the position of turbines on the old motor and transfer that distance to the new one-you will have about 2 mm tolerance on both side), replace the motor, fasten the clip and TRY OUT THE MOTOR!!! if you hear turbines rubbing, you have to adjust their position, put everything together.
Good luck!!

You can also buy them with the "turbines" (we call them squirrel cages, unsure why) already attached). The turbines are simply what the fans are on this car.

Gilly

<< If I'm going to replace it, why not wait till it breaks? >>

There is a good chance a worn motor will draw higher current and ruin the regulator,,, more $$$ than the motor and as much work to change..

Ah that just crossed my mind actually. A strained motor draws more current. Problem is that it's really cold out! I just need to find time to do it, and use a space heater in the garage when I'm replacing it!

I have been thinking on this further though... If it is actually drawing too much current that will harm the alternator or voltage regulator... it will blow the fuse. The fuse has not blown yet. That's why they're there, to limit the current so that it is not drawing too much and fries your system!