W108 AC Blower Resistor?

[1971.280SE]

The AC blower had been removed by the previous owner in my recently acquired '71 280SE with the Thermoking AC. The original blower came with the car.

There was a resistor connected to the two leads to the blower motor just a few inches from the motor wrapped in a vinyl sleeve with two zip ties. It looked to me like an amateur installation, and there is no sign of it in the EPC diagram, so I removed it, assuming it was someone's way of resolving problems in the speed control switch.

However, I just noticed one of these blowers on an auction site, and the photo shows the same vinyl sleeve with zip ties. I haven't reinstalled the blower yet because of another issue that needs resolving (loose bearing retainer).

Is this resistor OEM? I still have it and can solder it back in if necessary.

Thanks,
Bill in Maryland

[1971.280SE]

Having investigated further, I believe I can answer my own question and will post it here for others' reference. First, it is an axial film capacitor, not a resistor, rated at 0.1 uf 100v. The purpose is to smooth out the current flowing to the motor. Second, of course it must be OEM if two of them across the country show the same vinyl sleeve.

Now if I can just figure out how to secure that loose bearing retainer.