how much time/money to change blowermotor '98 S320?? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

lovedieselsd · #1 08-04-2006, 01:41 PM

a friend of my mother in law needs it replaced and asked me if I can do it. I'm pretty handy with cars, when they are old though. anybody have experience with this model? tips? where to unscrew the plastic to get to it? how much for the blowermotor? (second hand ok)
cheers!

pcmaher · #2 08-04-2006, 02:25 PM

It's easy to get to. I'd say an hour at the most, and that's at a relaxed pace. The link below shows how to change the cabin air filter. Once you expose the blower, you'll see what to remove to get it out. If your blower isn't rotating, make sure the fan shaft has not rusted/seized in it's bearing. Some people have gotten lucky by simply oiling up the shaft/bearing interface. They got their blowers to work again.

http://v12uberalles.com/pollen_filter.htm

KenP · #3 08-04-2006, 07:49 PM

You didn't mention why you think the blower itself is bad... these cars also are prone to fry the blower regulator, especially if the cabin filter isn't maintained/replaced at regular intervals. When you get the filter out, you'll see the regulator mounted right on top of the blower housing.
Before you go and buy a blower, make sure the regulator isn't the real culprit.
If you call Phil at Mercedeshop, he can get you the blower motor by itself without the cage fan and housing.
Good luck.

Gilly · #4 08-04-2006, 09:01 PM

I agree with Ken P, WAY more times it's the regulator. Sometimes it's both, a bad motor can "take out" the regulator, but usually it's just the regulator. Replace the filter while you're in there.
Gilly

lovedieselsd · #5 08-05-2006, 12:12 AM

thanks guys.
I have no idea, 'the blower motor needs to be replaced' is all the information I got. I looked at parts sites for that model and found the regulator on them and thought the same... blower motor without the rest is about $127, right?
I'll try to go there and check it out for myself. is that regulator visibly damaged when broken? or would you have to have it tested?

lovedieselsd · #6 08-05-2006, 12:18 AM

just checked the engine chart and there doesn't even seem to exist an '98 S320
somethings need checking here

KenP · #7 08-05-2006, 07:30 AM

No, you can't tell if the regulator is blown/failed just by looking at it. It fails electrically. If you do a search on W140 blower regulators I'm sure you'll find a number of posts on how to test it. You'll also find a number of posts on how easy it is to get to.
If you disconnect the regulator leads to the motor and jumper power directly to the motor, and the motor runs, its almost certainly the regulator.
Don't know where you went looking for parts, but 127 dollars is pretty cheap. You sure you got the right part? I'd expect the blower motor (alone) to be over 200. Same for the regulator.
Gilly is absolutely right... change the filter before you put it all back together.

Eltee · #8 08-05-2006, 10:59 PM

Blower motor from the dealer on 140's lists for over $1000.

KenP · #9 08-06-2006, 07:44 AM

I wouldn't doubt that price from the dealer... but thats the whole blower assembly. A call to Phil at Mercedesshop (one of this site's sponsors) will get you just the Bosch motor.
Think the motor part number is 0 130 111 024 but check to be sure.
The regulator is 140 821 83 51

Peter Guenther · #10 08-06-2006, 09:56 AM

The proceedure is straight forward, the screws are torx. For your informatiom the blower regulator is in the negative lead to the blower, should you try and put power to it. The motor is around the middle $100s but the big problem is getting the squirrel cage off the shaft without breaking it. The regulator can be replaced seperately and is also in the mid $100s check phils price. Mb sells the whole assembly for about $800 something, and the filter for $125. By all means shop for the parts they are available but do change the filter when you are in there

lovedieselsd · #11 08-06-2006, 01:45 PM

great information. I find cheap parts at ********arizona.com by the way. I'm sure it's about $127, or maybe I found it somewhere else.
I'm a little worried about getting that fan thing off the motor too. seems to be sitting on there quite snug if it's thesame as the 116...
I need to get hold of the person who's car it is first anyway, before getting into buying parts etc.
cheers

BamaMB · #12 08-07-2006, 07:52 PM

My blower motor started acting up last summer and I was able to get away with the oiling the motor shaft trick until this month. Looks like it's time for a new motor. I'm too am concerned about getting the fan off without damaging it.

Hatterasguy · #13 08-07-2006, 07:55 PM

My friend took his S320 to a local non MB shop when the blower motor stopped working. They were able to get it running again by oiling it and changed the filter, $400.

Gilly · #14 08-07-2006, 08:49 PM

$400 just for THAT!?
Gilly

Hatterasguy · #15 08-08-2006, 12:19 AM

Yep, he didn't wait or want to figure out how to get at it himself. So he paid a non MB corner shop to do it.

Against my advice I may add. Leason learned, I guess.

Still doesn't blow right, high is a weak breeze at best. The blower motor in my W126 did the same thing; it seized I freed it up. Never blew right after that and finaly gave up a few months later. I suspect his will follow a similer pattern.