Today, after removing the screw revealed when you remove the passenger side air vent, I learned that the glove box/lower instrument panel assembly can be removed without removing the instrument panel top cover! Chalk up another error in the service manual. Between this error and the error in the instructions for removing the air vent, I wasted a lot of time this week.

Now that I have access to the recirc air switchover valve, I need to figure out how to remove the vacuum tube fittings without breaking them. The fittings seem to have the tube cemented to the fitting which is cylindrical with some slices at the open end that create four quadrants with lips that snap over a raised portion of the inlet and outlet of the recirc air switchover valve. There is probably a tool to spread the quadrants so they will slip back off of the ports, but I've looked at what is available locally and what is available won't fit into the space available on this valve.

Any ideas?

Anyone know of a Mercedes Benz forum where I might find someone familiar with how Mercedes does things?

- Bill