OK, what did I break here?

[glenmore]

Just bought a 1999 C280 for my daughter, and was doing the usual fluids and stuff. The car was parked a lot under pine trees so I was cleaning the vents along the bottom of the windshield.

I think this is a vacuum line. It runs along the firewall and there is a right angle connection on the passenger side that broke. Car seems to drive exactly the same. Is this vacuum line for the HVAC?

What do I ask for at the dealer parts counter?

[benzfan]

Have you tried the windshield washers? It does look somewhat like a vacuum line, but the only way to tell if it's HVAC related is to cycle every possibility of that system.

[strictlyspeakin]

That is definitely a vacuum line. I think I know exactly where you are too. One end runs to the intake manifold and the other end I think goes to the vaccuum distribution block. Try part numbers: A-202-800-0353 or A-202-805-0244

[Sulaco]

Put the cable close to where you found it, stand back and take a picture of the bigger scheme of things.