Call dell,
kick up a fuss, a new fan is a non returnable part so they shouldn't care too much about it and post you a new one. Even if you're out of Warranty.
Crying on the phone often helps.
(PsychoChomp, Wed 17 Jun 2009, 9:24, 2 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

do you speak from experience?
or is it just something you 'heard through the grapevine'?
(Poppet some assembly required., Wed 17 Jun 2009, 9:37, Reply)

I used to work for dell

(PsychoChomp, Wed 17 Jun 2009, 9:45, Reply)

that's good experience then :P

(Poppet some assembly required., Wed 17 Jun 2009, 10:25, Reply)

A top tip
*gets ready to blare down the phone*
(Apathyman Prepare to be underwhelmed..., Wed 17 Jun 2009, 9:38, Reply)