This mixer did not fall victim to a teardown — it was repaired. The pictures show how it can be disassembled (not easy, but not impossible either). It was still manufactured at a time when the possibility was considered that someone might actually want to repair it.
As can be seen in the pictures, the problem was caused by a cracked middle gear inside the main unit, which drives the hand blender attachment. This machine is over twenty years old, but – apart from this fault – it still works perfectly, and spare parts are still available. I bought a gear set for around €12, replaced the faulty gear, and that was it.
It would be great — and far more environmentally responsible — if modern household appliances were also designed to be repairable, with spare parts readily available. Far too many devices today are built to be disposable, making repairs difficult or uneconomical. The Braun deserves praise for still providing replacement parts for a device that was made over two decades ago. This kind of long-term support not only extends the life of well-built machines but also helps reduce electronic waste.