Area-51m R1, Dell Support options for fan Error Code 2000-0511

Over this last year my Area-51m R1 has been giving me headaches, such like the constant overheating or swollen battery. Moving forward to last week, I've been booting my laptop up and have been facing the fan Error Code 2000-0511. So after contacting WhatsApp support, it was temporarily fixed by by restoring default settings in the bios however today, the same error appeared this morning.

So I contacted Dell Support and they decided that they would need to replace the heatsink, however there were only two options, either mail my laptop out with a turn around time of 7-14 business days or have a technician come in to install it.

With Toronto under lock down orders and myself being categorised as high risk during the pandemic, while living in a time where online/virtual classes is normal and it isn't possible to be without a laptop without missing out on class, I can't help feel that these options aren't great.

Firstly, having a Dell technician come in would have been a great solution before the pandemic however I am concerned especially given the nature of travel for the technician's job, having him visit is a poor decision and against the health recommendations provided by Toronto and Ontario. Myself, I haven't visited family and friends to protect mine and their own safety, which is why I can't bring myself to have a stranger come and visit.

Secondly, after learning that it was just to replace the heatsink, I did some research and saw that it was a simple thing to do as it is commonly done when repasting the CPU and GPU (A solution for all the overheating problems that the community have found out). Given that one of the main selling points of this $3000 laptop is that it is upgradeable and easy to replace the GPU/CPU as well as other components, it comes to no surprise that the process is easily accessible to end users like us. So I proposed that with the wealth of resources/service manuals (and relying on my experience building computers) and the given ease of access when working with the Area-51m R1, they could send the part to me directly. Unfortunately, Dell support states that it is mandatory to have a tech do this and it cannot be replaced by customers and left saying "You can wait for a back up plan or any other solution that doesn't not involve putting yourself in contact with other people".

I can't help feel that there should be some sort of middle ground but given the current situation I am unhappy with the outcome. I haven't decided what to do yet as I feel like I'm caught between a rock and a hard place. Or maybe I'm overreacting?

I really hope there is a better solution out there but I know right now, my next desktop replacement (which probably is coming soon given the issues I've faced with the Area-51m R1) will not be from Dell/Alienware.