[QUOTE]Originally posted by LarryBible
[B]I'm surprised that anyone considers this one any more difficult to change than any other car. The only thing really different is four screws on the belly pan.


True but why cover the plug with the pan? It adds labor cost and potential for removing and misplacing items..i.e. pan, 6 screws on my model (one was missing).


"The belly pan serves a good purpose. It keeps road slime from coming up on the engine, alternator and other accessories. If the belly pan is missing, you should get one."

Absolutely agree here. It is an integral component of the vehicle. It may not be the case on this Merecedes but on my Miata's the underbelly pan is an integral component of the cooling system.


"I took an empty one gallon oil jug and cut the top off leaving the handle. I then hold it next to the filter, and when I pull the filter, I place it right down into the cut open jug to prevent a mess."

Your model must be different.. no way a one gallon jug can fit under my filter area.


"Let it drain overnight..."

Seems kind of obsessive. No offense but how much extra oil drain does an overnight drain yield?

Food for thought...I wonder if years of 7.9 quart oil changes instead of 7.0 resulted in any excessive cranckcase pressure and resulted in a leaky valve cover gasket?