The underside of the E300 does indeed have a "belly pan" that must be removed for plug draining. The MB information I read indicates that a vacuum extraction was the ONLY approved MB method. Sludge is another subject. If the oil is changed regularly then I don't how you could find much in there if the filter is working.

Maybe someone else who had to remove a pan and "look" at sludge will enlighten me. I always understood that sludge was a byproduct of heat, time, and oil breakdown. Oil left for 15-30K miles and run hot all the time would sludge. Synthetics don't do so I'm told. However, I like the suction method of extraction for other reasons.

With Mobil 1 in my gas cars (and now the diesel MB) and changed regularly I don't ever expect to find sludge.

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