Thanks for the Info.

No, I'm not going to use anything but OEM filters. I live in Arizona and it's VERY dusty. I won' be going very long without checking the filters nor will I wait until the FSS system tells me to change oil on MBUSA's schedule.

The only tube that's visible at the rear of the engine has a red cap and I assume that's for the transmission.

There is a seperate cover over the front of the engine that seperates from the rest of the cover containing the air filters. I've removed that and see no tube there either. I think that's where the tube used to be.

I wonder if Mercedes have eliminated the ability to drain oil with an extractor such as the Topsider. I hope not since I just bought one after doing oil changes the old fashioned way for more than 40 years