I am just starting the job. I havent even pulled the pan yet. The service manual is unclear as to whether or not I need to remove the crossmembers or pull the engine to pull the pan.
I have read some threads on here about pulling the engine being easier, but they are for later models.

Can anyone give me advice?

It is a 1968 220D W115 with 615 series engine.

Thanks in advance.

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1980 300SD W116 - Daily driver. 362,800 miles and counting. (about 100 miles / day) -- on hold, have a ticking vacuum pump. New one on the way.

I am not sure about your specific vehicle, but i would guess it would be easier to pull the engine and then do them. I am assuming your engine has a two piece pan held together with allen bolts like the later engines? That upper pan has to come off and its nearly impossible in the car. Some of the upper pan allen bolts are really hard to get out. I had trouble with them even with my engine out!

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1979 240D with a 617 turbo diesel.

ditto.

even if you could remove the upper pan easily, removing the crank and replacing it will be an accident waiting to happen. Scratch your crank, and your new main bearings mean very little.

in a perfect world, it is preferable to have two people drop in a crank on a removed engine.... let alone fight gravity and bench-press it into place.

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you'll have to pull the engine. Crossmember is not removeable on a 115 unless you pull the whole subframe (which the motor mounts attach to), and the crank is attached to the transmission at the back anyway so they have to be split. This is a job where you want the engine upside down to do the work.

If you don't have an MB manual go to the classic center website and get one on CD. You will want it for this kind of job.

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H.D.B.
OBK #45
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'75 W115 240D, wife's dd, 197K
........'75 W115 300D, my dd, 245K
.. .. ..........'82 W126 300SD, the 'someday' project