Has anyone here replaced a w123 heater core? Before my new heater core from ebay.de arrives I'd like to hear from someone who's taken the plunge.

Section 83-100 of the FSM has you removing the center console and extracting the heater box without taking out the dashboard. I'd like to limit the number of plastic parts I break so I'll try that method first.

I've already tried circulating hot radiator stop-leak through the heater core of my 82 240d, which reduced the antifreeze odor and window fogging but didn't seal the leak completely.