I've never changed my own oil on my 300SL and I'm somewhat confused. I'm looking at a small canister with a plastic screw top. When I unscrew the top, the top of the canister comes off and I'm looking at what appears to be the oil filter. There is a screw with a small nut a couple of inches down, but nothing that looks like a filter. Can someone help me with instructions on changing the oil filter on the 300SL?

I think you have removed the nut off the power steering pump's reservoir. The 104 engine's oil filter is behind the engine, in front of the firewall. You may need to get a filter remove tool, MB make one for about ten dollars.

jack

the plastic screw on top is the giveaway
 

you need to look further toward the fire wall on the same side of the engine. Look down in a kind of "opening" there right in front of the fire wall (you will have to look between some black hoses and the firewall) and you should see a black plastic cover about 3 to 4" in diameter. Unscrew this cover and remove and you will see the oil filter. What needs to happen before you remove the cover though is to put a drain pan underneath and remove the drain plug from the oil pan. Unscrew the oil filter cover about a couple or few turns and allow the oil to drain out into the pan. This will help make it a little cleaner job.
Jim

And it wouldn't hold a quart of oil
 

Thanks Jim,

The plastic screw was indeed a dead giveaway, but I was having trouble finding an oil filter where I thought it should be. I was thinking of buying the LiquiVac system and not draining the oil from the oil pan. Any thoughts on problems unique to the R129 changing the oil this way?

Bob

ask an owner
 

about the LiquiVac. I like to climb underneath and look around.
Jim

We use an oil extractor in the shop, works fine on 104 engines. Pull the oil filter, or at least fully loosen the oil filter cap before extracting the oil. I also "feel better" if I take the oil cap first also, probably not that important.....Gilly