Yes sometimes the drain plug will get stuck, but its easy to remove. First pump the oil out, the hit the pan with a torch, it will come out.

My 97 S420, and 01 S600 have the drain plug on the bottom, rear part of the oil pan. When I change my oil I drive up on ramps, pull the plug, and it ALL comes out. More importantly: my plugs are magnetic, so, when it is pulled from the pan, whatever metal particles there are stay on it and can be cleaned off. The filter will stop 95% of metal, but there is always minute particles that do not get picked up by the suction screen/scavenger. I have had many engines apart and where the dipstick tube is does not allways allow a suction tube to go everywhere. Some are bent very strangly as they go into the block.

Have you seen where the dipstick is on an '06 C 230 ?
Yep, at the back of the engine, at the lowest point in the sump. ;)

Oil draining
 

Amen to the good old standard drain plug. What I have discovered is that NO ONE at MBNA will tell an owner of an '07 E class if it comes with any type of drain plug to do a proper oil change. I would dearly like to know as this is the BEST way to change oil in a car. Any genius out there who knows for sure?

It won't make a difference. Maybe the engine will blow up at 550k miles insted of 530k if you drain it.:D

Out the top/out the bottom?
 

<<I must call BS. Suck all the oil out with a topsider, then take out the drain plug...nothing comes out.>>

I too have been using a Topsider for about six years and it's a well established fact that more oil is removed by the Topsider, mainly because the drain plug opening is slightly above the pan bottom. Further, although the dealers suck it out the top, they do not put a tube in but seal their "sucker" to the top of the dipstick tube, thus leaving some oil in the tube itself. Totally inconsequential.

I am currently doing oil changes in my dipstick-less '01 C320 and a friend's '99 CLK 430 by Topsider.

BTW, my new W204 C300 (due in October) will have a dipstick. Thank God.

Hello all topsiders,

the pumping method seems less messy and I am much interested.
What suction pump are you using? is it expensive and/or clumsy? I do not have much room in my garage. Or can it be rented from, say Autozone?

Thanks!

Not to get into the "great dip stick" debate, but I would have to assume that a DS tube extends to the very bottom of the oil pan and is thus able to pick up all the oil in the engine. This of course after the engine has not been run for several hours. I have actally jacked the starbourd side of the car up and seen additional oil come out. Over kill, of course. Note. Most Topsiders hold 5/6 qts of oil while a proper MB usually has a capacity of 7/9 qts oil. Be careful to notice this.

This help you ?
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_465467_465467

Topsider capacity
 

<<Most Topsiders hold 5/6 qts of oil while a proper MB usually has a capacity of 7/9 qts oil. Be careful to notice this>>

My Topsider, purchased at West Marine for about $50, easily holds the entire 8 quarts plus in my M112 V-6. They sell only one size.

Just wondering
 

Does doing the oil change yourself create the possibility of voiding the remainder of the factory or CPO warranty on the car, since there would be no evidence of a service paper from a Mercedes dealer or an Independent shop?

Why would it?
Keep the receipts for the oil & filters purchased and your log, containing date & mileage.
My Owner's Manual does not specifiy who changes the oil.
Furthermore, if........there ever was a claim, as far as all lubricated parts of the engine goes, the burden of proof would be ( my interpretation anyway ) on the manufacturer.
On a little " funny " sidenote.
Years ago I witnessed a customer getting a new engine installed ( " Goodwill " gesture) by the dealer.
The engine had 45 k miles on it,..........with the original oil filter still in place.
Go figure. ;)

Hi Roger,

I went to westmarine.com and found this. Is it also the one you mentioned?

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001/27074/0/0/Topsider/All_2/mode+matchallpartial/0/0


Thanks!

Thanks for the link, I am looking into it.

Just another link to a cheap oil vacuum:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=45403

I haven't used it -- sometimes you get what you pay for with Harbor Freight. Then again, it's a simple device, and the price is right. For the cost of one quickie-lube stop, I'm tempted to try it myself! Meantime, drain plug has worked fine for all the years I've been in cars...

Cheers, John