99 e320 - broken oil filter assembly

[clevvernet]

When changing the oil this evening I heard a crunch as I was snugging down the oil filter assembly, after pulling it back out I realized the assembly broke between the first and second o ring. So now there is a 3/4 inch piece of plastic stuck down at the bottom. Not that it matters at this point, but I'm assuming that the o ring wasn't oiled good enough and the resistance on the wall caused the plastic to snap.

- How should I get this piece out?

- I'm not going to start the car until I talk to someone, but I assume the car isn't save to drive at this point?

- Is the bottom of that hole sitting in the oil pan? Could I knock the piece down from the top and remove the oil pan to get it out?

Thanks in advance for your help.

--
Brent

[Hirnbeiss]

Can you reach it with a bilge picker? That's a flexible grabber tool where you squeeze a handle at one end that opens a claw at the other.

[clevvernet]

That was actually the first thing that I tried. Since the first o ring is attached to the piece I assume it fits fairly snug in that hole, also since it's solid I can't use something like a coat hanger with a small loop to get under it. Thanks for the suggestion though.

--
Brent

[deanyel]

Based on that description most people are going to have a difficult time envisioning the problem. But I would think removing the oil filter housing, #5 below, would be your worst case scenario.

http://www.detali.ru/cat/oem_mb2.asp?TP=1&F=210065&M=112%2E941&GA=722%2E607&CT=M&cat=19Y&SID=18&SGR=060&SGN=02

[whipplem104]

You could drill a very small hole in it with a drill bit extension. Then put a screw in with a string tied around the head to pull it out or better yet weld a screw to a shaft.
I do not think you can push it down into the oil pan. Taking the housing off will only make the access shorter by the length of the filter. still a deep hole.

[clevvernet]

Thanks for the replies. I had given some thought to taking off the oil filter assembly, how long a job do you guys think that is?

[Hirnbeiss]

Going by the shop manual diagram, it looks like that part seats into a threaded fitting (nr. 41 on the Russky chart). If so, you owe me $50

[Southern]

I would try sucking it out with a shop vac first. Do you think that you overtightened it that caused the oil filter assembly to break? I've done numerous oil changes on my 98 E320 and never had that problem.