I have a 1989 w124 with the m103 (I been posting enough so everyone should know this).

I have a really bad leak at the oil pan and since I am in the middle of valve guides and seals, timing chain, and also having a really nasty leak at the lower timing cover I decided I would get the oil pan gasket replaced as well. There is only one thing.

How the heck do I get this oil pan off? From what I can tell it looks like I need to remove the bolts for the front engine mounts and get the engine up high enough to for the pan to clean between the block and the cross member........ Please tell me that I do not have to do that.

If I do indeed need to get the engine lifted then what is the best way to do this without hoist? is there someone underneath that I can block and use a jack to lift it?

You will need to disconnect the engine mounts and raise the engine. After the oil pan fasteners are out of the way you will have to raise the engine up enough for the pan to clear the oil pump.

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Jim

A hoist would probably be best here, since you'll have pretty much nowhere to jack the engine from easily....unless you put little scissor or bottle jacks under the engine mount-arms.

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Thanks guys, just the info I did not want to read but I do really appreciate the info.

I was hoping there was some magical location that I missed while under the car yesterday.......... but it looks like I knew the answer.

I am gonna take a look and see if I can use the bottle jack method but I would be surprised if there was enough space even for that........ and the engine hoist is at the neighbors shoved in the back of his garage.

does anyone know the locations for where to attach the chains for the hoist? and do I only have to disconnect the front engine mounts or do I need to get the rear one as well?

not sure how much clearance you'll need between the crossmember as I've never removed the pan but the engine is lifted at a 45 degree to clear the front over rider. There's not much room to lift it straight up. There are hooks on the engine but I would used straps since they will bend. The trans mount must be loose in addition to the engine mounts. You'll also need to unbolt the exhaust. That is "if" you need to lift it more than an inch or two...

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It's not a problem with the exhaust since I just put the head back on and nothing is together yet, that is a great idea on the straps for the bending.


hopefully tomorrow I will have an update for how things are going.

an update for anyone that would like to know..... there is no way in heck that you can get a jack on the engine mounts to lift the engine but with the oil pan dropped I was able to but a block of wood on each side of the bottom of the block (at a light angle) and jack the engine enough to slide the pan out.

I was not able to get the engine lift back in the last couple days so I figured I would give it a try. It worked out fine but I am hoping I have the lift so I can use that instead when I get ready to put the pan back on.

I used a hoist when I did that - on the front hook on the engine. Be sure to be careful as the engine will move back and contact the firewall.

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