plastic pan on 190E
 

I have a 190E with the plastic pan that is located below the engine compartment, i think it protects the engine from getting road stuff and water hitting it. Anyways, has anyone out there figured out a way to install quick release or 1/4 turn fasteners so that it is easier to remove for oil changes? or has anyone cut a slot or hole in it so they can drain the oil without having to remove it. I am thinking of doing the latter but was interested to know if anyone has tried this? Ken

The belly pan is there to protect the engine and to collect drips to keep the garage floor clean. :) Mine somehow was missing half the bolts (most likely from the diesel idle vibrating them out). So I'd recommend not putting something on there that's quick and easy to remove, you might leave your belly pan behind you in the road!

If dropping the encapsulation pan is too much trouble, buy a topsider or LiquiVac.

its not tooo much trouble, i don't mind but it is abit of a pain to jack the car up and unscrew the six bolts, otherwise with the position of the filter and drain plug, i could do it all by just crawling under the front bumper to drain it and reaching in the side to get the filter.

Luckily my filter is not the screw-in type... haven't changed my oil myself yet, so I don't know if the drain plug is under the belly pan or not. I'd have to look.