So Mercedes is using throw away drain plugs now?

Yep, plastic plug with rubber oring near filter cap - p/n is 002-990-20-17. Then you have another drain plug near the front of the engine oil pan.

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Jim

Except for the fact that it is alive and well, my '81 300SD would turn over in its grave.

You wont want to look under a Ford truck then, the whole oil pan is made of plastic.

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2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)