Advise on changing oil pan?

[Joseph_H]

I need to change my oil pan and gasket and also I will be adding a new oil pressure sender on my E420. I am wondering if you guys have any recommendations on what else to do while I am down there? Shall I use some sort of spray cleaner to clean engine parts after removing the pan? If so, what spray do you recommend using - something that doesn’t harm wires etc? I found some minor leaks around the pan and sending unit. I need to change the pan because it is bent. My sending unit is also acting up. Any advise from you pros out there would be appreciated.

Say a little prayer for SL owners with the same task - to remove the oil pan, they must either remove the engine or the front suspension subframe. I presume you don't from the way you described the job.

[Joseph_H]

My car has two pans: one is the main upper pan and the other is the lower pan where the drain plug goes. The lower pan is what I am replacing and very accessible once you're underneath the car with bottom engine cover removed. All the bolts are there with easy access.
I was just wondering if it would be a good idea to clean whatever exposed parts once I remove the oil pan and what to use? Of course assuming there will be some kind of heavy oil deposits, but if I find everything looks good, then I won't miss with it.