This is a great forum and it has given me plenty of help but this is the first time I have ended up answering my own question. I asked, previously, what tool opened the drain plug on the front differential. I didn't get any answers so I just had to crawl down there without any tools and see what was required. For anyone else who might be interested, it takes a 14mm allen wrench. Fortunately, this is the same tool that opens the crankcase drain on our 380SL. I don't own a bunch of tools so it was convenient to have it on hand to make the check. Incidently, since most gear box lubricant levels are checked by filling them to the drain hole I pondered about using my front wheel ramps to gain access to the gear box and how to check the level on a slant. I drew a line on the side of the box that would be horizonatal when the car was on the ground, then drew another level line in the raised position. I had these two lines cross at about the mid point of the box. This gave me a new reference for the level, since it would end up about 3/4" below the drain opening when the front was raised. This should be "close". srharvey

'82 380SL
'83 240D
'93 300TE 4Matic