Your filter kit should come with three sealing washers: a large copper seal, a small copper seal and a small steel seal. The large seal is for early V8's and those with aluminum sub pans (like your SL I believe) that used a large drain plug. The small copper washer is used to seal the small drain plug used on steel sub pans. The steel washer is for use between the filter bolt head and the filter housing. You should be able to push the bolt out from the bottom of the filter housing with moderate pressure but be sure to protect the bolt threads from damage and be sure to remove the existing steel washer that will either be firmly attached to the head of the bolt or embedded in the filter housing. Also, be sure to reinstall the spring and spring retainer on the bolt inside the filter housing. Mark