Thanks all for the comments and guidance.

>>I asked about your project because your
>>e-mail implied that this was new territory for you

Certainly new territory for me with a Mercedes,, though I was ok spinning wrenches on my old Porsches. I wanted to drain the block,, plus I just wanted to get under there and have a looky-loo.


Turns out the suspension subframe on the w124 cabrio has a couple of big steel sway bars attached that other w124's don't ,, I assume to reinforce the rigidity of the body. I didn't feel comfortable using the floor jack on there so I just jacked up each side of the car with the factory jack and popped the axel stands under one at a time (plus I used chocks, parking brake and the floor jack under the subframe,, just in case.)

All-in -all a successful afternoon,, oil and filter changed,,, rad and block flushed,, and I have a new appreciation for the phrase 'over-engineered'.

I will get a topsider for sure,,,, do they sell them (or similar) at any of the usual auto-parts stores like pepboys or Advance?

Thanks again.