When you lift the car be sure to place it securely on a jack stand (or set of stands) before removing the wheel. DO NOT attempt to work on, under or around the car if it is support by any type of jack without the benefit of support stands.

That said, I don't know about the E's, but on the 4.5 I can change pads through the "window" without having to remove the caliper from the vehicle. Simply driving out the pins and removing the tensioning spring is sufficient for pad removal. In lieu of the "Mercedes" piston compressor I use the old pad and a set of channel locks to compress the caliper piston. Just be sure to compress and exchange one pad at a time leaving the other pad in place.

I haven't done brakes on the 560 yet (but I did check them during the resurrection 70%fr/90%r), so I can't comment further on the newer cars. Perhaps the wear sensors require caliper removal.

__________________
Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.