Well, my buddy at the stealer-ship faxed me the entire procedure from the workshop manual and we got it out. Cleaned the pan and replaced the gasket. Replaced the timing cover, camshaft, and valve cover seals as well. Got everything back together and ran it. Not a drop in the front of the engine. And then..... a new leak at the rear running down on the exhaust side! Aw crap. Doesn't appear to be from the valve cover or the head gasket. I am just about ready to pull it into a burning building. Bought this car from a friend 16 months ago for $4000. It had 69,000 orig miles on it. He had taken it to an indy Mercedes shop at 62,000 and had the head gasket, water pump, wiring harness, timing chain and guide, virtually everything done that could possibly need to be done. He gave me receipts for over $4900 in repairs that were done 6 months before we bought the car. With this repair, I am at an additional $1500 in repairs doing much of it myself. Is it time to call TOD and let it go? When it's running properly this car is awesome but c'mon now. I'm amazed that Mercedes actually put their name on this design.