This just dawned on me while waiting forever at the airport. I just did mine after strolling through a lot of threads all over the different MB forums. I see how a bunch of folks are looking into this, et cet.

I have all the tools and the cleaning process down pat. Plus, I just made a jig which will hold the lift pump in place while I take it apart. I am figuring $38 plus shipping is not a killer price plus whatever it costs to ship me the core back.