I've got a little issue. I was changing my delivery valve seals and one of the old copper crush gaskets is missing in action. My "assistant" was helping me and may have dropped it into the IP. I would say I am at least a 7 skill wise as a mech. Anybody ever open one of these up? I see an access plate on the side. Should I go in?

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1989 560SL
1986 300SDL
1983 300D (Burning Jet-A)
1982 240D
1995 S600

It wouldn't make it inside the IP. When you look down inside the IP, you'll see the delivery valves themselves. You can lift them out (be careful to keep them oriented correctly) and you'll see the top of the pumping element down below. There's no way for the washer to make it any further than that.

You can likely find the washer just by looking for it. If it isn't inside the DV well, it probably fell when it was removed and is down in the engine bay or under the car.

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Current stable:
1995 E320 149K (Nancy)
1983 500SL 120K (SLoL)

Black Sheep:
1985 524TD 167K (TotalDumpster™)

Gone but not forgotten:
1986 300SDL (RIP)
1991 350SD
1991 560SEL
1990 560SEL
1986 500SEL Euro (Rusted to nothing at 47K!)

Thanks. I wasn't sure about pulling them out. I read not to mess with them. Of course I also read not to loose the old gasket as well......I guess we know how that turned out. I'll pull them out and take a look. Thank you

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1989 560SL
1986 300SDL
1983 300D (Burning Jet-A)
1982 240D
1995 S600

Those copper washers are single use items, if you don't replace with new, the idle will be terrible and the car won't run well at all.