240d Coolant Engine Drain Plug
 

Does anyone have any tips on how to remove this hard-to-reach coolant drain plug on the side of the engine? It seems to be a untouched since it left the factory. Do you suggest removing the air cleaner assembly to get to it more easily? WD40 it overnight maybe? help!

357 magnum ? or 6 inch extension and 1/2 inch breaker bar and proper size deep socket ?

It's even tougher to install the block heater, try taking that core plug out after 20+ years. Usually to do that you need a breaker bar with the MB allen socket and about a 6 foot pipe, plus have some heavy friends and a torch.
With the block drain usually, like the block heater plug, you'll want to do it on a hoist from below. Usually a nice long 1/2" drive breaker bar will do it, like about a 2+ foot long one.

Gilly

Greg,
That's German cast iron...it'll take my .44.

I used an old trick when I removed the tank heater nipple from daBenz and installed the plug from the parts car: with the engine stone cold, heat the plug with a propane torch. The plug heats up, expands and breaks the corrosion in the threads. Let things cool off and pulled the plug with a 1/2in breaker bar. Just remember to cover the starter. I used tin foil and shaped it to act as a sluice into a clean oil pan. Well... those were the plugs I was dealing with - right rear.