oil drain valve

[hiker]

I installed a Fumoto oil drain valve on my 99 ML 320 shortly after I bought it new. Be sure you get the one that has the attached nipple on it that allows you to press on a detachable clear vinyl tubing from the hardware store. This allows you to depress a lever and move the lever a quarter turn to flow oil cleanly thru the tubing to your drain container. I had to grind off a little of one of the oil pan fins to have enough clearance to thread it in. Bought it thru Summit Racing and it makes my 3000 mile oil changes quick and clean. Only thing, I didn't like about it is the threaded shaft isn't nearly as long as the original drain plug, but it is in a protected location, and have taken my ML on unmaintained trails with no problem. Now have 66,000 miles on it.