Can't get to torque converter drain plug, what to do?!

[zeronero]

I'm about to service the transmission on my '92 400E and would like to very much to, but it seems as if the exhaust pipe is in the way. I have no problem getting to the pan, but it's the bell housing that is the problem. Since this car has a V8 the exhaust pipe on the passenger side connects to the drivers side right under the bell housing where the opening for the torque converter is, making it impossbile to reach it.

I really don't want to have to remove the exhaust pipe in order to complete this task, but don't see any other method of reaching it. I searched some alternative ways of draining the transmission, with removing a cooling line being the best. Anyone have any answers, I just can't believe MB would design something like this.