Coolant change on E320 W210

[rallen]

The manual says there is a coolant drain plug on the right hand side of the engine block. Which is the right hand side? In any case, try as I might, I could not find it. Anyone knows where it is and what it looks like?

I ended up using the obvious radiator plug and ran the fill-run engine-drain cycle to get rid of the old coolant.

[benzthere]

It's on the passenger side.

[TomO]

You can sort of see it under the exhaust manifold toward the rear using a mirror but it is easier to see from underneath. It has a hole and is meant to be used with a hose--I tried that but used an old long heater hose that did not fit very well. I spilled as much as if I'd just opened it and let it pour down into a tub.

How many quarts did you get back in? I got in 7.7 and my Haynes manual (and maybe the CD too) said it should take about 9.5. Maybe I didn't get the heater drained?

[rallen]

I put in 7-8L from which 4L were coolant.

[TomO]

I just noticed you are in the UK--the location of the coolant drain plug stated as being on the "passenger side" might have confused you? Right hand is (normally) in reference to looking toward the front of the car. Cheers.

[rallen]

I was not confused, thanks. But still I could not find it when I was looking for it.

So we agree it is on the side of the engine block, above the oil pan plug ?

[TomO]

Driver's side UK; Passenger side US; under the exhaust manifold. On my car the oil drain plug is on the other (left) side. My coolant plug was shiny metal (as opposed to rusty bolts elsewhere on the block) and had a nipple-like protrusion with a hole in the middle.