m104 oil filter housing cover
 

how much force is required to remove this thing?

I have a fitting to remove it. autozone had a filter element socket that exactly fit (OEM size B)

I have the same filter wrench from Autozone and it works great. Unless someone has tightened it too much, it only takes moderate force to remove. I usually use my 3/8 drive ratchet with about a 6 inch extension.

The cap is sealed by an o-ring so there is no need to over tighten. O-ring should be replaced with every filter change. Most filters come with the o-ring.

the torque spec is 25nm, so it doesn't need much if tightened correctly.

They can get stuck. The first time I changed the filter on my '95 I had some choice thoughts for the previous installer. The second time I changed the filter, the cap was just as difficult to remove even though I tightened the cap properly on the last change.

Its not budging with the 3/8" drive ratchet. I dont want to move up to the breaker bar and break the thing them im SOL

Use a 1/2" ratchet with a 3/8 reducer. Just be slow and easy on it, try it when the motor is at operating temp.....

yeah good idea. I've got that stuff . I just don't like the plastic lid on the thing.

Go ahead and use the breaker bar. Just be sure that you're turning it CCW to loosen. I regularly use a 1/2" breaker bar to loosen/tighten the oil filter housing cover for the convenience of it, but I only apply moderate force.

The genuine MB tool is inexpensive and works very well.

anti clockwise it is!..

I priced the tool and its like $40 or so at the dealer.. this tool at autozone fits exactly and was $5

Make sure the tool you got is made of metal, actually fits snug, and is the cap kind. I had this problem on my dad's w140 s320. The plastic tool snapped but the metal one worked. Here's my thread from last year:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=249993

(my engine was warm, too, which I believe helped)

just FYI, I used a lot of brute force even with the made to order exetender pipe. But do exercise caution and need to use some finesse. Just be careful :)

Wow ... MBUSA must have really inflated the price on the oil filter housing cover removal tool. I paid around $8 about 12 years ago. Maybe you should try another MB dealer.