Originally Posted by S-Class Guru (Post 2518466)

Frank, it's pretty straightforward.
I don't have the exact wrench sizes in front of me, but I'll give you what info I can from doing it several times.

Pull the pan drain plug with an allen wrench (5 or 6mm I think) and let it drain out (2-3 qts maybe).
The plug torques back in at about 7 lb/ft, or a good snug turn of the allen, the metal washer can be reused with no problem.

Pull the pan (13mm socket I think) and drain the rest, clean up the pan and inspect the gasket. The pan has flanges that keep the gasket from crushing, so it can often be reused if still in good shape. It torques at about 6 lb/ft. or just a good snug turn. You wil feel the pan flanges snug up and resist further tightening.

Unscrew the filter (very straightforward) and replace with the new one. Be sure the old seal ring comes out with the old filter.

Turn the engine over clockwise (from the front) using a big socket on the front crank bolt (1 1/16 I think). Don't turn the engine backwards, not so good for the chain tensioner.
The converter plug is located behind a little sight port on the bottom of the bell housing. it's kinda hard to see, it's actually up the side of the converter shell about 1/2 inch. It looks like the pan drain plug. It's washer can be reused also. You will get a lot of oil from there, maybe 5 quarts.

Snug everything back together, add about 4 quarts (too much at once can actually run out the tube and make a real mess). Crank the engine for a few seconds to circulate the fluid. Then add the rest. Don't overfill. Get the fluid to show up on the stick, then set it a bit below the MIN line and go for a short drive. The fluid should be set right at the middle mark when the trasnny is at normal operating temp, say, after a 5-mile drive.

Piece of cake,
DG

Originally Posted by S-Class Guru (Post 2519442)

No crossmembers to remove. Yes, you can do the pan and the converter separately. No problem with it sitting up in the front, when you drop the pan virtually the same amount will drain out regardless.
I guess most logical way would be to do the converter, then pull the pan drain, then the pan. As I remember, you get only 3-4 qts from a pan drain, and another 4 or more from the converter. I only do this about every two years, and I tend to forget a lot of details these days. But there are no big surprises, very straightforward once you find that darn convereter drain plug.

DG