Time for an Oil Change

42 mpg from Ann Arbor to St. Paul. :) I'm home! Time for an oil change. Amsoil makes a European synthetic motor oil that meets the Mercedes-Benz 229.1, 229.3, 229.5, and 229.51 specifications. Capacity w/filter is 6.87 qts. or 6.5 l. Buy 8 quarts. You will need filter number HU 721/2 x from MANN. I have heard some mention about tilting the motor forward before starting the vehicle to prevent oil starvation. As of today, there is no TSB related to this issue.
You can become an AMSOIL "preferred customer" and save $$. My membership paid for itself after my first purchase of 8 qts.

You can do an oil change without jacking the car up. It's very easy. The plastic "belly" of the Benz come in three parts. The first is right under the bumper. Leave this one alone. The second and third are the ones you want to remove to change the oil. They are held on by 8mm hex head bolts with large integral washers.

The drain plug faces toward the passenger's side of the car and is a 13mm hex. (see picture at right. It has a box wrench hanging from it.) Mine was on VERY tight. I had to use a "cheater" bar for more torque. Don't worry about mucking up the threads as their is spproximately 1.5 in. of thread on the drain plug!

You should use a new copper sealing washer. If you don't have one at hand, you can reuse copper washers if you heat them to RED hot in a propane torch. Do not do this on cement heating cement this hot will explode and shoot bits of grit into your eyes. Use a pliers. Ask me how I know :)

I used a standard small size oil filter wrench to remove the oil filter. This might slip on the plastic. You can buy the tool from MB as well.

I needed exactly 7 qts. of oil. Your oil filter will hold some of this. First fill the engine without starting it to its recommended level. Then start it and let it run for a few seconds. This fills the filter. You will then have to wait a ridiculous amount of time before the car will let you measure the oil level again. You might have to add a half a quart at this point. DO NOT OVERFILL. Removing extra oil is a huge PITA.

Clear your service codes per the previously listed PDF's

Congratulations! you're done! Go have a beer.