I am pretty mechanically inclined but stilll had a few questions regarding a 2004 E320 after my researches. The car is not mine as I am doing this for my father.

*Do you guys prefer the TopSider or Mity-Vac?

*I was told that there is no oil dipstick and that the computer told you the amount of oil in the car (whether it's low, high, etc.). So where do you "vacuum" out the oil (do you do it at the oil cap?)?

*(After the removal of the undercarriage guard) Where is the drain plug approximately located?

I want to thank all inquiries in advance.

I personally prefer gravity. I had an oil pump once, but it didn't age well, and spewed dirty oil around when one of the hoses broke. Nevermore, quoth I.

Accessing the drain plug just means removing four little bolts on the belly pan. The drain plug is exactly where you would expect it to be.

Also, they all have dipsticks for engine oil, and the pumps suck throught the sipstick tube. There are no dipsticks for 722.6 (5-speed) and later transmissions.

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Prost!

Our '04 has no oil dipstick, and the original post is correct about the newer models don't have one. Yes, the computer is supposed to monitor the quantity of oil in it and the dealers have a dipstick too which you can order for these cars. There is a dipstick tube they use for checking the level and for sucking out the oil. Personally I still prefer gravity draining out the bottom, not simply because I think it is just a little more thorough than vacuuming it but also because it gives you a chance to look underneath the car and check things down there you'd miss if only working from above.

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Marty D.

2013 C300 4Matic
1984 BMW 733i
2013 Lincoln MKz

Mity-Vac is better, especially the one you hook to shop air.

Dipstick is exposed after removing big plastic engine cover.

You do NOT vacuum via oil fill cap or via oil filter housing.

EVERYONE in the industry will testify that more oil is removed by vacuuming than by draining.

IF you drain via pan bolt, washer MUST be replaced, not reused. This is an industry-wide practice for German vehicles.

Procedure is provided in detail in the W211 Service DVD available from Dealer or by calling 800.for.merc.

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Kent Christensen
Albuquerque
'07 GL320CDI, '10 CL550. '01 Porsche Boxster
Two BMW motorcycles

I can say that based upon my unscientific tests this statement is untrue in fact I don't see how it could even be true. How is it even possible to suck more oil out than you'd get by draining from the plug at the bottom of the pan?

I have, on 2 occaisions in 2 different cars used the vacuum method and then removed the drain plug and always had some additional oil come out. Not much, probably a couple of ounces at most. I didn't wait very long between removing the tube and opening the drain plug either so it was not that the oil had a chance to drain down out of the engine.

I really think the difference is negligible and the reason the "industry" has adopted this process is because it is easier than using the drain plug and eliminates the risk of stripping the threads or starting a leak by not replacing the crush washer.

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Marty D.

2013 C300 4Matic
1984 BMW 733i
2013 Lincoln MKz

I think the real reason is that vacuum machines are commonly available at German gas stations. I believe they're coin-operated for DIY, but never used one myself.

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Prost!