This afternoon I decided to go ahead and do an oil change on my 2008 C300 with just under 26,000 miles. The dealer did the first one at 13,000.

DO NOT USE THESE DIRECTIONS https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w203/217250-diy-c230k-sedan-oil-change-w203.html I wasted a lot of time trying to find the filter which wasn't where they said it would be and bought some tools that weren't needed.


This thread (although its for a different model) more accurately describes where the filter is located. https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...796&highlight=
You do need a filter removal tool that's fits over the plastic housing. My recommendation is to take your C300 or C350 to the parts house and try different filter tools till you get the right size. My first trip to the parts house, I bought 3 different ones and non of them fit.

Best of luck.

Umm, the first set of instructions are for a 4 cylinder I believe, we are running V6's now, that is why the instructions are so different.

yup, the first link is to an entirely different generation of engines.

This is to help some poor slup from wasting their time looking for it in the wrong place as I did. I'm pretty sure that I got the first link from a thread here in the w204 section.

For 220 CDI owners the oil filter removal tool from NewZealand.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/BMW-Mercedes-...742.m153.l1262

Here in the States, that tool is around $5.00 at AutoZone.

Just twisting the knife a bit here, one glance at the pic makes it obvious it's an inline four cylinder. Not to mention a W203.

I have reservations about how well the oil evacuation method works. How well does this method work with with getting all the old oil out and how well does it perform in pulling up metal bits and shards if there is engine damage going on? Guess after so many years of seeing some nasty chunks of stuff drop out of the bottow of some oil pans, it seems hard to imagine a suction pump doing the job as well.
Do we even have a plug on the oil pan...and is it covered with the arodynamic bottom plate...which may be the reason for evacutating the oil in this method??

There is a sump plug for the 220CDI & whilst I am young enough to crawl underneath the pan ,whilst the engine is hot,I will drain the oil by this tried & true method .Whilst there ,I do an inspection of the suspension arms, steering rack gaters, brake hoses ect

The suction method removes more oil than by removing the drain plug because the bottom of the plug is higher than the oil pan bottom due to the threaded boss. Anyone who has been paying attention would know that the dealers have been using the suction method for many years. I use a TopSider for that purpose, a marine store item (I use West Marine, a national chain) that costs around fifty dollars and has an eight quart capacity.

Yes, there is a drain plug and you do have to remove that section of the belly pan for access to it.

[QUOTE=RLE;3172079]The suction method removes more oil than by removing the drain plug because the bottom of the plug is higher than the oil pan bottom due to the threaded boss. Anyone who has been paying attention would know that the dealers have been using the suction method for many years.

QUOTE.
With a drain plug you are sure that you have a very high percentage of the oil removed rather than wondering whether the suction hose is square with the sump bottom or is held up by the sump strainer ect.
The dealers no doubt use the suction method for expediency.

If the suction hose could be inserted incorrectly, then the dipstick would be also.

[QUOTE=Carsy;3172321]You certainly do make a lot of assumptions based on no direct knowledge.
Several years back on another MB list (one of many) another skeptic sucked the oil out from above and then removed the drain plug. NO oil came out. And if there is a strainer, it is over the oil pump inlet. And the dealers apply their suction device to the top of the dipstick tube because they consider the tiny amount in the tube itself to be inconsequential.

They apply their suction device over the dipstick inlet instead of inserting the tube? Can you do that with a DIY suction device?

[QUOTE=RLE;3174206]This would work only if the dip stick tube goes to the bottom of the oil sump, in which case you could do the same. I don't know for sure, but I doubt that it does.
Try sucking soda through a straw if it is not immersed in the liquid.

1. Yes
2. Not much reason to because the Topsider for example comes with a flexible plastic tube which is the right size for the dipstick tube. I am sure that the dealer suction device has a lot higher suction to suck the used oil to a central storage tank.