If anyone has run into this problem before, please respond. I am about to do an oil change on my SL600 V12. I have been told that the dealers use top side oil extractors to remove the existing oil, so I have one on order and it has been shipped. In the mean time, I decided to do a dry run though the dip stick tube with a flexible plastic tube, about a 1/4" o/d just to see how it would go!! What I found was, there is a restriction about 3/4 down the tube, that it could not pass!! What I could do was to pass a piece of wire 1/16 o/d down to the oil pan, kind of like a dip stick, that went full length. Now that being said, I am pretty sure the new extractor is going to have tubing very similar to what I was using. Any feedback would be appreciated. Except you guys that do not like to get your hands dirty, and cannot understand us that do. Also I really do not want to hear from you folks that make $300.00 or more an hour, that say I should take the car to the dealer, we already know how you feel.
Thanks Brian T.

How did this work out for you? I'm looking at the same thing but that doesn't address the oil filter.

OldkneeDragger, this was one of the most simple oil changes I have ever done. That being said, to overcome what I thought was a blockage in the dip stick tube ( it happened to be just a tight bend.) was to trim the flexible hose, by cutting the end diagonally to a point, so it can pass the tight bend about 3/4 of the way down. The pneumatic oil extractor worked great. As far as the oil filter is concerned, that was easy to change. I bought the special tool ( it is either 74mm or 76mm not sure at this time) on line, for $4.00, then I watched a U-Tube video on how to change a Mercedes oil filter. I got the filter online, cost about $15.00. I refilled the engine with 10qt of Castrol 0w 40 synthetic oil, $50.00 at Walmart The reason that this change is so easy, is that everything is right on top and in the front of the engine. I hope some of this is helpful, Brian.

Hey
Where did u buy the oil extractor and for how much?

Circleman: I know you weren't talking to me, but I saw your posts and your query, and I know something about extractors. I've been using one of these for about 20 years:

http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/...d+extractor.do

It cost a lot less way back then, but even so ... it has paid for itself many times over, vehicles of all kinds: cars, trucks, motorcycles, lawnmowers, tractor, RTV....

The local AutoZone store has an oil recovery tank in the back ... they let me pour out my old oil there, so I don't have the stuff sitting around the garage.

I don't think you'll regret owning a good extractor. Good luck, Mate.

What extractor ? What tube ? There is a simple oil drain plug on 2004 SL600.

I hope this thread was just for fun....

I use a Mityvac MITMV7300. It works great for doing oil changes on most of my vehicles. Better than jacking things up and getting on your back.

Some good info on oil changes. See the note on AMG engines.