dansamg

Hey guys

I had a bad burning smell coming from the car after some long highway driving, so I took a look around under the car as I couldnt smell it coming from the engine bay.
I noticed that the exhaust pipes right behind the tranny had burnt oil on them, so I pulled the rear body shield and found a fair amound of pooling oil.
It didnt smell like motor oil and it was pretty clean.
I believe that the oil was coming from the tranny oil pan gasket area, but after searching the forum I noticed a couple of people that had similar issues and it turned out to be the Pilot bushing.

Question is -
if I run the engine to fill up the torque converter, how much oil sits in the drain pan?
If I was to replace the pan gasket and Pilot bushing would it be a big mess and loss of tons of tranny oil?
Would I be better off giving the car to an indi shop?

I know my way around a car fairly well and do most of my own maintainance, but I have to admit I know nothing about transmissions.

Thanks for any help

03'55AMG

my pilot bushing went too, fixed at dealer in august