2. It is very important to find the right place to work. It is necessary to allocate a working space that would provide free access to the car. If there is not enough garage space for this, you can limit yourself to at least any free clean area with a flat surface.
3. Clean the engine compartment, engine and transmission before starting to disassemble them - this will improve visibility of the work area and help keep the tool clean.
4. You will need a lift rated for more than the combined weight of the engine and gearbox. Safety is the most important concern given the potential hazards when lifting the machine from the vehicle.
5. If you are removing the engine for the first time, you will need an assistant. It would not be superfluous to consult with someone who already has such experience. There are some operations related to dismantling and removing the engine from the car that are not safe to perform alone.
6. Plan your activities. Before you start work, acquire or ask for a while all the necessary tools and fixtures. For complete safety and relative ease of work, you will need: a hoist designed for the total weight of the engine with transmission, a cart with a jack of the same capacity, a full set of wrenches, including socket heads, a list of which is given at the end of this book, wooden blocks and a large amount of rags and solvents for washing off drunk oil, coolant and fuel. It is helpful to have a set of different sized plastic bags to keep groups of parts together as they are removed. If you have to rent any fixtures or equipment, arrange in advance that you will receive them at the right time, and before that, do all the operations that are possible without using them: this will save you time and money.
7. Consider in your plans that the machine will not be used for some time, especially if you are going to overhaul the engine. Read this entire section and plan your work based on your experience, time, tools and available space. Some repairs can only be carried out at Mercedes workshops; they usually have busy schedules, so it is a good idea to consult with them in advance about the possible time frame before starting to dismantle the machine.
8. Always be especially careful when pulling the power package out of the engine compartment. Careless actions can result in serious injury. Proper planning and reasonable timing will enable you to complete the job successfully and without incident.
9. On all models, the engine with gearbox is removed in one unit by lifting upwards from the engine compartment.