I have a feeling that I already know the answer to my question - having seen the smooth blanking panels under my car's engine when it was on a ramp.

My question stems from a conversation about German car design with some friends last night. They said that the latest trend with Mercedes and Audi, unlike Vauxhall/Opel, is not to provide a dipstick for routine checking of the car engine's oil level - rather a warning light when the oil has reached a (presumably unsafe?) low level. Additionally, for Mercedes at least, filling a car up with oil is a time consuming effort involving having the engine warm, topping up slowly, taking the car for a run before checking again (how? - warning light out?) and topping up as necessary. This reminded me of how to check/fill Porsches. Some/all? Mercedes have no oil drain plug in the sump (Audi?) and need a "sucker" to remove the oil (presumably any metal debris that otherwise might have drained out is left in the engine). The general consensus was that this was really designed to force people away from home servicing and into the arms of the Dealers. Audi Dealers in particular were thought to have poor servicing technicians. BMW got away lightly, as they were not discussed.

My question is: Does the Astra K have an engine oil drain plug at the bottom of the sump? I have seen no mention of one in the handbook.