I asked this over in the CL forums and the best reply I got was essentially "if you have to ask, then you can't do it"

I have a 02 CLS and I know I could follow the service manual, I was looking for people whom have replaced the condensor and the tricks and tips they used.

Thanks,

 

Congrats, we're all over here too...

 

get your system evacuated is the first step.

 

^ there's nothing in it. The condensor has a hole in it and it all ran out...

 

I would just look at the manual. As long as there is no refrigerant in it just put the new one in and connect up the lines with new o-rings. You will need a new receiver dryer and have someone pump it down and refill it.