As the whole of the outer drum is stainless steel there is unlikely to be any major limescale build up anywhere else. You have very little to loose by trying a different element but I fear the worst tbh. 🙁
As the replacement is if I understand you is a previously used element then the rubber grommet could be already swollen. A bit of washing up liquid might help. A brand new element would have a grommet that would slip in easily.
Yep, I’ve struggled with both, I can’t get either in now so the washer is FUBAR unless I can get a new element, FFS. Anyone have any ideas where I might obtain one. Google is not being my friend at present.