03'55AMG

I was putting the screws in the little cover on the main valve cover and a screw sheared off... What size drill bit should I use to drill this out??

Quadcammer

before you start drilling...are any threads showing with the VC removed? If so, use vice grips to try to spin out. if that doesn't work, dremel a slot in it and use a flathead to remove.

stockC43

FYI it's not the end of the world if you can't get it out, although I'm sure you will. There main function is to hold the 2 pieces togeather when the valve cover isn't bolted on. The only "nessasary" one is the one by the oil cap as the breather doesn't have a valve cover bolt holding it down over there. The small screws break because the silicone from reselling the breathers gets in the hole and hydro locks the screw. The screws are a alloy and not steel so they are weak. You can replace them with stainless licence plate screws if you need to

berti_00

Happened to me.. got it out, next time dont.tighten to much... try to use a reverse drill bit

groove66

it should just spin right out. What happens is dried sealant is in the holes from original install and has to be cleaned out.. if not, you break the bolt as you found out. the bolt/screw is some super soft aluminum that will break if you sneeze on them.

don't worry it is not cross threaded it will spin right out. but clean all those holes or it will happen again. I just use a thin pick

desired_speeds

I use a tap to clean the silicon off the threads before threading a new screw in.

03'55AMG

I was barely tightening it, it just went from A OK to sheared.
I cleaned out all the old sealant on the threads, cover and on top of the hole for the screw..
I did this, but the screw was EXTREMELY weak.

So I can use license plate screws for this? Or if somebody could post a link to a few of them online to buy.. MAN, if it weren't this forum, I don't know what I would do! Thanks guys!!!!!

Alps

go buy another from the dealers, last thing you want is to damage the head by using a steel bolt and overtightening it!

03'55AMG

The screw that sheared doesn't touch the head, just the valve cover where the pcv hose goes.

Alps

my bad typing, ur better off getting a genuine one to stop any damage to the cam cover.

i slightly overtightened one on mine and it gave a little but didnt actually break, but i have a spare in the toolbox for next time!

03'55AMG

Any places online to get it? I don't have a dealer near me that I will go to again

desired_speeds

How many did you shear? You honestly don't need them besides the one near the oil cap on the drivers side. Remember to tighten the valve cover E socket bolts before using a tiny screwdriver to tighten these small allen heads.

03'55AMG

Just one thank God.. It is sticking out pretty far so I don't anticipate problems getting it out. The one that sheared was passenger side near the firewall. Would it be ok to RTV seal it the just leave that one out? Seems pretty odd to me

desired_speeds

two of mine sheered on the W210 so I don't have any on the drivers side VC except the one next to the oil cap. I just extracted the broken screw and RTV sealed it as it was before. The valve cover bolts will hold it down without problem.

03'55AMG

Sounds good, as long as it doesn't leak! I swear I can't begin thank the people here (all you Guys) enough for the wealth of information you share here. Thanks again!