Here's a bizarre story for you to chew on...A few weeks ago, I took my '04 E55 in for routine maintenance at a local MB dealer. I get a frantic call from a service advisor who informs me that the bolt and washer that secures the supercharger bearing assembly is missing. Missing? Yes, missing, not sheared, stripped...missing as in gone. Okay, just replace the bolt. Uh, not possible...no part number for that...gotta buy the whole bearing assembly to get a new bolt and washer. That'll be $2K, please! So after doing some research on this site, I discover that this bolt is pretty hefty and is a bear to remove. This leads me to the obvious question of why isn't it there? I will cut to the chase...four years and about 34K miles ago, the bearing assembly was replaced under warranty. Somebody please tell me it is not possible that a mechanic could forget to bolt the damn thing down. Or...perhaps the bolt wasn't torqued properly and it backed out. I could believe the latter explanation if it weren't for the fact that a bolt that size with the motor in full operation would have most likely caused some damage under the hood or I would have at least heard it. I'm the only one who drives the car. The recess where the bolt mounts appears to be rusted as if a bolt hadn't resided there in quite some time. On top of that, despite my dealer's warning that the bearing might come off and do considerable damage, I drove the car off the lot and have put more than 300 miles on it. Could I have possibly driven the car all this time with the bolt missing? So...what's the verdict out there? Vote for A: Bolt was never reinstalled when warranty work was done 4 years ago B: Bolt backed out, but didn't cause any damage some time after the repair? C: Dealer removed the bolt to squeeze me for $$$ D. Gremlins By the way, if anybody has a supercharger bearing bolt and washer laying around, let me know. PJ

 

to be honest if the bolt if not there the clutch assembly will fly off the SC.

 

E. You have the prototype boltless s/c bearing. Only one was ever made.

 

 

Dang

 

Maybe not. The belt would keep it on when disconnected and when the clutch is activated it'll lock into place. I can totally see how it's possible ( unlikely perhaps, but possible ).

 

I'm just trying to apply some logic here and arrive at a rational, reasonable answer as to what probably happened: So... if I drove 25 miles to the dealership just before the bolt was discovered missing, I think it's reasonable to assume the bolt probably wasn't there when I left my house, right? And if I left the dealership after the bolt was discovered missing and have now driven 400 miles without a bolt in place it proves the vehicle can be driven quite some distance (however foolish on my part) without the bolt, right? And if the bearing assembly hasn't fallen off in 400+ miles, who's to say it would fall off in 4000 or 34000 miles? I know what I'll do. I'll tell Mercedes what happened and they will believe me. Then they'll apologize for my inconvenience and will replace the bearing assembly for free making me a very satisfied customer. I'm so sure that's how this whole thing is going to turn out. What's even funnier is thinking about the mechanic who made the repair. Wonder what he said to himself when he discovered a big-*** bolt and washer sitting in his tool box a few days later? Actually there would have been two bolts...the old one and the one that came with the new bearing assembly. Oh well, I've beaten this horse to death...guess it's one of those things that will remain a mystery - kinda' like whether or not the light in the 'fridge actually turns off when you close the door. Thanks for allowing me to vent. PJ

 

Hey GT-ER! Soy San Juanero...donde vives? PJ (Pedro)

 

I climbed into the refrigerator to check and it does turn off

 

did you take oxygen with you?

 

The trick is holding your breath!