isnt there another bolt at the top of the rail that also holds it? the reason I went ahead a pulled it is because it had almost no resistance indicating that the rail was being held by something else as well. Like I said, it started fine and I just drove it 5 miles. Wouldnt this have showed up and destroyed the engine almost immediately if there was a problem? Or at least another odd noise.

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Paul
2004 E500 4matic; 72,000mi