To further the discussion on the suspension bushings. Another area of wear and tear are the front subframe engine cradle bushings. The rearward front subframe bushings can be changed with the cradle and engine in the vehicle. These bushings in particular are in poor shape with vehicles 10 or more years old approaching the hundred thousand mile mark. The mysterious clunk or rattle that doesn't seem to be fixed with suspension linkage repairs often are these bushings. The more challenging bushings are the front subframe front bushings, requires dropping the engine.

The bushings can be cross reference to a Audi A8.

 

 

The rear bushings are removable with engine in. Start by removing the front engine splash shield There is a black triangular piece that has three 18 mm head socket screws. Remove those bolts then there is the center bolt which goes through the rear subframe bushing, remove that one. Only do one side at a time to avoid the rear of the engine sagging. The bushing can be difficult to remove but it can be done. I found it best to use an air hammer chisel and carefully distort it to get it out. Installation of the new one : lubricate both surfaces the inner bushing holder area and the outer bushing. With the cradle in it's a little more challenging but you can put a large socket on the bottom of the bushing and use a hydraulic jack and push it into place. The bushing is position specific, look at the old one before taking it out and make sure to put the new one in the same way.

When taking the black triangular cover plate off the bushing, finding pieces of the outer diameter of the bushing coming out in pieces when failed. This is a good preventative maintenance because eventually they go bad .This is hardly unique to Bentley, Mercedes, Volkswagen and Audi use a similar system and they deteriorate.

The rear bushing part number is: 4D0399415L about $95 each delivered. The part number is universal to Bentley, Audi and Volkswagen.

 

Please note, found out the part number that I supplied for the rear bushing on the front subframe is not correct. Lesson learned, best not to give out part numbers re: cross-referencing. Also always good on the other end to double-check.

The part number that I supplied previously is for the front engine cradle bushings upper section. There is a upper and lower front subframe bushings, so the part number with the L is the lower and the upper one has the same part number but with a K. These are Audi, Volkswagen and Bentley numbers. Certainly double-check my analysis.

The rear engine cradle subframe bushing number is Bentley: 4E03 99419, however I noticed that Audi and Volkswagen have the same number.

In conclusion, there are actually 6 bushings, total left and right, that support the front engine cradle subframe. A upper and lower on the front section and on the rear, a single unit bushing.

Apologies and regards.

 

Please note edited version on previous post..

 

These are the two original inner bushings on the rear engine cradle bushing assembly. The piece on the left is the lower inner and the piece on the right is the upper inner .

Left, is warn lower inner bushing inside the rear engine cradle bushing. Right, is the same piece made on 3D printer.

These pieces fit inside the pressed in bushings on the rear engine cradle subframe. Can cause a rattle from under the car. Additionally, did print an upper inner bushing piece for the rear engine cradle subframe bushing assembly.