An exhaust gas turbocharger, comprising: a turbine rotor rotatably mounted in a housing, which is associated with at least one guide apparatus forming a radial inlet channel, wherein the guide apparatus includes at least one of a guide vane bearing ring, a plurality of guide vanes radially surrounding the turbine rotor and located in the inlet channel and a guide vane cover ring. The inlet channel is axially delimited by the guide vane bearing ring and the guide vane cover ring wherein the guide vane bearing ring and the guide vane cover ring are moveably mounted at least one of axially and radially relative to each other and to the housing. The guide apparatus is subjected to at least one of an axial and radial preload, wherein a line of axial preload flux runs through the guide apparatus substantially parallel to the rotational axis of the turbine rotor.