1st Gen R53 Cooper S Most liked posts in thread: Can someone explain motor mounts to me

I know.......folks ride in my car and when I tell them all of the poly bushings I have they all say the same thing. I even have the "dreaded" Alta PSRS solid LCA system and continue to love it.

 

We have all the Powerflex bushings in my wife's car and she is fine with it all. They've been in there for over 8 years. We have had to replace both of the upper passenger mounts (it's an 02 so no leaks) though. If I hadn't got the new OEM before I knew about the Vibra-Technics and ours weren't polished and chromed, we would have gone with them. Since the RMW motor has gone in the NVH has gotten a lot better though. Gotta love a quality blueprint and balance.

 

I just did the poly inserts on OE mounts. Had the WMW/TSW PS mount, that transmitted a little too much vibration, went back to stock.

There was minimal vibration increase from the powerflex inserts on new OE lower and transmission mounts when using the stock PS upper mount. Note that, at 105kmiles, my transmission-side mount had sagged over 3/4"... that can chew up some inner CV's... so went new trans mount with poly inserts, no change in vibe.

 

I tried the inserts at the bottom recently (because they came free with my car), and just like you experienced, there is a low idle issue. To be exact, my engine was held in place by a brand new OEM top mount, original transmission mount with 92k miles on it, brand new lower mount with yellow Powerflex inserts.

The yellow Powerflex inserts lasted about 100 miles in my car. The vibration transfer to other parts in the rear of the car was unbearable. So bad, the exhaust kept hitting the lower rear valance. I took out the inserts and all is well again.

With closed windows, it was unbearable inside the cabin whenever you dropped to idle rpm. The benefits of alleged better shifting and more responsive throttle may have been there, but so marginal, there's no way I will ever put those bushings back into the mount.

The question I have: will other mounts (those that cost $$$) have the same negative impact? If not, what exactly is the magic that would stabilize the engine and dissipate all that energy in the mounts, and not transfer any of it to the same mounting locations that upset other parts in the car?

 

Yep, I've run every combination of OEM, poly inserts, full poly mounts, and VibraTechnics. The VT mounts are the best by far in every way. As they should be, for the price.

 

My 2006 R53 has 92,000 miles, if I install the three Vibra-Technics mounts:
MIN906M Rt Eng Mount
MIN910M Lt Eng Mount (trans)
MIN915M Torq Link
Is there any other mounts that I should replace or do those three cover everything?

 

Thats it for engine mounts. Already on poly LCA bushings?

 

Lovely. More parts on my winter to-do list

 

5 years ago I put in these softer orange poly motor mounts from Madness. They are a softer compound polyurethane that still limits engine movement without noticeable NVH. I maintained the OEM upper mount to prevent NVH. I have the Borla Street Catback exhaust. There is just barely noticeable NVH that disappears above idle. The car is as smooth, if not smoother, and quiet at stock yet has less engine movement and better shifting. No drone at all at any speed. Have taken trips of 900 miles in one day and arrived with no fatigue. I believe this was the perfect combination after reading all these posts, and have not experienced any of the too-hard or too-soft combinations.

I also have the ATI Super Damper which seemed to me added some additional smoothness at all engine speeds. It is also supposed to add 1/2 lb of additional boost due to 0.8% larger than stock.

Madness MINI Cooper Polyurethane Engine Bushings - Madness Motorworks

--Russ

 

I have the VT upper, and a poly lower. Really want to change to the VT lower also.

 

I was on your website yesterday looking at pricing. I am just not ready to spend $800 for engine mounts. I know they will be good but still expensive for mounts so I will live with the NVH from my TSW and stock mounts a little longer.

 

it's just $705

 

Piece meal that $800 together. It'll be worth it. I'm still working on getting the drivers side mount. I have 2 of the3.

 

I will replace my engine mounts when needed. I will use Vibratechnics Mounts. You always pay for what you get...you don't always get what you pay for.

 

As mentioned above, do it in steps. I replaced the upper mount with the VT first, because the oem unit crapped out. Then I got the lower mount the next year. I'm still using the original transmission mount for now, but will be switching to the VT at some point.

 

Its ok I understand completely.
I do have the lower in stock though!

 

For my 2006 R53 it is $310+$325+$155=$790 plus shipping.