1st Gen R53 Cooper S This thing is broken and I need suggestions.

Discussion in '1st Generation: 2002–06 R50, R53 & 2004–08 R52' started by DavisMC40, Jun 21, 2014.

  1. DavisMC40

    DavisMC40 New Member

    Aug 15, 2013
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    [​IMG]

    What's everybody's recommendation on brand?

    I was getting the MC40 inspected for a track day today and this mount was leaking oil all over the place. I tracked it anyways, and more came out, so I'm assuming it's broken.

    What do I buy?
     
  2. Minidave

    Minidave Well-Known Member
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    Dec 22, 2009
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    A new one? :biggrin5:

    They're fairly easy to change, a long bolt goes in from the bottom and a couple nuts on the top - take the weight off by using a jack under the engine, and out she comes. Installation is the reverse, as they say.

    Someone does make a solid mount, but to me that means more NVH which would make the car miserable under normal driving conditions.

    Alcohol is the best stuff to get the black crap off the car, nothing else will touch it.
     
  3. ZippyNH

    ZippyNH Well-Known Member

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    The OEM/OEM style mounts seem to last 20,000-40,000 miles...they usually sell for $90 ish +/- 25$, and a shop will charge about 30 minutes to change it...you can diy it...suggest you buy the extra bolt for $1.10 or so...the hydraulic fluid that leaks out can corrode it...Siezing it...
    Some folks do switch to the vibratec mount...but several hundred more...then there is the TSW urethane mount...each has there own + and -......cost, comfort, and longevity....
     
  4. sethat46

    sethat46 Well-Known Member

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    Vibratechnics. Problem solved.
     
  5. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    Attached Files:

  6. Savvy

    Savvy Well-Known Member
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    Actually, they can be rebuilt. But you are not likely going need to do that for quite sometime. You can talk to Colin through the link above regarding the cost of the rebuild kit.
     
  7. beken

    beken Well-Known Member

    Jan 13, 2010
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    I've changed mine once. Cost for the part including install by the dealer, $175 CDN (about $150USD).

    If my second mount breaks in the next 1 to 5 years and I get another factory mount installed, it will still come out less than the cost of the Vibratec and I would have driven my car 10 to 15 years before my break even cost of the Vibratec compared to the replacement using a stock mount.

    As gorgeous as the vibratec mount looks, I can't cost justify having it. But then others can so go for it.

    I did keep my old one so if somebody knows how to repair it, please share.
     
  8. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    "How to repair it ?" Buy new and toss the old crap OEM one in the trash.

    Get the VT mount and call it a day, because it is money well spent and upgraded part / investment in keeping you MINI in tip top shape. Plus no old oil gunk when the cheap OEM one fails again and it will.
     
  9. rkw

    rkw Well-Known Member

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    Another benefit of the Vibratechnics is that it allows less engine movement than the OEM. I don't have the Vibratechnics but I have an engine damper for the same purpose, and it is a real benefit with manual transmission.
     
  10. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    beken, I don't understand your thinking when you post. In this thread you are saying go cheap and buy another OEM part ,but in the guy that needs timing chain guides you tell him to do an over the top motor rebuild with a valve job and bore the cylinder's and buy new pistons. :confused5::confused5::confused5:

    http://www.motoringalliance.com/forums/cooper-s/22093-timing-chain-rails.html#axzz35sDcU8bN
     
  11. Savvy

    Savvy Well-Known Member
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    When it's other people's money and car, why not go big!?
     
  12. DavisMC40

    DavisMC40 New Member

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    So I went ahead and bought a BSH lower and got the TSW upper...

    The car is super solid now and I love it, but the vibration I'm getting is starting to make me crazy. It vibrates excessively from about 1100 rpm -> 1700 rpm and my rear view mirror vibrates to the point where I can hardly see anything anywhere between 2200 -> 3000 rpm.

    How do I lessen the effect of this? Will it break in eventually? I don't want to go back to stock mounts because the car feels rock solid, but I would like to know if it's possible to reduce the resonation that the car has now. The driver side window buzzes when I decelerate and the passenger side door card buzzes pretty much throughout the rev range.
     
  13. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

    Mar 30, 2009
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    Turn up stereo...

    Whats behind you is not important.

    There, problem solved! :D
     
  14. rkw

    rkw Well-Known Member

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    The TSW motor mount is known to cause vibration (Google it) and gets even worse in cold temperatures. You'll have to live with it or switch to something else.
     
  15. ZippyNH

    ZippyNH Well-Known Member

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    Some folks have said it will "break in" in a few months....or maybe you will just get used to it....
    The tsw mount is pretty hardcore....
    For race/track car might be perfect...
    For a daily...a bit aggressive from most posts....
    Thought about it last time....but went stock AGAIN...Could not justify the $$$ on the other aftermarket one....but was not Blown away by the tsw mount reviews....vibration mostly.
     
  16. Metalman

    Metalman Well-Known Member
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    #16 Metalman, Jul 4, 2014
    Last edited: Jul 4, 2014
    Depends on how adventurous you are.... The black double cone main structure in the TSW mount is made from polyurethane... Which is a cured thermoset material (base resin + activator).... It's a fixed durometer material with it's hardness determined by the chemicals used during the mix and cure.... it won't change.... Basically the polyurethane used in the TSW part is harder than what you desire for street use...

    Now you could take and make a copy by creating a mold (silicone mold making kits are readily available) and make a replacement double cone part, but use a lower durometer (softer) polyurethane than that used in the TSW part.....

    Or do a hack using your old OEM mount like this DIY that replaces the internal rubber fluid bladder (similar to the MINI), replacing it with polyurethane... McMaster-Carr sells the chemicals that are available in various durometers at around $30.00 for a pound of material..... http://www.mcmaster.com/#urethane-casting-compounds/=sp32al

    Monnar Motorsports: Engine Mounts Filled With Polyurethane
     
  17. Canusrufis

    Canusrufis RMW Powered R53
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    Were you able to hand tighten the bolt that connected dog bone to shock tower? If not the dog bone is binding and likely causing the excessive NVH. If binding, loosen the dog bone and turn a few more threads until you can hand tighten. Then lock the dog bone nut like before.

    I'm with Nathan -- turn up the radio
     
  18. FranticFreddy

    FranticFreddy Drive-N-Eat
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    Yup, got the glove box door vibrating at startup, then the defroster vents vibrating in 5th gear, phone mount vibrating in 2nd gear, who needs a shift lights? This thing is screaming at me when it's time to shift.
    I have tried tightening up and adding fibre washers and just about the time I think I have it figured out..........it changes.
    Oh.......I have the TSW mount.
     
  19. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    TSW mount is made for RACE CAR because you don't care about vibrations.

    Why because RACE CAR! :Thumbsup:
     
  20. Savvy

    Savvy Well-Known Member
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    Actually, I had one of those BSH lower mounts for a short while and ditched it for the vibratechnic lower wishbone mount. Here.

    The difference is night and day. Still a solid upgrade over the spongey OEM lower mount. But SIGNIFICANTLY less harmonics into the cab than the solid brick of aluminium that is the BSH. but it's also paired with the Vibratechnic upper mount too, so your results may vary.

    Also, if the rattle coming from mirror gets to be too much.... you can also relocate the keyless entry circuit into the headliner like I did. yeah the mirror view is still a bit blurry at certain rpms, but it's quiet. :Thumbsup:
     

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