M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS

DISCUSSION => Engine + Driveline => Topic started by: Nick_318is on April 05, 2014, 03:54:41 PM

Title: Motor and Trans Mounts
Post by: Nick_318is on April 05, 2014, 03:54:41 PM

Hey guys, looking to replace my motor and transmission mounts on my 318is.  I track the car semi-frequently but it is still street driven.  Anyone have any good recommendations?

Title: Re: Motor and Trans Mounts
Post by: Darky on April 06, 2014, 12:06:40 AM

Hi
Just go new rubber ones, because the harder poly ones allow the vibrations to go all through you and the car!
They end up driving you nuts!
Cheers

Title: Re: Motor and Trans Mounts
Post by: Beeker1972 on April 06, 2014, 08:23:29 AM

i read that e28 m30 engine mounts fit e30 m42 engine mount locations.   

Title: Re: Motor and Trans Mounts
Post by: Slowered318 on April 06, 2014, 09:11:36 AM

I'm not sure about the e28m30 engine mounts but I tried 11811129286 from the e30m10 as per someones recommendation, they look very similar to each other. Well, I wasn't happy with the construction or the way they fit so I ordered in a new pair of original BMW motor mounts. I can't see any reason to try and upgrade here, the engine is very secure but insulated.

I do recommend the e21m10 transmission mounts 23711175424. They are an upgrade in bolt size and dampening, as a bonus you can add AKG top hats for added rigidity. With poly or aluminum transmission mounts I would be concerned about the carrier bracket ripping out of the underside of the car.

Did this all last summer, It was fairly easy. e21 mounts in combination with new motor mounts should improve shifting and engine response if they are due for replacement.

Title: Re: Motor and Trans Mounts
Post by: Nick_318is on April 06, 2014, 08:20:10 PM

Thanks for the input, think I'm going with the stock motor mounts and the e21 trans mount with akg hats.

Title: Re: Motor and Trans Mounts
Post by: wazzu70 on April 06, 2014, 11:00:07 PM

Quote from: Darky on April 06, 2014, 12:06:40 AM

Hi
Just go new rubber ones, because the harder poly ones allow the vibrations to go all through you and the car!
They end up driving you nuts!
Cheers

This.

You made a great choice with the OEM mounts! I tried poly, M10, and the ponied up for the OEM units because the vibrations through the car drove me nuts.

The car is a track car too.

Title: Re: Motor and Trans Mounts
Post by: Nick_318is on July 26, 2014, 12:07:00 PM

Thanks guys! I know I asked this a while ago but I finally got around to swapping the engine mounts last weekend and the trans mounts today.

I ended up with the stock engine mounts (they were a bitch to get out, see pic below) and the e21 trans mount with AKG cups.  Feels like an improvement over my old worn mounts.  Doesn't seem to be much more NVH over what I had, so I'm pretty happy. 8)

(http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e171/nick_318is/IMG_0985_zpsa778a2d0.jpg)

Title: Re: Motor and Trans Mounts
Post by: Slowered318 on July 29, 2014, 09:02:49 AM

Good work! Those old ones look in bad shape.

Did you have to grind down the ears for the trans mount?

Title: Re: Motor and Trans Mounts
Post by: Nick_318is on July 31, 2014, 07:42:49 AM

I used a dremel and put a couple notches in the e21 mounts to fit on the transmission support bar, it was that or trim the "ears" on the bar.  If they get torn up quickly because of that I'll buy another set and take the ears off. I also had to drill out the hole to 10mm to fit the e21 mounts and widen up the slots on the transmission to fit them as well but it's really only a few minute job.

All the mounts had seen better days and I would guess they've been on the car for most of it's life.  The passenger side motor mount was a real bitch (the torn one) and I had to improvise a way to get it out with a ratcheting wrench wedged against the engine bay and a pair of channel locks.