Author Topic: E28 Motor mounts (Read 42833 times)

Euro Nation · « **on:** August 23, 2006, 02:03:15 AM »

I was asked a couple weeks ago to do a writeup on these motor mounts. I finally got to do them today along with a ton of other stuff. So here it is.

Needed:
Floorjack and jackstands
17mm socket, rachet, extensions
Block o' wood
Grinder, hacksaw... something for cutting
x2 E28 528 motor mounts. 11 81 1 175 735 I got them from Autohausaz.com
x2 Steel spacers for the upper stud as the E28 stud is longer, 93320A321 from mcmaster.com (I cut some aluminum spacers on my lathe but these will work)

Lift the car and support it with jackstands and wheel chocks.

Remove your fan shroud hardware if you still have a fan. You don't need to remove the fan or shroud, just remove the hardware so the shroud can move when you lift the engine.

Loosen the upper motor mount nut on whichever side you're comfortable with. I went pass side. The pass side top nut can be tricky. I did it from under the car using a long handled swivle headed rachet. Once the top is undone undo the bottom nut. Place the wood block on your jack and raise the engine by the oil pan. Only raise it enough to fish the motor mount out. Watch your trans mounts... if they look stressed you may want to loosen them. Mine are new, they took it just fine.

Now for the cut. The E28 mount is offset like the M42 mount but the locating tab on the bottom is on the opposide side. Hold the two side by side an you'll see what I mean. Use a hacksaw or whatever you have to remove the tab. See image.

Now fish it back into place (you'll probably have to lift the engine more). Rotate it into position. Slowly lower the engine back onto the mount making sure the studs go into the holes. Place the steel spacer from McMaster over the top stud followed by the washer and nut. See image.

Repeat on the other side, except over here you can get to the top nut from the top of the engine compartment. Re-install fan shroud hardware.

Pat yourself on the back. You just replaced both your motor mounts for about $60 including shipping and the whole job probably took me under 45min.

Some people have said that these may cause more engine vibration in the interior. I've found this, at least in my case, to be untrue as I was replacing two VERY bad original motor mounts. My car is much smoother now.

nickmpower · « **Reply #1 on:** August 23, 2006, 11:22:52 AM »

i think those are e21 mounts

Euro Nation · « **Reply #2 on:** August 23, 2006, 12:29:08 PM »

Nope. Original applications for this mount are:

E24 633CSi
E24 635CSi
E28 533i
E28 535i
E28 528e

nickmpower · « **Reply #3 on:** August 23, 2006, 12:32:16 PM »

well the e28 mounts are green and the e21 ones are black

bmwman91 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 23, 2006, 12:43:12 PM »

Hmmm odd. They LOOK like E28 ones, but yeah the E28 ones are usually green.

nickmpower · « **Reply #5 on:** August 23, 2006, 12:47:55 PM »

the e21 ones look like the e28 ones except black and a little smaller

Euro Nation · « **Reply #6 on:** August 23, 2006, 01:19:08 PM »

Black, green... can't we all just get along? You guys need to stop basing so much on the color of the skin of the mounts and on the person deep inside the mount.

The part number you guys are used to is the 1/87 and later number. I used the 1/87 and earlier part number. The color is different and the price is $21 less per mount. The function is the same. I think using the green ones means you don't have to use the spacer... which didn't seem worth a $42 price hike to me.

nickmpower · « **Reply #7 on:** August 23, 2006, 01:27:24 PM »

if you say so, but i just got the e21 mounts from my room and they have the same PN. I guess they are e28 and e21 mounts?

Euro Nation · « **Reply #8 on:** August 23, 2006, 01:57:30 PM »

E21 -
Left mount: 11 81 1 175 541
Right mount: 11 81 1 175 542

E21 mounts are also usually green. Where did you get the mounts you have? Is it possible you got the wrong ones?

E21 mounts should look like this:

Early E28:

Late E28:

M42 mount:

nickmpower · « **Reply #9 on:** August 23, 2006, 02:08:13 PM »

hmmm thats funny. I ordered them from bma i think

mgold · « **Reply #10 on:** August 23, 2006, 03:37:59 PM »

quick question...do you have to use the spacer?

Euro Nation · « **Reply #11 on:** August 23, 2006, 07:33:20 PM »

If you don't then the nut bottoms out on the threads before it clamps the mount in place.

BrandC · « **Reply #12 on:** August 23, 2006, 11:18:36 PM »

Excellent write-up!

Eurospec · « **Reply #13 on:** August 23, 2006, 11:35:28 PM »

Thanks! It will come in handy soon.

D. Clay · « **Reply #14 on:** August 24, 2006, 12:19:43 AM »

I freaked when I saw the cost of M42 mounts - $166 from BMA for two (includes shipping). I've heard that they are silicon or something filled and absorb a lot of vibration from the 4-cyl. The E21 and E28 mounts are at least $100+ cheaper. Has anyone ever replaced 15 year old M42 mounts with the OEM's. I've always (hey, I've had a Beemer for four years) heard that the E21 and E28's carry a lot more vibration into the car. Mine are original and look pretty "squished".