E46 Shock mounts suck!

[M3kos]

i had exactly the same thing happen to me, and these were boge e36m3 top mounts, part number is 3352 1092 362

big nasty pot hole did it to me

looking at the damaged one it could be a faulty part, as its split all the way through, but bush is intact if you follow !?!?

alloy and polly ones may be the way to go i think

[bmwman91]

Get the GC ones.  I have thrashed the hell out of them for almost 3 years now, on both of my cars.  Best $80 I ever gave to http://www.bimmerworld.com !

[Zoso]

locknut - washer - shock mount - washer
(or something like that)

there are pics at zoso's website, except that his server is not responding right now --mike, put another quarter in the machine!!

I don't have a great shot of the E46 rear shock mounts... the suspension install was nearing completion (had already finished the fronts).  The beers started catching up to my friend and I... so I forgot to take pictures of everything.






Quarter inserted.  

The benefit of my web server is that it has basically unlimited space and is free since it's in my house.

The downside is that my cable modem's uplink speed sucks.  My wireless internet gateway/router also sucks.  If turn on a bit torrent, the router can't keep up with all the IP level connections.  The first thing it drops is DNS requests, incoming web requests, and the wireless network connections (my wife HATES that).  After that it totally pukes and I can't even surf the web.


Back to the original topic:
The E46 RSM are the best ones BMW has made so far.  Make sure you also get the Z3 reinforcer plate for the RSMs.  From what I've read, they really help.  There are aftermarket solid ones and ones made of urethane, but they do nothing to absorb noise, vibrations, or harmonics.  I don't want my BMW feeling like a tank... I want some comfort.  I think the E46 RSMs with with Z3 reinforcer plates are a great compromise.

One more thing:
For a long time, I thought my E46 RSMs sucked because I heard a lot of clunking back there over bumps.  It turned out that the clunking was actually the muffler bouncing around due to loose hanger bushings.

[mikesjo]

I don't see the bottom washer in that shot ><. Your reinforcement plate, isn't it on top of your shock tower inside the trunk not from underneath the shock tower like it looks the way you have it preassembled?

[e9nine]

......
The E46 RSM are the best ones BMW has made so far.  Make sure you also get the Z3 reinforcer plate for the RSMs.  .......I think the E46 RSMs with with Z3 reinforcer plates are a great compromise.

That's all I have to agree to. I have used them with 475/800/650 rear spring rates to date with no issues *(KNOCKING, POUNDING, FISTING the computer desk now)* to date. Dunno what it is that's causing failure prematurely :confused:

[mikesjo]

Well I reinstalled the IE RSM on my drivers side and everything is working well . I'm really impressed as to the build quality of the IE RSM. I notice it being a bit bumpier back there now with the urethane mount. I put the stock washer on the bottom of the mount this time and I have another one on top. I doubt these will pop out though because the center of the IE RSM has a smaller diameter circle of aluminum and the urethane is split in two halves, top and bottom. I'll have to do the other side when I get some time.