E36 Engine Mounts

MarcusMcRae · **Posted:** Sun Feb 03, 2008 12:59 pm

I changed my engine mounts yesterday. I could see there was what looked like a crack in the passengers side mount but I had know idea it was this bad.

[img][img]http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg92/marcdogus/enginemount.jpg[/img][/img]

If you have an e36 I recommend you replace your mounts asap. I put in the Bimmerworld rubber mounts and they obviously feel a lot better. They do transmit quite a bit of vibration at idle. Reminds me of my STi and I kind of like it. They also transmit more engine noise when you put your foot in it. I am revving it more just to hear the wonderful sounds coming fromt he engine.

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

Good stuff man, I haven't done mine and I probably should. Sounds like I should go w/ the Bimmerworld ones.

Thanks for posting and for the picture!

MarcusMcRae · **Posted:** Sun Feb 03, 2008 11:58 pm

MikeWhitney wrote:

Good stuff man, I haven't done mine and I probably should. Sounds like I should go w/ the Bimmerworld ones.

Thanks for posting and for the picture!

I got the Bimmerworld mounts because they were rubber. From what I have read the poly and delrin ones can crack and don't hold up quite as well to heat. They all will transmit more vibration into the car.

FYI the Bimmerworld mount's upper screw is longer than the stock one. This made the swap a bit more of a pita.

steve remchak · **Posted:** Mon Feb 04, 2008 12:29 am

go solid. who needs fillings in their teeth anyway.

Chris Brown · **Posted:** Mon Feb 04, 2008 9:26 am

good advice...how difficult was the install? i've only done this job once and it was on the wrangler which has tons of room...i don't imagine it being as easy on the bimmer.

MarcusMcRae · **Posted:** Mon Feb 04, 2008 10:01 am

Chris Brown wrote:

good advice...how difficult was the install? i've only done this job once and it was on the wrangler which has tons of room...i don't imagine it being as easy on the bimmer.

It's not too bad. You will need a U joint extension to get the top nuts loose. I would also recommend getting the stock bushings if you don't want more vibration and noise. I am thinking about getting a SC this summer and I wanted something beefy.

1. Put car on jack stands or use ramps.

2. Remove air box to get to top nut on drivers side. Remove top nut

3. Use U joint extension with 10 inch extension to remove top nut on passenger side.

4. Loosen bottom nut on tranny mounts(to allow for movement when you jack up motor). Loosen bottom nuts on motor mounts. I had a little trouble getting the socket on the passenger side nut. I was getting interference with the front subframe but I wiggled it on.

5. I had to loosen the nuts that attach the bracket(aluminum thingy that attaches motor to motor mount) on the passenger side. They are easy to get to. Luckily I did not have to loosen the driver side since they are pita to get to.

6. Place board between jack and front of motor and slowly jack up motor.

7. Wiggle old mounts out. Wiggle new mounts in and lower motor. Be careful to make sure the mounts are lined up properly while you lower the motor.

Today I am going to start replacing the guibo, center support bearing, diff bushings, subframe bushings, front control arm bushings(control arms if they are busted), and the rear upper inner control arm bushings. Wish me luck.

Did I mention BMW bushings are complete garbage. :roll:

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

MarcusMcRae wrote:

Today I am going to start replacing the guibo, center support bearing, diff bushings, subframe bushings

Wow, that's quite ambitious. Guibo is easy and often needed. Diff bushings? Are yours cracked? I have one cracked one and never have bothered. Looks like I'd need to take the diff off... Subframe bushings ?!?! Are you sure you want to do those?

MarcusMcRae wrote:

front control arm bushings(control arms if they are busted), and the rear upper inner control arm bushings. Wish me luck.

Ctrl arm balljoints are a known failure item on track cars, and more than one E36 has been totalled because of ctrl arms. They are a maintenance item, 100k miles on a street car and 6 (!!) races on a race car.

What's the wear signature of worn upper inner ctrl arm bushings? They torn? That's another one I never bothered with.

Chris Brown · **Posted:** Mon Feb 04, 2008 10:30 am

MikeWhitney wrote:

Guibo

someone explain to me what a guibo is.

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Mon Feb 04, 2008 10:40 am

He is Vinnie's brother.

Actually I think its a joint in the driveshaft that, like all other things BMW, craps out on a regular basis.

Its #1842908979982 on the list of things that break on BMW's that you never hear about breaking on other cars.

MarcusMcRae · **Posted:** Mon Feb 04, 2008 10:41 am

MikeWhitney wrote:

MarcusMcRae wrote:

Today I am going to start replacing the guibo, center support bearing, diff bushings, subframe bushings

Wow, that's quite ambitious. Guibo is easy and often needed. Diff bushings? Are yours cracked? I have one cracked one and never have bothered. Looks like I'd need to take the diff off... Subframe bushings ?!?! Are you sure you want to do those?

MarcusMcRae wrote:

front control arm bushings(control arms if they are busted), and the rear upper inner control arm bushings. Wish me luck.

Ctrl arm balljoints are a known failure item on track cars, and more than one E36 has been totalled because of ctrl arms. They are a maintenance item, 100k miles on a street car and 6 (!!) races on a race car.

What's the wear signature of worn upper inner ctrl arm bushings? They torn? That's another one I never bothered with.

I am off this week and I have nothing better to do.

All of the diff bushings and subframe bushings have little cracks in them that go all the way around the bushing. They don't look good. Heck, the motor mount looked similar.

I am not sure if the upper inner bushings need replacing. They were only $14 so I figured I would replace them while I had everything apart.

Uhhg. I was hoping not to need front control arms.

MarcusMcRae · **Posted:** Mon Feb 04, 2008 10:47 am

Ryan Holton wrote:

He is Vinnie's brother.

Actually I think its a joint in the driveshaft that, like all other things BMW, craps out on a regular basis.

Its #1842908979982 on the list of things that break on BMW's that you never hear about breaking on other cars.

It's a large rubber disc that connects the drive shaft. It's supposed to reduce vibration/shock to the drivetrain.

Yeah, it' amazing. I think they designed a lot of this crap so it would fail. I planned on selling the bowel movement wagon but the boss said no. :cry:

DanDurusky · **Joined:** Sun Apr 10, 2005 7:31 pm **Posts:** 686

It has something to do w/ some German eco-friendly plastic/rubber manufacturing and recycling process that saves baby seals up front, but clubs them in the end after using 2-3x as many parts per life cycle.

steve remchak · **Posted:** Mon Feb 04, 2008 12:39 pm

Ryan Holton wrote:

He is Vinnie's brother.

Actually I think its a joint in the driveshaft that, like all other things BMW, craps out on a regular basis.

Its #1842908979982 on the list of things that break on BMW's that you never hear about breaking on other cars.

Ryan, you have no idea how much it does my heart good to see you on BMW inspired threads. :lol:

VK can't be far behind. not that there is anything wrong with that.

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

When I was a Honda enthusiast I had my share of problems with radius rod bushings, upper and lower CA balljoints, bad relays, expoding distributors, bad igniters, failed alternators, crappy plug wires, and terminal understeer

All those things that fail regularly on other cars but not on BMWs

But I agree a lot of soft bits are engineered in the BMW for comfort and handling and exactly a 100k mile lifetime to cover BMW's original and CPO warranty period.

It's still better than an Audi.

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Mon Feb 04, 2008 1:03 pm

Never seen a Honda do this

THSCC Forums

E36 Engine Mounts

Who is online