Motor, Transmission, and Differential Mounts

I installed transmission and differential mounts in my last car and it made a world of difference at the track. I'm curious what all you've done to your cars and whether or not you're happy with it?

Shopping motor mounts at the moment, a few options I'm considering here:
Vibra Technics
Bimmerworld Performance-Track
Blackforest Industries Stage II

Thoughts appreciated.

I have the BW GroupN mounts, and I like them. Not sure how to compare performance vs OE as my OE ones were at the end of their life, but the vibration these produce isn't bad.

I did poly engine mounts in my E46 330Ci and it made a world of difference shifting.

I just put solid engine and trans mounts in my E46 M3. No track time yet but it quite loud. Again, the shifting is much improved.

I'm sure throttle response is improved but I can't perceive any difference.

i already decided i'm going to do solid frame/diff mounts, but i'm not ready to part with the cash yet. i may also do slightly firmer motor and dct mounts, but i need to do more research. i remember reading a post about mounts that were slightly firmer than oem, but didn't really add any harshness.

I've got the bimmerworld performance motor mounts and love them. They add a bit of engine vibration that I think actually improves the driving experience (and I normally don't like a lot of nvh).

I'm curious if the solid tranny mounts you added have introduced a lot of vibration and noise. I don't known of any middle of the road options for transmission mounts at this time.

I also have solid differential mounts and they add a lot of gear whine. While I like the snappiness in the driveline, the noise is a bit much for a street car.

I've debated stiffer rear diff mounts (poly, not solid) to help put the power down better, but it's awfully expensive to get them installed. I suppose if mine were on their way out I'd go stiffer, but for now I'll make do with the stock ones.

dparm wrote

I've debated stiffer rear diff mounts (poly, not solid) to help put the power down better, but it's awfully expensive to get them installed. I suppose if mine were on their way out I'd go stiffer, but for now I'll make do with the stock ones.

dparm How are you liking the Motul DCT fluid? Any issues? I'm thinking of going this route when I get the DCT cooler swapped out in a couple weeks.

redpriest wrote

dparm How are you liking the Motul DCT fluid? Any issues? I'm thinking of going this route when I get the DCT cooler swapped out in a couple weeks.

Works fine. I wasn't really expecting any significant differences over the OEM Pentosin stuff, other than the fatter wallet.

I have these:

http://www.bimmerworld.com/Engine/Engine-Performance/BimmerWorld-Performance-Track-Engine-Mount-Set.html

They're pretty tame, but there is slightly more NVH at idle. My exhaust "buzzes" now, but it's not OEM to begin with.

YMMV.

EDIT: Also, while you're in there you might want to slap an E36M heat shield on them or just fab up some. That's what I did.

Here's the part for the E36M:

Kong Sheng Han wrote

I have the BW GroupN mounts, and I like them. Not sure how to compare performance vs OE as my OE ones were at the end of their life, but the vibration these produce isn't bad.

RickyBobby wrote

I've got the bimmerworld performance motor mounts and love them. They add a bit of engine vibration that I think actually improves their driving experience (and I normally don't like a lot of nvh).

Ya'll have me leaning towards the Bimmerworld performance/track motor mounts: noticeable rigidity increase but not overly harsh, cost effective, and oem look.

On the transmission/diff mounts I think I may hold off until I have a second car. Both for NVH reasons as well as cost/effort to install.

///Mobbin wrote

Ya'll have me leaning towards the Bimmerworld performance/track motor mounts: noticeable rigidity increase but not overly harsh, cost effective, and oem look.

On the transmission/diff mounts I think I may hold off until I have a second car. Both for NVH reasons as well as cost/effort to install.

You and I are both in Houston. If you want to come to Katy between May 16 and May 30, I can let you get a feel for what they are like on E46 with Rogue Engineering poly trans mounts. I'll also be at TWS May 21-22.

Regarding trans mounts, shift feel was improved, and NVH isn't bad IMO. The wording of your post suggests that you don't DIY? If so, I could possibly install your motor/trans mounts for less than what a shop would charge.

nholmes Good tip on the heat shields, thanks!

Kong Sheng Han wrote

You and I are both in Houston. If you want to come to Katy between May 16 and May 30, I can let you get a feel for what they are like on E46 with Rogue Engineering poly trans mounts. I'll also be at TWS May 21-22.

Regarding trans mounts, shift feel was improved, and NVH isn't bad IMO. The wording of your post suggests that you don't DIY? If so, I could possibly install your motor/trans mounts for less than what a shop would charge.

I appreciate the offer, thanks. I do the work myself actually, just not thrilled about dropping the sub-frame for the rear mounts.

I puchased the Vibra Technics engine mounts...they look great! Going to install them next weekend and track on them soon. I'll let you know my initial impressions.

dj_dub wrote

I puchased the Vibra Technics engine mounts...they look great! Going to install them next weekend and track on them soon. I'll let you know my initial impressions.

Nice, looking forward to the review!

///Mobbin wrote

nholmes Good tip on the heat shields, thanks!

I was baffled that they were not included. If you look, you'll see that the exhaust headers sit mere inches from the rubber motor mounts.

What the hell?

If anything, I'd do solid engine mounts and leave the rest OEM if it were a street car.

Poly mounts are a PIA since they are sensitive to torque. Too much and you'll get lots of buzzing and then they'll snap off.

Say what you want...I call bullsh1t when people say they torqued them down. Ain't to way to get an smooth and accurate pull on a torque wrench connected to extensions and flex joints. Who has the proper crows foot to torque the top nut on the trans? No one.

Vorshlag Polyurethane Competition Motor Mounts

I take it you don't recommend these then? Curious if anyone's running them on an e9x.

I have run them on my E36M3, which uses the same mounts as an E9xM3, for about 5 years. They add some NVH noticeable at low rpm. More than Bimmerworld Group N replicas, which I have also run.

Poly motor mounts, even the AKG 75D, are not offensive to me on a daily driver. Bolt through or solid mounts are.

On the E36M3, I tried red poly bolt through trans mounts, and could not get them out of the car fast enough. I would go softer on the trans mounts, which are essentially rear engine mounts, than on the engine mounts, for a street driven car.

Same goes for subframe and diff mounts. Go hard on the subframe mounts and softer on the diff mounts or you will get whine you may not like. Probably more whine than vibration.

If it is a race car, solid mount everything and buzz away.

///Mobbin wrote  

Vorshlag Polyurethane Competition Motor Mounts

I take it you don't recommend these then? Curious if anyone's running them on an e9x.

I run them and have zero issues. Engine feels tight but does vibrate. Honestly who cares, the whole car basically has been converted to either solid mounts or poly and I still enjoy daily driving it

Bigjae recommends staying away from them. He's seen some top nut/bolt failures.

I've had the AKG's in for over 10,000 miles and they're great.

http://www.akgmotorsport.com/product/motor-mount-set-for-bmw-e9x-m3-polyurethane-75d/

The only drivetrain mount I didn't change was the tranny mount. I tried it and the noise inside the cabin was too much.