Have researched numerous threads on the subject, sound intriguing. However, I have also read multiple posts where folks have subsequently removed them because of the increased the vibration levels.

Looking for recommendations pro/con from folks who have had their's on for a while.

Thanks!

 

I don't think it's necessary for low mileage '05 or '06 MINIs, but it makes a world of difference for '02 to '04s since the engine mounts were different and much "looser". With my '03, the engine damper was one of the most noticeable mods I did, but transferring it to my '05 and I couldn't even tell it was there.

I didn't experience any increased vibration in either installation.

Richard

 

I have the Texas Speedworks dampner which I really like but does transmit vibrations. To resolve that I installed some o-rings on either side of the damper bolt that attaches to the frame. This eliminates most of the noise and vibration.

 

I have the LOTF damper, and there is a huge deference that I felt. It you stomped on it, you could really feel the car actually "kick" back, where with the damper the engine knocks and kicks less, so your able to feel the power when you stomp the accelerator. Basically, you get thrown back into the seat instead of thinking you are riding in a rodeo.

-Cody

 

I just got one of the lotf dampers and WOW what a difference! shifts are smoother, getting on and off the gas is WAY smoother, overall it really does what I wanted it to. I am very happy with mine and thats on a 05. so dont say it doesnt need it cause it really did. great product for a great price.

 

Well that was my experience--the difference on my '03 was night and day espcially in stop and go traffic. The difference on my '05 was barely noticeable. I suppose it might depend on the condition of the engine mount as well. I ended up removing my LOTF damper--well it removed itself because it vibrated apart--but I've since gotten a replacement from Shoe and have yet to install it again, but I do plan to, after I've racked up more miles---at 53,000 miles right now.

 

I have the TSW damper, installed it about a month ago and felt absolutely no extra vibration at all .

 

I did a group buy of 20 TSW dampers over here for our Dutch NewMINIclub. Most of them liked the smoother shifting and better throttle response, some found the vibrations a bit too much and removed the damper.

We have a Cooper Cup endurance race over here and they use the damper in the 2003 160 bhp Coopers too. Prior to using the dampers the black metal engine mount snapped several times, but not anymore with the TSW damper in place.

I myself noticed a good difference, but had to give it more pre-tension to keep the benefits of the damper. The damping effect seems to get less over time when the damper is not adjusted.

 

Im after the best engine damper available for my 02 cooper s and wounderd if the LOFT one is the one to go for.

 

I would also like to go on record as saying that the TSW damper had NO minus points in my S. More forward push upon accelleration and no additional vibration.

 

I belive they both give good performance, but the TSW is easier to install. Unless LOTF changed theirs. Also LOTF is cheaper in price. So it's up to you. Check my gallery and zoom in.

 

i have the LOTF damper and i love it. much smoother shifts. very noticeable.
but there are a bit of vibrations and i can hear the engine more clearly when i rev.
(i have still yet to figure out if it's cause of the engine damper or cause im puttin more miles on the car...O.O) but nonetheless i love having the damper.

i say try it out for a while. and if you dont like it just sell it in the for sale forums.
just my 2 cents.

 

As far as the LOTF dampers go......they do come with brackets to install in the earlier model MINI's. I talked and worked with Shoe quite a bit about the damper....and am quite pleased with the final product. He is an awesome person too, extremely nice!

In summary, it seems that the TSW damper is more expensive, but a littler easier to install, LOFT is cheaper but a little tricky to install (still only took ~15min though). Both I believe would have around the same performance values...

-Cody

 

there were some concerns about adding undue stress to the sheetmetal where the damper mounts to and also questions about whether the engine still *drops* during a collision as it was designed to. any ideas on this?

 

With the TSW, one side bolts to the engine block, the other to a reinforced area of the existing engine motor mount, so no problems . As with the engine during a wreck, well I don't think it's so strong as to not let the engine move, IMHO.

 

LOTF here and very little to no vibration on my 06 and it does make a difference.

 

I've got a pretty low mileage '06 MCS (around 16K) and don't really have alot of problems with the motor jumping about under acceleration at launch or throttle lift (it moves a bit but not nearly as bad as my last ride where it felt like I was going to pop out of gear coming off the throttle).

However, I'm a big fan of engine breaking into corners/stoplights. With revs matched within 100-200 RPM of 4k RPM and up, on downshift I get a little worried that I'm about to launch my engine through the bonnet and seem to get some wiggle upshifting out of turns.

I had been planning on having the IE upper and lower poly bushings installed when I do my power upgrades, but have been taking a look at both the LOTF and TSW dampers in the past couple of days and they seem like a better solution. They also seem like they might actually be self installable for a tool like me based on the install .pdf s.

I guess I've got another thing to add to my parts list...

Does anyone have the poly bushings and damper installed? Does this make your teeth chatter at idle?

 

I have the LOTF damper. I don't know that I'd go so far as to say "amazing" or any other superlatives. It does make a difference, however. I'm surprised at the people who say there is no vibration, though. Maybe it's just my modded motor, but I wonder if the no-vibe folks have their dampers sufficiently tight.

 

Nice and tight and I didn't feel a huge difference.

 

I have a late build 06' "S" and have the TSW damper. I fall into the camp of no profound change once I installed the product, but no vibrations either. What I did notice was I had to do some filing on the solenoid bracket to fit around the intercooler without touching. I don't know if this may be the source of some of the folk's vibration issues, but mine is smooth as before the damper was installed.

Gene

 

I have had both units. I started with the LOFT and went to the TSW. In a '06 I did not care for the mounting system on the LOFT and it left very little adjustment range to preset the amount of preload. I have felt no additional NVH from either unit. What I prefer on the TSW is that the damper is straight in line with the engine movement and the heim joints do not bind. Also it is very easy to adjust the preload. As stated above it is important to be sure on either brand not to have any rubbing from the brackets or it will induce NVH. Usually there is a small amount of adjustment when torqueing the bolts to be sure you have no rubbing. I also much prefer the mounting points that the TSW provides. It is a little more expensive but the additional engineering in the brackets is where the cost comes from. I think after initial run in of a few thousand miles that the preload should be readjusted as they both seem to loose a little of the dampening. I think that both of the dampener bodies seem to be pretty equal and are made very similar but I think having the damper body inline with the engine movement will wear better. To me the choice is all in the brackets and adjustability. As many have said shifting and throttle response seems much smoother.
Steve

 

I have an 06 and first got the lotf damper. The install was a pita and for some reason the bolt holding the damper to the engine block would come loose. I used loctite and it would still come loose. When it was on I definitely felt a improvement on the car. I ended up getting the TSW damper. The install was a breeze. The build quality was much better than the lotf damper. I feel that it is much more solid in how it attaches to the engine. The down side is the added cost and more vibration compared to the lotf damper.

 

I suspect the level of vibration is directly correlated to the preload. The "tighter" the damper, the more NVH will be transmitted...

 

06 35k miles... had the tsw and it didn't do much other then add nvh. I guess it solidified things between shifts a bit... but not $120 worth.

 

I put the TSW on my '06 S at about 10K, 16K now, and I thought it had a seat of the pants improvement for both throttle response and engine braking as somebody else mentioned. There was no vibration until a recent track day, then it started. Not sure about the cause and effect, just reporting the facts.

I don't mind the vibration, b/c I drove a '90 Mustang LX 5.0 'vert with a B303 cam in it before this, and that thing shook like a Harley--when it was running! ;-)

I'm willing to give up a little "comfort" to get some zing--I don't complain about my Helix CAI singing on acceleration either...I'd say if you're fussy, skip it.