Engine movement problems, I've tried everything
 

I'd really like to see if someone could help me out with my engine movement. I've been trying everything under the sun to fix this and nothing seems to work. First, a description of the problem.
('03 MCS, 15% pulley, Milltek Exhaust, ALTA intake)
I've always been kind of annoyed at the car when accelerating through the gears, then letting off the throttle when I'm at speed and having the whole car lurch with this back and forth movement that seems to be the engine moving back and forth in the engine bay.
Then I stumbled across the old LOTF engine damper and immediately ordered one. When I first drove it around the block, it was heavenly. Everything was smoothed out, I had that connected feeling. Didn't have the movement when letting off the throttle, much smoother shifting, better throttle response, everything.
For about a week. After that, most of the effects of the damper went away. I took it off, put it back on again, got the feeling back. But only for a few days. I progressively tightened everything up, thinking that it just had to settle in after the initial tightening, but it never worked. Eventually I didn't have any threads left. I tried the '03 above-engine mounting position, and the under-frame approach. Didn't seem to work. Then I talked to LOTF and had him send me another. Maybe the first was defective? No effect.
Based on feedback from LOTF, I figured that maybe my mounts were shot. They looked fine, but it was worth a try. Replaced them, no effect.
Then I tried the polyurethane bushings. They helped, a bit. Certainly added more vibration to the cabin, but it still couldn't reign in the engine movement.
Finally, I ordered the TSW v2 damper and installed that. It's done the best so far. The TSW combined with the polyurethane bushings seems to get back a lot of the acceleration, connected feeling, but most of the time, when I let off the gas, I still get this movement, and it pushes you around in the cabin. It's not very pleasant, and my passengers note it as well.

So my real question is this. Is my car some sort of fluke or am I missing something essential about driving a stick that someone should inform me about? lol
At this point it almost seems like I'm being overly picky, but surely the car shouldn't feel like this all the time?
I know it's difficult to diagnose over the web, so maybe some kind soul with some good experience modding MINIs might be able to help me out in the KC area?
I'd really appreciate any tips I could get.
Thanks alot.

If you really want to, you could go balls to the wall and get solid mounts fabbed. Be forewarned, if you or your passengers are not a fan of NVH and a lot of it, don't do it.

Many seem to indicate that those polyurethane bushings do the job. I got the Powerflex ones from Outmotoring, but perhaps there's a set that might be stiffer?
I do use the thing as a daily driver and I'd rather not rattle myself to death on my hour-long commute every day. I've already got some new buzzing cropping up in the cabin in various locations which is slightly annoying. But if I could make the thing as fun to drive as it was the first time I put that first damper on I could live with a little buzzing.

My VIP Engine Stab. controlled this to a certain extent.

You want to get a polyurethane lower torque-link engine mount insert. That'll fluff your pillow perfectly! The two upper inserts are more for the hardcore crowd and will introduce alot of in-cabin NVH and won't inhibit the engine movement as much as stiffening the lower torque link.

If you're referring to the lower mount next to the PS fan, it's already in. Bloodied up my finger good getting it out of there to mess with too. Which is why it seems weird that it doesn't seem like it's done for my car what it's done for everyone else's.

I did have the dealer stick those in when I was getting my inspection II. Maybe they put the wrong ones in? Swapped the upper and lower by mistake perhaps?

It's still only for the '04s+ if I'm not mistaken, correct?

I used the full set of Ireland Engineering poly inserts for my turbo-R53. With over 250wLb-Ft of torque during dyno pulls there was perhaps 1/16" of engine movement, basically none. You're not making nearly enough torque to cause any more movement than that. Either the installation got messed up on yours or you have a broken engine mount somewhere. This is assuming you have the better passenger side engine mount ['02-'04]. :wink:

Hey I have an 06 and I have the same sort of issue and have been thinking about retro-fitting the upper mount ryephile is referring to and I go to KC a lot and speaking of that I will be in the area from the 18th-20th.

...

There is 2 places in the Kansas City area that really work on MINI's one is the dealer and the other is KCautosport. I will be in the KC area so if you need any help give me a heads up and we can see what we can do.

i have the same problem also. I thought it was just the mini

I have talked to several people about this and when fully eliminating the motor movement you will have to make the sacrifice of performance over luxury and with that putting up with a raised amount of NVH

Well, I've already replaced most of them to see if that was the problem:
http://minspeed.net/R53MMK.htm

Perhaps I can try to swap 'em out for the Ireland ones.

I understand, and I'm certainly willing to at least experiment. Once I can get the movement fixed, then I'll figure out if the NVH is worth it or not.

Also, thanks for the offer. :thumbsup: I'll let you know if I need anything. :)

Thats great and I am for sure retrofitting the 02 upper motor mount to eliminate the late 04-06 "grenade" mount that can be very unpredictable as to when it will go out and can get expensive in replacing the grenade that is $105 from Minspeed.net plus the cost of labor if installed by a garage.

Think it's possible I might've screwed something up lifting the engine for a pulley swap at some point? I'm just speculating now, but there's got to be some reason that all these fixes don't seem to be working.

Do you have all powerflex inserts on the lower and upper motor mounts and also the gearbox. If you have all those in you should be good but if you have only the lower inserts in then the upper motor mount and gearbox mounts are still rubber and maybe shot. If so Minspeed.net has the new upper mount for $150 and then put the power flex inserts in that and the gearbox mount and you should be ROCK SOLID.

Already got that one and swapped those 3 mounts. The upper one (I'm assuming that's the one at the back of the engine compartment on the passenger side) has the bushings in it.

I don't have the gearbox bushings, however. Maybe that's the missing link to the puzzle?

Anyone think the Irelands would make a difference?
I'm kind of at a loss right now. The thing bucks like a horse and just isn't that fun to drive anymore :(
Maybe I could try a solid mount. Anyone know where I would get one? And is that for the upper mount? or replace the grenade one?

Any chance of taking it to a local mechanic or shop? ... Perhaps there is something "not right" with the engine mounts or brackets??

I think getting advise from someone that can "see" the engine movement that you are talking about is the best thing..

Sorry I cant help more...

Do you have the 02-04 passenger side mount or the newer 05-06 Hydraulic mount?

I think you're right. Though I'm not sure how they could see the movement w/o a dyno or rollers available. Though perhaps they have one.
Anyone know of any MINI specialists in the KC area? (other than the dealership, they don't seem to be able to recognize there's actually a problem for some reason)

I've got the '02-04.