I got a full set of Powerflex bushings for my birthday yesterday (upper and lower engine, and gearbox). I've read all the threads and wanted to provide feedback through installing each set separately. Today, I installed the upper engine mount large and small bushings. The install was pretty simple. The hardest part was pressing the small bushing out. I ended up cutting the rubber lip off one end so it was easier to get out (I didn't have a 2-jaw puller or even a c-clamp that would fit). After getting it all installed, I went for a decent drive. My expectations were a much rougher idle but I was pleasantly surprised. Without the A/C on, vibration at idle was no more than before. What I immediately noticed was the more direct clutch action and shifting. One of my biggest complaints about my MINI is how hard it is to launch without either slipping the clutch or letting the engine fall flat on it's face. Now, I can let the clutch out at 1k rpm and the engine just pulls. Vibration is definitely higher at these high-load, low-rpm situations but nothing annoying. I also noticed that the feel when shifting was much more positive.

It's supposed to rain all day tomorrow so I'm not going to be doing anything on the MINI. I plan on installing the lower engine mounts over the weekend and I'll post back the changes. Then finally, the gearbox mount.

 

Thanks for posting your thoughts. We've sold several sets of the PF engine bushings and Lower control arm bushings. And had our customers say many of the same things about how much better the car felt.
Give it a week and you may see some of the engine vibration go away, the bushings tend to settle a little and that helps.

When your ready we'll get you the control arm bushings, you'll love them.

 

How many miles did the original bushings have on them, when you pulled them?

 

70k on an '02 MCS. I'm planning on putting the lower engine mounts in tomorrow.

 

Interesting, the more thought I've been giving all around bushing replacement the more I think it'll make a big change on my 130k mi MCS. Egerly awaiting your review.

 

Finished up with the lower bushings and went for a drive. First off, the install went pretty smoothly. The only issue I had was one that was previously mentioned by verveAbsolut. The steel spacer/bushing for the small bushings was too long (by 3/16 or 1/4"). I ended up lopping off one end using an angle grinder and then using a grinding wheel and sander to fine tune the length. I wish I had a lathe to work with at home (but I'm a perfectionist). Also, on the large OEM bushing, I cut off the two little nipples on one side to allow the Powerflex bushing to slide all the way in. I presume they were left from the moulding process. Anyway, once that was done, it all went back on the MINI fine. I didn't need to unbolt the power steering fan to get access to the upper bolts. A gear wrench came in handy for them though, along with long skinny hands.

As for the drive, vibration at idle is now more evident. It's somewhere between idle with and without the A/C on when using the original bushings. Definitely some additional vibration when letting out the clutch at/under 1k rpm but the engine just pulls strong instead of bucking like it did previously. It seems less of the day/night change that occurred when installing the upper engine bushings but that might just be due to the fact that the engine was moving a lot less already. Shifting is still much more positive than with the stock bushings. I believe Dr. O mentioned it is good to install both upper and lower bushings so the engine can rotate around the axis that MINI's engineers designed. I'm happy with the change.

I'll try to get the gearbox mount in sometime this week but the install for that one is a bit more time consuming (taking out airbox). Stay tuned for episode 3.

 

cool progress report

 

Well I got the gearbox mount in today. For the record, I have always and will always hate taking the intake out... no matter how many times you do it, it'll never be fun or easy (at least this time I didn't loose one of the rubber donuts that hold the bottom of the intake box down )

Once all the intake and ECU is out of the way and gearbox is supported, I followed the suggestion of post #30 here. It's a 16mm, not 17mm socket though. After wiggling the cast aluminum bracket out, there was a lot more room to work. The gearbox bushings didn't come with grease and I couldn't find the packet left over from my earlier installs. I finagled them in one by one with a c-clamp and my fingers. They are very hard to get started. There seems to be some question as to which bushing goes on which side. If you look at them, they aren't symmetrical. Mine matched up with the smaller, thicker, bushing in the front and the larger, thinner, one to the rear. The one in front would stick in the stock rubber nicely but the one in the back didn't want to stay put. It was fun getting the aluminum bracket back in. A little bit of squeezing and wiggling and it went on. Lining the bolts back up wasn't too bad. I put the long bolt that goes through the bushings on first and then worked on the 3 bolts for the aluminum bracket. Get a long screwdriver to help pry on the bolt holes until they line up. Then put the intake and ECU back together and your done.

I went for a drive and there really wasn't much change from only the upper and lower engine bushings. Vibration at idle is still about the same. I turned the A/C on but it really didn't load up being 55 degrees outside. Shifting is still the same as with the other bushings (crisp). I've definitely noticed all the normal buzzes and rattles of my early '02 build become more prevalent. My recommendation would probably be not to do the gearbox mount just due to the pain of the install and lack of noticeable improvement when driving and shifting with the other mounts.

For me, the biggest improvement was with the upper engine mounts but those were the first ones I installed. I might be saying something different if I had gone for the lower ones first. Anyway, I like how the engine stays put and launching/shifting is much improved. I may have to look into quieting down all those buzzes and rattles but I won't be taking the bushings out.