So, one of the things I want to do to my new Cooper S is look at replacing the engine mounts. I've searched, and read...

I've seen the mounts and inserts on WMW's site, the VIP upper passenger side mount (really like the look/sound of it), stock mounts with poly inserts, stock mounts with full poly bushings, rumors that the older 1st gen solid mounts can be modded to work on the later years with the oil filled mount, and I'm about cross-eyed and dizzy.

What are people's opinions on the poly partial inserts vs full poly bushings?

Anyone use the VIP upper mount in place of the oil filled stock mount? NVH levels? What are people using for the trans and driver side mount that keeps things stiff without vibrating the car to pieces?

The car is my primary daily drive, but plan on eventually using it for some track days, but in general like really good shift/pedal/throttle feel when driving around.

Links/pics would be appreciated if possible.

 

For a street car the WMW/TSW motor mount and just the powerflex poly inserts will be perfect. The other more solid mounts tend to be too much.

The VIP one is an addition to the stock mount, not a replacement for it. Kinda like an engine damper. Not needed if you use our Motor mount.

 

Right now i just have the powerflex poly lower engine mount inserts on my 2005 S and it made a nice difference in feel. There is slightly more vibration at idle, and a bit much with the AC on. I'm sensitive to that stuff but it is not enough to outweigh the more solid connection (i don't use AC often). The BSH street mount sounds like it would add more NVH from what I've read.

Somehow my 51k Mini has not had it's upper engine mount self-destruct yet, but when it does i'll probably get the WMW/TSW mount or i'll get creative.

I would like to add the tranny mount, but I don't want to add any more NVH. I'd actually like to reduce it slightly if i could.

Does the VIP stabilizer thing reduce NVH when used in conjunction with the other engine mounts?

- Andrew

 

I was just on leave from Iraq/Kuwait a couple weeks ago, and I swaped in the BSH "RACE" lower, the TSW/WMW oil can replacement, and threw the PowerFlex RACE "Black" inserts on the trans mount. I was actually surprised that it dosent vibrate the crap out of the car as much as I thought it would. Yes it has caused some rattles in my bare bones interior, and around 3000 rpm the rearview goes nuts but as far as felt vibrations it's not that bad (with the stock seats, we will see what happens with the Sparco's). Most of the rattles (exept the center console) even went away with the AutoPower roll bar.
Other than the rattles that nobody but me seems to like, the shifter feels amasing, heel and toe shifting is super easy, and I feel way more conected to the car. For what I am doing with my car theese 3 improvements more than make up for any noise isues. (I realy cant hear them over the stripped interior, straight exahust, and RMW header. )

My suggestion for everybody who wants stock like NVH, but still wants the performance bennefits of strengthend mounts is: (1) Follow WAY's advise, the oil can mount is a B!**# to change by yourself in one night but, TSW designed it with minimal NVH in mind (they used a realy soft durameter urithane in the big diamond shaped mount, and it also secures with another soft mount to the strut tower. (2) The softer inserts on the lower engine mount (BIG end) is going to do the most, in terms of NVH and performance. It is the mount that is most stressed and under a constant torque load under heavy driving and shuld be upgraded IMO. (3) a softer insert in the trans mount will stiffen up the buisness end of the engine/transmission, the factory uses a lot of rubber here to keep NVH to a minimum, but if you dont mind a little tingle in your seat it makes a great finishing pice to the other 2 mounts.

As WAY said at the end of his post braces such as the VIP and alike, are just an adition to the stock problem piece. Dont get me wrong they do help (I ran the TSW version on both of my MINI's over the years) but the full replacement is far better. (Now if I could swap that mushy urithane for a chunk of something solid I would be... )

Sorry for the LOOOONNNNGGGG post, but they asked an I thought I would shed a little light on the subject. If you want to see my project car type (2 weeks to work on the MINI) into the search button.

 

Appreciate the feedback guys, thanks!

My oil can hasn't 'sploded yet (knock on wood) so I want to do that one sooner than the others for sure.

 

Just adding one of the braces on that mount keeps the movement to a minimum, and seems to help the life expectancy of the splatter can.

 

Good to know.

One other follow up question, is it better to get the poly inserts that work in conjunction with the stock rubber mounts, or just do a full poly mount of a softer durometer?

 

For the lower mount, it seems like the BSH street mount has more NVH then just using the powerflexd inserts in the stock mount, but I do not know for sure. Perhaps Way does.

 

The inserts are great for the average driver who dosent want to deal with any NVH. They are some what customiseable to, you can get different durrameters and use half of one that's hard and the other half of one thats soft, or even only put half of one insert set in. Replasing the lower engine mount takes someone who is handy with a wrench about 10 minutes, so getting it set the way you like it with inserts is pretty easy.

Mount replacements that use a solid one pice bushing (Like the BSH) are geared more tward the people who dont mind a racecar like feel. They are stiffer than even the hardest inserts, so there will always be a little more NVH, even with the softest bushings they offer. They are however a much more durrable part for motorsports applications.

 

I'd like to try auto-x someday with the car, and I don't mind a little NVH, so maybe I'll try the inserts first, and if still not satisfied (I love solid clutch/shift feel) I'll upgrade to the full insert.

Thanks!

 

Just put my stock lower motor mount back on the MINI ... the BSH mount is definitely aggressive ... I don't mind the increase in NVH, my passengers complain though. It DOES make the MINI racecar-like, but my ears and my rattling dash will thank me.

I'll end up putting it back on next summer, miss the quick shifting response. It sounds like you're driving around with NO exhaust, but meanwhile it's quiet from outside...it just makes the inside cabin louder!!!

 

Haha...ok, I'll definitely try the inserts first. I dealt with a lot of rattling with my last car due to stiffer mounts, and I like that Coop is quieter inside. Last thing I want to do is really add to it.

Will look at ordering the inserts tomorrow, and eventually the solid oil can replacement.