Replaced both strut mounts less than one month ago, and went the cheap route--Amazon purchase of 2 Monroe 906983 Strut mounts. Noticed yesterday a strange noise upon acceleration/braking like a creaking door, and opened my hood to find this:

 

I just posted on this in another thread. Avoid them like the plague. The factory strut mounts are way more expensive, but you won't be re-doing the job in three months. I finally learned my lesson after eating a few warranty jobs.

 

Thanks Helix, is there a good place to buy the better mounts, or another brand such as moog? Also saw your other post mentioning your M coupe. Just sold my m roadster (to enthusiast auto), and bought the mini!

http://enthusiastauto.com/qsearch/?i...1#.VQGhZ47F98E

 

We had a customer install the Monroe mounts previous to visiting us, we put the car on the lift and the mount literally fell apart. Bearing came out of the rubber isolator, as Eric said; pay more now, save more later.

Many vendors have the MINI aftermarket strut mounts on hand, if Eric doesn't have them on hand we have them in stock and would be glad to help out.

Nick
Detroit Tuned

 

http://www.waymotorworks.com/oem-fro...rut-mount.html

They are typically $122 each from the dealer http://parts.miniofkennesaw.com/prod...306758309.html

I would consider getting reinforcement plates while you're at it to avoid mushrooming on the towers, but they can be installed from up top and can be done later.

 

When I did mine I believe I used Sachs or Lemforder. You can pick them up pretty cheap ($40-50) and I'm pretty sure one of them is the manufacturer for the OE part itself.

 

Those guys are the biggest M Couple dealers, I believe. They are really driving demand and price for those cars. If you're in Ohio, and local, Classic Auto dealership has some pretty sweet prices on OEM parts as well.

 

Have heard from a couple people about the Monroe ones.

We have the mounts here, used the lemfoder ones with no issues. : 3/2002+ gen 1

http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/31306778833/




Thanks

 

I noticed today that the other side is starting to separate as well. Hard to believe that these have only been on one month! Just ordered the Lemforder mounts, and hopefully Amazon will let me return the crappy Monroe mounts.

 

Did you get them replaced yet? Sorry to hear both are bad. I replaced them in pairs before, just to be sure , a good visual at the top for the cracking let you know.

Good luck.

 

Received the lemfoder mounts a few days ago. Planning on doing the replacement this weekend. Amazon did refund the entire cost of the monroe mounts.

 

Good , thanks for the update.

 

I did a review on Amazon on these, same issue, replaced (4) of them (2 on daughter's car, (2) on mine) and (3) of them didn't make 500 miles. AVOID MONRO MOUNTS.

 

Don't forget about the Ireland Engineering mounts.....they are pretty beefy

 

Sachs, Boge & Lemforder are all under the ZF umbrella, identical & OE manufacturers.

 

Replaced the Monroe mounts today with Lemforder mounts from ECS, good thing i bought a spring compressor from harbor freight. First thing that i noticed was the Lemforder mounts upward deflection was roughly half that of the Monroe--definitely a good sign. Unfortunately this didn't solve my creaking upon accel/decel, i am wondering if a bushing is rubbing. I did pressure wash the underside of the car when i replaced a burst PS hose (about the same time this starting happening)--anyone have any ideas? The only way to reproduce the noise (pass-side front), is driving the car. Pushing up/down on the front of the car = no noise.

 

Did you change the sway bar endlinks at the same time?

I have found that Moog aftermarket sway bar end links will rub on the passenger side axle. They were made too thick which they try and use as a selling point, but it don't mean crap when it don't work. This cause my car to making a rubbing sound under decal and accel at random times.

Also is anyone else finds this thread avoid Moog upper strut mounts, those are garbage also. Mine didn't even last a couple of months and all I got was a finger from Moog and Rock Auto

 

nope, end links are stock, and there doesnt appear to be anything obviously wrong (put the mini up on stands this weekend, pulled the front wheels, and rooted around to see if anything looked out of place).

 

Sounds like you probably pressure washed some grease out of something. Now that it's all clean you might be able to see what needs lubed.

 

Would you say the same for kyb, Sachs or lemfoerfer?

 

+1 on Lemfoder. I just replaced My struts on My R52 7k ago and have had no issues.