I'm looking to upgrade my Transmission/gearbox support bushing with powerflex on my '04 pre-facelift R53.
On the powerflex site, I see 2wo insert bushings offered but while cross referencing realOEM I see no correlation between any of the the part #(s) on the powerflex inserts and realOEM's diagram. This has left me a bit confused.

In the realOEM diagram; Circled in red, is the bushing I would like to replace with powerflex (or pf inserts?).


The images below are the powerflex bushing inserts available. I assume the first image replaces the entire internal factory bushing (circled in red), as shown in the realOEM diagram.(?)
and the second image merely plugs the voids in the factory bushing.(?)


Gen 1 Gearbox Bushing Insert



Gen 1 MINI Cooper S & JCW Gearbox Mount Bushing Insert

Has anyone replaced/upgraded their transmission/gearbox bushing with either one of the 2wo inserts offered by powerfex?
If so which one did you opt for or recommend?

I haven't removed the bracket mount yet. I have not seen the condition of my 19y/o support bushing. I'm not sure how difficult of a job it is but I just assume replace it.

Thanks.

 

I’m pretty sure PFF5-108 is specific to the R50 manual trans mount. It’s the one I have installed currently.

If you want more than an insert, Vibratechnics makes a whole mount with an upgraded bushing, but it’s like $215 + shipping.

 

So am I correct in assuming that the PFFS-108 completely replaces the factory bushing and not just plugs the voids?
Thanks.

 

They’re both inserts (just fill voids). I’m pretty sure the first one is for the R50 mount, and the second one is for the R53.

 

Ah - more confusion. The PFFS-108 lists (underneath the image), "This part fits the following models." MINI Cooper Gen 1 R50 / R52 / R53 (2001-2006).
Thanks for clarifying that they are both inserts and not direct replacements for the entire factory bushing.
I had already ordered the the PFFS-122 (Gen 1 MINI Cooper S & JCW Gearbox Mount Bushing Insert) earlier today and recently thought I may have ordered the wrong part/insert.

I often "heard" mention about the Vibratechnics mounts.here on NAM but just assumed they were expensive and more designed for track applications.

 

Yeah. I think it’s some wording weirdness. It’s not listed that way on the .co.uk site. There it just gives the corresponding OE part numbers.

Vibratechnics does make “road” durometer mounts. I’m running their upper engine mount on my car because I kept killing the stock hydraulic ones. BTW, if you ever go to buy one, every time I’ve checked the .co.uk site has been considerably cheaper than the .com site.

 

Thanks again for the clarification on the powerflex gearbox support bushing _ PFFS-108 = R50 vs PFFS-122 = R53.
I receive an email back from powerflex this morning and they confirmed what you had stated above.
I received my bushings (PFFS-122) this afternoon. Gotta love powerflex. Great product, fast shipping and awesome, responsive customer service!

 

I have seen a few posts where while others had been working/pulling their engines or transmissions and later discovered this odd looking plastic piece.

This plastic "cradle" mounts within the lower part of the rubber gearbox support bushing.



I wasn't able or successful in inserting the new PFFS-122 powerflex gearbox support bushings with the original blue "cradle" in there as well.

Can anyone who has replaced/upgraded this bushing, confirm whether the plastic blue cradle is supposed to go back in there along with the powerflex bushing replacements?

Thanks!

 

Well - Nevermind.
I gave it the ole' college try and was able to accommodate both cradle and powerflex insert into the bushing with no problem.
It just required an educated guess..

 

I think I removed that part when I installed my inserts, though we do have different bushings. I want to say that Bill over at Bill's Web Space did the same. Now you've got me wondering if mine would have fit.

 

The inserts fit perfectly with that plastic piece back in place.
However...Since you've done the pf insert on your R50 Let me ask you this:


Does that orientation of the pf inserts look right to you?


I used the pf image on their website for installing.

I just doesn't look right to me.
They look as if they are installed backwards.
Don't they?

 

Huh. Yours look different than mine. Mine are round, IIRC. I see what you mean. It seems like they should be swapped so that the big side is against the mount that attaches to the chassis, right?

 

That was my initial rationale at first. But what do I know?
I went according to how powerflex showed them installed.

I'm very tempted to swap them to how "I think" they should be, tomorrow.

Thanks for your input @deepgrey .

 

Well, I know about as much as you do. I just looked at the Powerflex website photos. Maybe the inserts are designed that way so that they follow the contour of the mount that bolts to the transmission? It still does look somewhat odd though, given how the original mount had those two buffer things going the other direction.

 

...waiting for Monday when PowerflexUSA has a chance to respond to my email...

 

It has been about a week and I've never received a response from powerflex with regards to the proper way to orient the bushings..
No biggie.
After driving the car for a week I did notice some slight vibration I've never had before.

Today -
I went ahead and took the initiative to pull the mount and reinstall/swap (left to right) the PFF5-122 inserts the way it (mechanically) made more sense to me.




Now it looks right to me.
I have no second thoughts with respect to their proper orientation.
My Mini is back to where it was before = Absolutely no vibration.

Hope this helps others.