To prepare for the inevitable I did a bit of research for the S's lower engine mount (restraint). I do not care for paying extra from the usual Mini suspects. It is just a simple alloy arm with rubber bushings. I want an OE replacement and from what I infer Lemfoerder W0133-1665946 is the OEM replacement part. Anyone know of the best source/price shipped? PM will be welcomed.





The best I can find is $43.43 shipped and is still too expensive for me given how simple it is. I paid about $50 for the 05 and later OEM fluid-filled engine mount so that is my baseline. Yes - I am cheap and I am proud.

 

I found the most reasonably priced one. The only problem is I need to break the minimum free shipping threshold. I did my best to anticipate the parts that I may need, and I cannot come up with $25 of purchase. My thought is may be I should just buy 2 and sell one.

 

If they would ship to different areas I'd go in with you... I need/want a lower mount. I keep thinking to just put in the poly inserts but have no experience with that and not sure if it's worth it or if I should just do OEM.

in any case:

ecs $27 + shipping (my quote is $36 shipped): https://www.ecstuning.com/b-lemforde...116756406~lem/

 

That is what I found. I have been killing myself trying to make up for the minimum $50 free shipping. I struggle if I should buy a set of rear SS braided brake lines, or a cabin charcoal filter. I incline to just bundle it instead of spending the time to the post office. You might want to do same/similar.

 

When it comes to engine mount, and especially this engine restraint my intuition tells me to stick with the "crappy sloppy" rubber OEM part. You want more stiffness? I will make you a rigid mount made of 1.5" angle iron. Immediate transfer of power with no flex.

 

I'm inclined to do that too. $110 for a poly bracket is pretty steep. I have a lot of exhaust knocking from hitting the cross-member, though. My goal with all that is to reduce most of the engine movement to stop that stupid annoying banging.

 

I did the one-ball exhaust conversion myself and I am now all too aware of the potential for exhaust banging if the job is not done right. I am also extremely apprehensive of any aftermarket header and catback. A certain amount of engine movement is necessary if you don't want to break thing. It is always a fine line of tradeoffs.