Level Motorsport 24v Upgraded Engine Arm - No Longer Available

[JGood]

It is my understanding that the aluminum motor arms are not designed to be re-used. They are designed to break in the event of an impact. Much like Mercedes break-away motor mounts. I've been tracking my car for 5 years now with solid aluminum mounts and brand new arms with zero problems.

Before I learned this i was breaking both driver and passenger side mounts. I don't feel that either side is more susceptible to breaking than the other. Just don't re-use mounts. They aren't that expensive to buy new.

"Not designed to be re-used"? What do you mean by re-used? Once they are unbolted from the block, they shouldn't be bolted back up? Or are you just saying they have a limited lifespan? If so, I'd think yours are likely nearing the end of their lifespan, given 5 years of track use with solid mounts. The factory arms are $100/each, so why would you buy them instead of an arm that does not have a limited lifespan, and has almost zero chance of failure, for the same price?

Not knocking your decision to stay OEM, I get that, but to come into a FS thread and say there's no need for this product just because you went a different route doesn't help anything. Especially when it's for a new product offering for a chassis that has diminishing aftermarket support as it is.

[berlow94]

"Not designed to be re-used"? What do you mean by re-used? Once they are unbolted from the block, they shouldn't be bolted back up? Or are you just saying they have a limited lifespan? If so, I'd think yours are likely nearing the end of their lifespan, given 5 years of track use with solid mounts. The factory arms are $100/each, so why would you buy them instead of an arm that does not have a limited lifespan, and has almost zero chance of failure, for the same price?

Not knocking your decision to stay OEM, I get that, but to come into a FS thread and say there's no need for this product just because you went a different route doesn't help anything. Especially when it's for a new product offering for a chassis that has diminishing aftermarket support as it is.

30 years of stress vs. 5 years of tracks use are 2 different thing.
All I'm saying is that an engine mount is designed to have some sort of break-away point. If you convert to a solid motor mount then that point is no longer the mount. I wouldn't want solid motor mounts coupled with these steel arms in the event of a crash.

I'm not trying to bash here. Your craftsmanship and attention to detail look too-notch. I'm just sharing what my experience has been with crashing cars and failing motor arms/mounts.
It's the reason why Mercedes invented the break-away motor mount! Safety!


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[berlow94]

Level Motorsport 24v Upgraded Engine Arm

I'm sorry, it seems that Ford in fact owns the patent on the break-away motor mount. Not Mercedes. My bad
Mercedes invented the "crumple zone".


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[AwakenNoMore]

Fantastic work, I'll be keeping you in mind if I decide to ditch my 12v lump for a 24v swap.

[Panici]

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My M52 is from an e39 (5-series), so I will need E36 arms (on both sides) to make it work on my car.

If I can send the money to you for better parts, i'd rather do that then send it to BMW for new aluminum arms.

Just to confirm, I could use some sort of OEM rubber motor mounts with these? I'm trying to keep NVH down in a street car. (not using any poly bushings etc)

[RoccoB517]

Fantastic work, I'll be keeping you in mind if I decide to ditch my 12v lump for a 24v swap.

Thanks, I work hard so that I can be proud of everything that leaves my shop. I appreciate the compliment.

[RoccoB517]

Subbed for further updates.

My M52 is from an e39 (5-series), so I will need E36 arms (on both sides) to make it work on my car.

If I can send the money to you for better parts, i'd rather do that then send it to BMW for new aluminum arms.

Just to confirm, I could use some sort of OEM rubber motor mounts with these? I'm trying to keep NVH down in a street car. (not using any poly bushings etc)

I am going to start working on a left side engine arm to complete a pair next week. I'll keep you guys updated on the progress and lead times on powder coating, etc. Thanks for the interest.

[RoccoB517]

30 years of stress vs. 5 years of tracks use are 2 different thing.
All I'm saying is that an engine mount is designed to have some sort of break-away point. If you convert to a solid motor mount then that point is no longer the mount. I wouldn't want solid motor mounts coupled with these steel arms in the event of a crash.

I'm not trying to bash here. Your craftsmanship and attention to detail look too-notch. I'm just sharing what my experience has been with crashing cars and failing motor arms/mounts.
It's the reason why Mercedes invented the break-away motor mount! Safety!


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I appreciate the concern, and I do understand how the arms are designed and why. However, if you look at the ad you will see an arm that has been cracked. That was a brand new one with one racing season on it. The issue I have with the break away design is that it doesn't always break in an accident. I've seen them sheer off just hitting potholes. What I considered when looking for a solution to this problem is: 1. We are driving a car with limited safety features to begin with, especially compared to modern cars. 2. The engine we are using is not even intended to be in this chassis, nor are solid mounts, neither is forced induction, neither are coilovers and high rate springs. When these things are changed the "OEM" equipment can become more of a danger than a safety item, and at the very least can have a much reduced service life. Sometimes additional equipment needs to be built to compensate for the mods we are doing to our cars, and I believe this is one such piece. I can say from first hand experience that the break away feature intended in the original design is, to me, more of a hazard than a potential safety feature. I crested a hill with my daily E30 with a stock NV M50 on a set of three year old arms and delrin mounts. The arm sheared clean off at the block and the engine dropped. Luckily my skid plate was strong enough to hold the engine up off the road, but is broke the oil pan, tore the coolant lines off the radiator, destroyed the radiator, killed the electric fan, near instantly destroyed the guibo and CSB, dented the driveshaft, and pinned the sway bar from rotating with the headers. Not a safety feature when it activates at 65 mph unexpectedly. So, with that experience under my belt, MANY arms that I've found cracked when inspecting customers cars, and the 2 per year that I was breaking on my track car I decided I'll take my chances with the steel arm, and I wanted to provide that option to other people who might be interested. Everything we do to modify our cars is a choice and sometimes a trade off, and it is up to the individual enthusiast to decide on what they are okay with, whether that be sacrificing some ride comfort for handling, or trading a factory "safety" feature for peace of mind.

I really like to be responsive to all comments, but this is the best I can do to explain my approach to building cars/parts/etc and offering them to the car community. You guys can take it from here. If you think it useful and want one, then you are welcome to buy one. If you don't think it's useful then you don't have to buy one. No hard feelings at all either way.

[GG///M3]

Can't wait to order these


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[2mAn]

Less than 20k miles on a M52 swapped street car. AKG Engine mounts. My car.

[berlow94]

How come standard E36's don't suffer from this issue. I have so many friends who race e36's on track with solid mounts and never have an issue when all the bolts are torqued to spec.


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[2mAn]

Thats a great question, but completely unrelated to the problem that 24v swapped E30s have to deal with.

We have a guy who fixed this problem, be grateful, I am...

[JGood]

How come standard E36's don't suffer from this issue. I have so many friends who race e36's on track with solid mounts and never have an issue when all the bolts are torqued to spec.


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e36's do suffer from it. A quick Google search will show that. I also know a ton of people using junkyard arms on s52 e30's that never broke one. But I broke one with my stock m50 e30 with rubber mounts. It's just a weak spot. Doesn't mean they all will break. But it's common enough that a permanent solution is nice to have.

[grinchxvx]

When I broke my oil pan hitting a steep piece of road it broke the driver side arm not passenger, I think a set would be a better idea.


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[RoccoB517]

When I broke my oil pan hitting a steep piece of road it broke the driver side arm not passenger, I think a set would be a better idea.


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Thanks for the comment. Based on tge responses here I'm working on a left side arm as well, then people can choose one or both.