E46 Shock mounts suck!

[fretburnr]

so far it looks like the bimmerworld/bavauto "repair shop" mounts are similar to the JTD just with a rubber, non-urethane bushing... this sounds decent to me as i dont need the stiffness of urethane (nothing else on the car is urethane)

[MikesJo]

My e46 mount, one of them, lasted me less than 1500km, lol. Yes I didn't have the bottom washer on it though.

I replaced both of them with the IE RSM. Great build quality and I also installed the bottom cupped washer. The IE RSMs have a bit of aluminum/metal (whatever it is) in the middle of the mount to stop the shock from pushing right through it, unlike the E46 one which has nothing.

[Schniddy]

I must have forgot those bottom washers a year ago when I did my shocks. I'm putting ones in now with new shock mounts.

Whats an indication that the shocks are blown? I dont think they are, but when I compress both of them, they come back to normal at different times. the one gradually goes up and the other does the same except for the last 25% ( it shoots up faster during that last 1/4)

[golde30]

its painfully obvious that the rubber part is going to push out without the large metal washer in place...there is NOTHING to stop the shock from pushing out of the mount. this should be a no-brainer.

[Schniddy]

its painfully obvious that the rubber part is going to push out without the large metal washer in place...there is NOTHING to stop the shock from pushing out of the mount. this should be a no-brainer.

now that I think of it, I think I did the supension two summers ago. :(
and Yeah you are right I have no idea why they weren’t there. Nonetheless, the new mounts are in and I don’t think the shocks are blown. Huge difference in the way the car handles, the rear end seams much firmer and intune with the front-end.

[mtechnik]

Oh my, I went for the E46 //M mounts too when i did my Koni yellows.

I trust that my tech installed the washers..........

[speedhop]

so the consensus is....install the e46 mounts correctly and if you can't do that buy the aftermarket ones

[LINUS]

Oh my, I went for the E46 //M mounts too when i did my Koni yellows.

I trust that my tech installed the washers..........

If you have the dust shields in place (pt #5 on the realoem pic) then part #6 is there - the rim of the washer is what retains the dust shield in place. It's not as critical, but a load spreading washer up top wouldn't kill you either - that's a simple doublecheck too, just pull back the fender carpet & see what you got.

[einstein57]

i picked up the these bad boys while at bimmerfest from the ie booth. I don't think i'll ever use a stock mount again.

[Sam Lin]

so the consensus is....install the e46 mounts correctly and if you can't do that buy the aftermarket ones

Uh, no. Consensus is: Install ANY mounts correctly.

Sam

[MikesJo]

i picked up the these bad boys while at bimmerfest from the ie booth. I don't think i'll ever use a stock mount again.

The build quality on these are great :). I'd just go with these. I should have put the washer on the oem e46 ones, I did on the IE ones, lol. Live and learn. If you can afford it, go with the IE ones. I've heard good tings about the GCs as well.

[Coco Savage]

i picked up the RE ones for my car because i have heard of the horror stories! Im crossing my fingers this Never happens to me!!

i believe e46f has a thread on how to get this covered by bmw