Vibration will be coming from no 1 engine mount

 

OE passenger side mount is solid? The one on the 3 was oil filled. Did you go with aftermarket or OE?



Can you refresh me on how the three mounts are numbered?

 

Have a very close look at the main engine mount, you need to check for clearance between the two halves/sections. If you can see witness marks on the lower section, it indicates the mount has sagged & will be your problem.

 

When I looked at it the other day it didn’t look worn at all, but I’ll check it out again. That one isn’t a big deal because it’s right there and accessible. I think it was maybe a 15-20 minute job on my 3. I don’t mind taking things apart to replace the other two mounts, but if they’re fine I’d rather not disassemble things to get to them (granted the rear mount just needs the splash shield removed, but I just put that damn thing back on!).

 

Every part of that mount I can see looks perfectly fine. No untoward marks, and all of the rubber I can touch feels intact with no cracking.

In other news I added another 1.2L of ATX fluid and finally got it between the lines on the dipstick. Guess my WAG of losing a liter was pretty close. As noted above the vibration is decreased from before, but still present. Less noticeable in the steering wheel, more so in the pedals (since I’m holding the brake down when I’m stopped). Transmission shifts smoothly.

 

Chatted with some knowledgeable people and did a torque test of the motor. Lots of movement. Ordered a replacement main motor mount, so once that arrives I’ll swap it and see how the vibration does. I’ll move on to the other mounts if it doesn’t go away. My only experience with a failed mount was on my ‘05 3, the rubber had completely separated, leaked all the fluid inside, and the motor side of the mount was banging into the top and bottom of the frame when I accelerated. I haven’t dealt with a failing mount, only a failed mount.

 

New motor mount finally arrived today. Sadly my suspension shenanigans took up my car work time for today.

 

Finally had some sit down time with the car today. Been working on some paint and trim work in the house, so the car has taken a backseat to that. The old mount does show some very light cracking at the base, and one spot on the top. Very minor. The vibration is reduced, but not eliminated. A transmission mount may be in my future.