Would you drive to Stansted with this top mount!?
Discussion
As the E30 is having some brake issues at the moment, I'm back to using the E36.
On driving back to Colchester last weekend a banging/clunking started to manifest itself emanating from the right rear. My first thought (while on the A12) was that perhaps the boot wasn't shut properly. Pulled over at the next petrol station to check and it was fine. Nothing rattling/loose inside either. Continued the journey (albeit at a slower pace) and the banging seemed to get worse.
Had a couple of short journeys this week into town and every minor bump was a proper 'cringe' moment. Something wasn't right and I suspected the top mount on the right side might have started to have issues.
Owing to my rota this week, I've been unable to attend to the matter until this morning.
Back seats out, parcel shelf/headrests out, boot lining etc to get a look see at the issue.
This is what confronted me:
Left
Right
Not good! Not good at all! One further thing to consider, I need to drive to Stansted on Saturday morning (6am). I'm up for driving cars with most random bangs (having an E30 will build your tolerance) however this was a little too much even for me!
As such, needed a garage in Colchester that was close and could do the job quickly. This unfortunately meant the centre of town and big chains.
Chain 1
- Lots of umming and ahhing. Stated he'd need to get the car up on the ramps but certainly needed 'dealer only parts' which would need to be ordered in at extensive cost and couldn't be able to be done until next week.
Chain 2
- Guy in front was having his MOT fail/advisory list read out. 90% of the things stated were quite frankly utterly b
ks (genuine scandal). Walked straight out.
Chain 3
- Guy took a look and then called up ECP. 2x struts at £40 each. 2x rear top mounts at £15 each. Estimated cost £110-115 inc labour. Apparently could be done by this evening (unfortunately I'm working so can pick up tomorrow). Seems ideal. Perhaps too good to be true but given the Stansted drive the only option.
We will see! Watch this space.
On driving back to Colchester last weekend a banging/clunking started to manifest itself emanating from the right rear. My first thought (while on the A12) was that perhaps the boot wasn't shut properly. Pulled over at the next petrol station to check and it was fine. Nothing rattling/loose inside either. Continued the journey (albeit at a slower pace) and the banging seemed to get worse.
Had a couple of short journeys this week into town and every minor bump was a proper 'cringe' moment. Something wasn't right and I suspected the top mount on the right side might have started to have issues.
Owing to my rota this week, I've been unable to attend to the matter until this morning.
Back seats out, parcel shelf/headrests out, boot lining etc to get a look see at the issue.
This is what confronted me:
Left
Right
Not good! Not good at all! One further thing to consider, I need to drive to Stansted on Saturday morning (6am). I'm up for driving cars with most random bangs (having an E30 will build your tolerance) however this was a little too much even for me!
As such, needed a garage in Colchester that was close and could do the job quickly. This unfortunately meant the centre of town and big chains.
Chain 1
- Lots of umming and ahhing. Stated he'd need to get the car up on the ramps but certainly needed 'dealer only parts' which would need to be ordered in at extensive cost and couldn't be able to be done until next week.
Chain 2
- Guy in front was having his MOT fail/advisory list read out. 90% of the things stated were quite frankly utterly b
ks (genuine scandal). Walked straight out.Chain 3
- Guy took a look and then called up ECP. 2x struts at £40 each. 2x rear top mounts at £15 each. Estimated cost £110-115 inc labour. Apparently could be done by this evening (unfortunately I'm working so can pick up tomorrow). Seems ideal. Perhaps too good to be true but given the Stansted drive the only option.
We will see! Watch this space.
Shocking!...sorry, had to be said.Deluded said:
Dog Star said:
Just change the shocks - seriously - rear shocks are a doddle; hardest part will be taking the wheels off.
The shock hasn't failed though, the top mount has. Obviously rusted through. The shock may be knackered though. Worth replacing anyway if its all coming off.The shock retaining bolts are the two bolts you can see on either side.
looks like just the top mount has gone to me ???
looks like rubber has split and punched through (leaving the top mount in situ )
and iirc the two bolts either side are the top mount retainer bolts are they not ????
although if it were me i would replace the shock absorber or damper also lookinmg at the rust at the top of piston !!
looks like rubber has split and punched through (leaving the top mount in situ )
and iirc the two bolts either side are the top mount retainer bolts are they not ????
although if it were me i would replace the shock absorber or damper also lookinmg at the rust at the top of piston !!
Dog Star said:
That's not the top mount - that's the shock, unless that car has a radcally different layout than anything else I've ever seen.
The shock retaining bolts are the two bolts you can see on either side.
Defo the top mount. The shock retaining bolts are the two bolts you can see on either side.
As said in the post abvove, looks like the rubber has split, probably caused by the metal that has rusted through (can see where it would have joined to the plate bolted to the car just under the rubber on the strut). The metal may have given up a while ago and the rubber has only just given up.
Replace the lot anyway. Chances are the one on the otherside is rusting through too.
Edited by Deluded on Thursday 23 August 16:39
Mr2Mike said:
Dog Star said:
That's not the top mount - that's the shock, unless that car has a radcally different layout than anything else I've ever seen.
The shock retaining bolts are the two bolts you can see on either side.
The two bolts that secure the top mount to the body you mean?The shock retaining bolts are the two bolts you can see on either side.
If so then it's surely even easier; remve big nut, drop damper rod down, undo two bolts and put in a new shock mount. How hard can it be?
ETA: this is the part, isn't it?
They're pretty cheap too.
And look - it's a common problem and there's a handy "howto".
http://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW/techarticles/JF-Te...
Edited by Dog Star on Thursday 23 August 17:57
Dog Star said:
Sorry - I'm at cross purposes here; that part that is knackered has the sock bolted to it and that in turn attaches to the body then? I'm used to the "top mount" being attached to the top of the strut and the whole thing being offered up and attached with the bolts to the body (does this make sense?).
If so then it's surely even easier; remve big nut, drop damper rod down, undo two bolts and put in a new shock mount. How hard can it be?
ETA: this is the part, isn't it?
They're pretty cheap too.
And look - it's a common problem and there's a handy "howto".
http://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW/techarticles/JF-Te...
That's the top mount. If you look in his picture of the failed one, you can see that the rubber has split the whole way, that's why it has come through.If so then it's surely even easier; remve big nut, drop damper rod down, undo two bolts and put in a new shock mount. How hard can it be?
ETA: this is the part, isn't it?
They're pretty cheap too.
And look - it's a common problem and there's a handy "howto".
http://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW/techarticles/JF-Te...
Edited by Dog Star on Thursday 23 August 17:57
RE the shock vs top mount replacement:
Admittedly I wasn't sure how much needed to be changed so I thought might as well do the whole thing. In addition afaik these are the original struts (had the car since 1999) and moreover given the amount of driving I've done since the obvious failure, can't be sure how much damage has been sustained. Since it's all coming off, might as well.
Having had the E36 for a while I was aware of the top mount issue and what to replace with if needed (cabrio items etc). However here in Colchester I had:
- No tools
- No time
- Only the BMW jack
- To take it somewhere I could reasonably get to/from on foot!
So in all honesty, I'm happy the car is roadworthy so quickly with minimal fuss/cost. They called me about 3:30pm and told me all done.
I hate to imagine what was going on there on the A12 back ot Colchester last fri!
Admittedly I wasn't sure how much needed to be changed so I thought might as well do the whole thing. In addition afaik these are the original struts (had the car since 1999) and moreover given the amount of driving I've done since the obvious failure, can't be sure how much damage has been sustained. Since it's all coming off, might as well.
Having had the E36 for a while I was aware of the top mount issue and what to replace with if needed (cabrio items etc). However here in Colchester I had:
- No tools
- No time
- Only the BMW jack
- To take it somewhere I could reasonably get to/from on foot!
So in all honesty, I'm happy the car is roadworthy so quickly with minimal fuss/cost. They called me about 3:30pm and told me all done.
I hate to imagine what was going on there on the A12 back ot Colchester last fri!
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