HotRodBimmer
08-25-2011, 12:19 PM
One more issue resolved and test driven, time to review! As many of you probably saw in an older thread, Revshift recently answered our call and came out with a polyurethane mount for the M60 engine. I needed new mounts, the OE set i ordered had 2 of the passenger side ones, so i said screw it, and decided to give the new offering a try. I went for the 80A "soft" model, so lets get down to details.
Price: In my opinion, excellent. For $119 shipped, they were cheaper than the factory replacements i had gotten, so really, if you are going to replace your mounts, there's no good reason not to consider them. Order placed.
Delivery/Service: No need to beat around the bush, they did take almost exactly a month to get here, and being the impatient type this drove me crazy. however, Revshift just came out with the product, that's really not a bad delay if they were fabricating/molding the thing for me. That being said, During these 4 weeks, i was not provided with any kind of update, and after several phone calls a week, still couldn't get a status, shipping date or tracking number (that worked). Since this is the first time i have ever dealt with Revshift, it made me nervous, and really if someone could have just said "yeah it's going to be a month" after week 1, no problem. But they did arrive, and i would not be at all deterred from dealing with Revshift again. I just wouldn't take the car apart and have it precariously hanging in pieces until i had the parts in hand this time. Ok done, that's my only complaint.
Product Quality: When i got to handle the mounts, they do look like a solid product. Sturdy hardware, pretty blue color, blah blah, pictures are worth a thousand words:
http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af57/CrippleCreek_K5/1995%20540i/2011-08-24_10-25-22_456.jpg
http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af57/CrippleCreek_K5/1995%20540i/2011-08-24_10-26-46_968.jpg
http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af57/CrippleCreek_K5/1995%20540i/2011-08-24_10-25-33_957.jpg
Couple with the factory mount for comparo:
http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af57/CrippleCreek_K5/1995%20540i/P1060427.jpg
http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af57/CrippleCreek_K5/1995%20540i/P1060428.jpg
The mounts did come with new nuts and washers, and they did use the same size sockets as factory. I know that's a silly thing to point out, but it annoys me when i have to change tools once i'm already on the ground.
Installation/Fit: While access is an issue (to put it lightly) there is no mystery to replacing engine mounts. Take the old one out, put the new one in its place, lower the engine back onto it and bolt it on. The mounts fit great, everything lined up, including the little blue nipple (Note, the crap all over the underside of the car is power steering fluid.. that's the next project.):
http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af57/CrippleCreek_K5/1995%20540i/P1060431.jpg
http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af57/CrippleCreek_K5/1995%20540i/P1060432.jpg
Sitting in place before lowering the engine back down:
http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af57/CrippleCreek_K5/1995%20540i/P1060430.jpg
Now, when i took to old mounts out, i was able to lift the engine about an inch or so without loosening anything, because:
http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af57/CrippleCreek_K5/1995%20540i/P1060433.jpg
This inch made ALL the difference reaching the driver side, so getting the new nut tightened down with the motor properly seated proved tricky. Ultimately, all i needed was 4 jackstands, one floor jack, one set of deep sockets, one set of shallow sockets, one U-joint, one flexible extension, one 24" extension, one flat screwdriver, one 10' ratchet strap, half a roll of electrical tape, and 2 light beers. I had already unbolted the old mounts, so i devised some bass ackwards way of getting the new ones in without having to remove parts from the driver side engine bay, car was back on the ground before bedtime.
Passenger side mount installed:
http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af57/CrippleCreek_K5/1995%20540i/P1060434.jpg
Driving Impression: Now you all saw the picture of my old mount, so on this particular vehicle my frame of reference is pretty worthless. I have had new/newer vehicles with soft engine mount woes however, so i am familiar with the symptoms, and with the poly units, they are gone. The driving feel has been transformed in the Bimmer, the power gets from one end of the car to the other without any of the drama, and i couldn't feel any drivetrain shift, and the shifter doesn't move around under hard launches, or burnouts in front of the neighbor's house.
Do the mounts add vibration? of course. But it isn't even slightly bothersome. I don't notice it at idle, and when i first get on the gas it's merely an amplified "here comes the power" tickle delivered from the seat and steering wheel that, if anything, makes the experience even more fun.
Bottom Line
If you need new engine mounts, you'd be a fool not to upgrade to Revshift polys. They are reasonably priced, and will definitely improve the way your car feels when you drive it right. If you don't need new engine mounts, well you will. Order the bad boys now so when the time comes they are ready to go. I will have to update on they're longevity once i've gotten some miles booked. Just remember, when it comes time to install, make sure you've got plenty of time, and some nice soothing music, because you are going to want to tear your hair out.
The end.
Price: In my opinion, excellent. For $119 shipped, they were cheaper than the factory replacements i had gotten, so really, if you are going to replace your mounts, there's no good reason not to consider them. Order placed.
Delivery/Service: No need to beat around the bush, they did take almost exactly a month to get here, and being the impatient type this drove me crazy. however, Revshift just came out with the product, that's really not a bad delay if they were fabricating/molding the thing for me. That being said, During these 4 weeks, i was not provided with any kind of update, and after several phone calls a week, still couldn't get a status, shipping date or tracking number (that worked). Since this is the first time i have ever dealt with Revshift, it made me nervous, and really if someone could have just said "yeah it's going to be a month" after week 1, no problem. But they did arrive, and i would not be at all deterred from dealing with Revshift again. I just wouldn't take the car apart and have it precariously hanging in pieces until i had the parts in hand this time. Ok done, that's my only complaint.
Product Quality: When i got to handle the mounts, they do look like a solid product. Sturdy hardware, pretty blue color, blah blah, pictures are worth a thousand words:
http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af57/CrippleCreek_K5/1995%20540i/2011-08-24_10-25-22_456.jpg
http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af57/CrippleCreek_K5/1995%20540i/2011-08-24_10-26-46_968.jpg
http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af57/CrippleCreek_K5/1995%20540i/2011-08-24_10-25-33_957.jpg
Couple with the factory mount for comparo:
http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af57/CrippleCreek_K5/1995%20540i/P1060427.jpg
http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af57/CrippleCreek_K5/1995%20540i/P1060428.jpg
The mounts did come with new nuts and washers, and they did use the same size sockets as factory. I know that's a silly thing to point out, but it annoys me when i have to change tools once i'm already on the ground.
Installation/Fit: While access is an issue (to put it lightly) there is no mystery to replacing engine mounts. Take the old one out, put the new one in its place, lower the engine back onto it and bolt it on. The mounts fit great, everything lined up, including the little blue nipple (Note, the crap all over the underside of the car is power steering fluid.. that's the next project.):
http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af57/CrippleCreek_K5/1995%20540i/P1060431.jpg
http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af57/CrippleCreek_K5/1995%20540i/P1060432.jpg
Sitting in place before lowering the engine back down:
http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af57/CrippleCreek_K5/1995%20540i/P1060430.jpg
Now, when i took to old mounts out, i was able to lift the engine about an inch or so without loosening anything, because:
http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af57/CrippleCreek_K5/1995%20540i/P1060433.jpg
This inch made ALL the difference reaching the driver side, so getting the new nut tightened down with the motor properly seated proved tricky. Ultimately, all i needed was 4 jackstands, one floor jack, one set of deep sockets, one set of shallow sockets, one U-joint, one flexible extension, one 24" extension, one flat screwdriver, one 10' ratchet strap, half a roll of electrical tape, and 2 light beers. I had already unbolted the old mounts, so i devised some bass ackwards way of getting the new ones in without having to remove parts from the driver side engine bay, car was back on the ground before bedtime.
Passenger side mount installed:
http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af57/CrippleCreek_K5/1995%20540i/P1060434.jpg
Driving Impression: Now you all saw the picture of my old mount, so on this particular vehicle my frame of reference is pretty worthless. I have had new/newer vehicles with soft engine mount woes however, so i am familiar with the symptoms, and with the poly units, they are gone. The driving feel has been transformed in the Bimmer, the power gets from one end of the car to the other without any of the drama, and i couldn't feel any drivetrain shift, and the shifter doesn't move around under hard launches, or burnouts in front of the neighbor's house.
Do the mounts add vibration? of course. But it isn't even slightly bothersome. I don't notice it at idle, and when i first get on the gas it's merely an amplified "here comes the power" tickle delivered from the seat and steering wheel that, if anything, makes the experience even more fun.
Bottom Line
If you need new engine mounts, you'd be a fool not to upgrade to Revshift polys. They are reasonably priced, and will definitely improve the way your car feels when you drive it right. If you don't need new engine mounts, well you will. Order the bad boys now so when the time comes they are ready to go. I will have to update on they're longevity once i've gotten some miles booked. Just remember, when it comes time to install, make sure you've got plenty of time, and some nice soothing music, because you are going to want to tear your hair out.
The end.