[BMW FOREVER]

My car is a 2012 F10 (manufactured Nov 2011). Back in end of 2014 I got the engine mounts replaced as the car was driving a bit rough...the shop that inspected it said the mount was worn-this was when the car barely had 8k miles.

After the mounts were replaced, sure enough the car felt just like New and extremely smooth. Right now the car is at 15.5k miles and I can feel the car shaking slightly when I start it in the morning and otherwise whenever I’m stopped at a traffic light. Do these mounts only last 3 years? Regardless of how much the car is being driven? Or less driving makes it worse? My car has the n20 engine.

Thanks in advance!

[markrussell24]

NEVER. At least on a car as new as an F10. I'm @ 61k miles on stock mounts, with a diesel. Still smooth as butter.

[BMW FOREVER]

Maybe I am feeling it because I am now driving a N52 powered e92 as well...the 6 cylinder spoils you!

[Big Mexican Women]

theres no way you need new motor mounts every 7-8K miles. come on.

[lsturbointeg]

Motor mounts deteriorate over time just like bushings and what not but not that fast

[BMW FOREVER]

Originally Posted by Big Mexican Women

theres no way you need new motor mounts every 7-8K miles. come on.

Well I Guess since motor mounts are supporting the weight of the engine even when the car is not being used...it’s not just the mileage but the time factor also. Since I drive 7-8 miles in 3 years...it’s not that outrageous. Will be taking my car in to get them inspected.

[wcr3d]

Since you insist, go for it.
You have been around the forum, how often have you seen anything about motor mounts?

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by BMW FOREVER

Well I Guess since motor mounts are supporting the weight of the engine even when the car is not being used...it’s not just the mileage but the time factor also. Since I drive 7-8 miles in 3 years...it’s not that outrageous. Will be taking my car in to get them inspected.

Are you sure new engine mounts aren't masking a problem with smooth running? New mounts could simply mask an inherent engine problem for a few thousand miles. The mounts themselves can't be worn out in such a short time unless there is a manufacturing defect, or something unusual is accelerating the wear.

[Big Mexican Women]

Originally Posted by BMW FOREVER

Well I Guess since motor mounts are supporting the weight of the engine even when the car is not being used...it’s not just the mileage but the time factor also. Since I drive 7-8 miles in 3 years...it’s not that outrageous. Will be taking my car in to get them inspected.

nah man it's ridiculous.

[BMW FOREVER]

When my car was 3 years old and had 8k miles...even I was surprised that motor mounts had to be replaced. When they took out the mounts and showed me how it compares to new ones...mine was indeed much more depressed. This time around I don’t know if it’s the mount again or something else. Will update once I get it checked out.

[rkstar9]

Having very rough idle on cold mornings
on n57 535d f10. suspect engine mounts need replacing at 97,000.

Suggestion above to run smooth running control is not a bad one.

[OnlyGerman]

I’m at 135k. I assume they are original as I do get a slight vibration at idle. Actually expected it to be worse at this mileage. Good thing is FCP sells the mounts pretty cheap.

[Pierre Louis]

Twice in over a million miles did I need motor mount repair: once with my 1986 944 which had a special fluid filled mount in a highly unbalanced engine, and another time with my daughter's 2003 1.7l Civic which didn't really help the inherent unbalanced engine.... I keep cars at least 100,000 miles or so, some to 200,000 miles.

[EL Jeffe 5]

Originally Posted by wcr3d

Since you insist, go for it.
You have been around the forum, how often have you seen anything about motor mounts?

Good point I never saw anything regarding this issue
I was surprised to see this posted

[Thecastle]

Originally Posted by rkstar9

Having very rough idle on cold mornings
on n57 535d f10. suspect engine mounts need replacing at 97,000.

Suggestion above to run smooth running control is not a bad one.

You might have a vacuum leak, especially if it’s rough at idle. The 535d mounts are just like the m57 335d mounts and are vacuum actuated. They change their stiffness depending on rpm. Rough idle can be the vacuum lines is bad to the mount.

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=22_0153

Also diesels get rougher with age it’s kind of typical. Replacing these mounts at less than 70k miles is not unheard of they do fail. Other source of rough running is glow plug failure.

[Thecastle]

One other thing to check besides engine mounts are rear subframe mounts as bad ones there can transmit a lot of diesel vibration. Diesels just aren’t as smooth running and bmw did a lot to isolate the vibration. But as bushings age more can be transmitted into the car. By no means are bmw diesels rough. You should sit in my f450 with it’s 7.3 powestroke,,, You get a constant massage.

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by Thecastle

Other source of rough running is glow plug failure.

I was under the impression that a glow plug was only used on start-up.

[Thecastle]

Originally Posted by ezaircon4jc

I was under the impression that a glow plug was only used on start-up.

Correct...

They’re on longer than you think. They’re on until the engine achieves operating temp so they’re on several minutes after you start the car. That’s why they fail when the thermostats fail on the diesels as the glow plugs never turn off because the engine never achieves operating temp. Thermostats fail open.


Anyway they run for quite some time after a cold or below operating temp start and if one is bad it can cause rough running due to poor/no combustion in that cylinder. I’ve experienced it on multiple diesels. You know it’s really bad when you see white smoke out your tail pipe, as the diesel is going unburnt out the exhaust.

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by Thecastle

Correct...

They’re on longer than you think. They’re on until the engine achieves operating temp so they’re on several minutes after you start the car. That’s why they fail when the thermostats fail on the diesels as the glow plugs never turn off because the engine never achieves operating temp. Thermostats fail open.


Anyway they run for quite some time after a cold or below operating temp start and if one is bad it can cause rough running due to poor/no combustion in that cylinder. I’ve experienced it on multiple diesels. You know it’s really bad when you see white smoke out your tail pipe, as the diesel is going unburnt out the exhaust.

I've never had a diesel... THANKS for the edumacation!