c_w
10-06-2006, 01:26 PM
The Rear Mounts
Anyone who has changed the rear shocks/top mounts on the M Coupe will know that to do it properly requires a ridiculous amount of rear trim to be removed just so you can access the 2 13mm nuts holding the rear shock on. It means a job that could be done in 5mins takes about 1hr as you unravel the layered trim in the boot to get down to the mounts. I saw an advert for the Rogue top mounts with a picture and it instantly looked a very easy thing to make yourself; to allow the top mounts to be bolted from inside the wheel-arch instead of inside the car so removal takes much less time and no trim has to be removed.
The Rogue top mounts use a stiffener plate with threaded studs tacked on; a stiffener plate like this is available from BMW for a couple of pounds (Item 16, REINFORCEMENT PLATE 51718413359 http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=CK92&mospid=48084&btnr=33_0459&hg=33&fg=45). I already had these from my old Z3 so I simply tapped out the studs from the original rear top mounts (they come out easily) and tack-welded them to the reinforment plates, placed them inside the car and bolted the rear shock (with the now studless mount) up from inside the wheel arch. I used a layer of silicon on the reinforcement plates so that they will stick to the wheel arch inside the car which should keep them in place enough when unbolted (I'm not sure how the Rogue mounts stay fixed inside the car/arch with the shock removed?).
I say free as it didn't cost me anything to do as I already had the bits (I bought the reinforcement plates when I had my 2.8 Z3) and they aren't "rebuildable" like the Rogue ones but the rear E36 M3 top mounts are so cheap from BMW you could buy 3 pairs for the price. But this could be done for less than £10 as long as you have or know someone with a welder just to tack the studs on to the plates.
Anyone who has changed the rear shocks/top mounts on the M Coupe will know that to do it properly requires a ridiculous amount of rear trim to be removed just so you can access the 2 13mm nuts holding the rear shock on. It means a job that could be done in 5mins takes about 1hr as you unravel the layered trim in the boot to get down to the mounts. I saw an advert for the Rogue top mounts with a picture and it instantly looked a very easy thing to make yourself; to allow the top mounts to be bolted from inside the wheel-arch instead of inside the car so removal takes much less time and no trim has to be removed.
The Rogue top mounts use a stiffener plate with threaded studs tacked on; a stiffener plate like this is available from BMW for a couple of pounds (Item 16, REINFORCEMENT PLATE 51718413359 http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=CK92&mospid=48084&btnr=33_0459&hg=33&fg=45). I already had these from my old Z3 so I simply tapped out the studs from the original rear top mounts (they come out easily) and tack-welded them to the reinforment plates, placed them inside the car and bolted the rear shock (with the now studless mount) up from inside the wheel arch. I used a layer of silicon on the reinforcement plates so that they will stick to the wheel arch inside the car which should keep them in place enough when unbolted (I'm not sure how the Rogue mounts stay fixed inside the car/arch with the shock removed?).
I say free as it didn't cost me anything to do as I already had the bits (I bought the reinforcement plates when I had my 2.8 Z3) and they aren't "rebuildable" like the Rogue ones but the rear E36 M3 top mounts are so cheap from BMW you could buy 3 pairs for the price. But this could be done for less than £10 as long as you have or know someone with a welder just to tack the studs on to the plates.