Which rear shock mount should I get?

[Raffi]

I think my RSMs (E46 M3 stock ones) are shot. My options are:

1. New E46 M3 RSMs (about $45);
2. Rogue's ($90);
3. Ground Control's ($98); or
4. TC Kline's ($110-$150).

My car is driven extensively at the car. I don't care about noise.

TIA.

[Pinecone]

Not 1).

The others are pretty comparable. I have GCs on the Roadster. Set int eh full stiff position, and other than one stretch of I-85 with mondo tar strips, they are fine. I think all three are bottom mount, which is a BIG deal for the next time you pul them.

[Kaz]

I've had the REs in for a week now (Raffi was there when I installed em) and so far, so good. They don't seem any 'harsher', though since I also replaced the shocks at the same time, it's pretty much impossible to say what's causing what. I've seen the GCs that have the moon-shaped top mount bracket, and it seems to float... doesn't do anything for reinforcing the mount area at all.

[doeboy]

My car is driven extensively at the car.

Huh? :dunno:

:angel: :D

[operknockity]

Not 1). Why not? I have to do my RSMs as well, and I got the E46 M3 RSMs and the Z3 reinforcement plates.

[Plaz]

Why not? I have to do my RSMs as well, and I got the E46 M3 RSMs and the Z3 reinforcement plates.

Ja, that's what I went with. :dunno:

[Andre Yew]

Raffi,

If this helps any, Bimmerworld carries the GC RSMs for $89, and that's where I got them. They seem to be on backorder right now though. I have them set in the stiff position (nipples in --- why do cars parts always sound vaguely dirty?), and didn't notice any additional harshness with the stock suspension. I'm now on Bilstein Sport shocks, H&R sport springs, and UUC sways, and whatever NVH the RSMs may add are masked by the creaking UUC mounts and stiffer suspension.

The half-moon design that Kaz mentions is the model for convertibles where there isn't enough space on the shock tower to support the entire plate. For coupes like ours, it basically looks like one of Ron Stygar's reinforcement plates: bolts tack-welded to a normal reinforcement plate. If you order it from Bimmerworld, they call the convertible version the "older design".

Operknockity,

The standard BMW design will always fail because it is mechanically wrong. The motions of the shock will eventually separate the inner metal sleeve from the rubber insulation. The GC and Rogue designs are immune to this effect.

Be careful with the GC urethane not to tighten it too much down or you may damage the shock by restricting it too much. I think Pinecone or someone here has mentioned this in the past --- a search should turn something up.

--Andre

[operknockity]

The standard BMW design will always fail because it is mechanically wrong. The motions of the shock will eventually separate the inner metal sleeve from the rubber insulation. The GC and Rogue designs are immune to this effect. I understand that that is what will happen eventually. But I'm also of the understanding that it will not happen as fast with the E46 M3 RSMs as it does with the stock E46 sedan RSMs (some say they'll last 3 times longer). I can live with that, considering that my stock ones have lasted a tad more than 3 years.

And, I had gotten the E46 M3 ones from the dealer because it was convenient and quick (assuming they had them in stock when I went in to buy 'em) and I was going to be doing them the following weekend. Alas, that plan went all kaput when the RSMs were not in stock.

[Kaz]

The standard BMW design will always fail because it is mechanically wrong. The motions of the shock will eventually separate the inner metal sleeve from the rubber insulation. The GC and Rogue designs are immune to this effect.


The interesting thing I discovered when installing the RE ones, though, is that it, too, has a metal sleeve with the two rubber donuts around it. The difference being the mount plate piece is sandwiched between the two donuts.

[Raffi]

Thanks for the help, guys. :thumbup:

Operknockity and Plaz, the E46 M3 RSMs just don't take track abuse that well, which is why they are getiing knocked down.

Operknockity, want to order at the same time I do so we can save on shipping?

doeboy: :throw:

[operknockity]

Operknockity and Plaz, the E46 M3 RSMs just don't take track abuse that well, which is why they are getiing knocked down.
Define "don't take track abuse that well". Are they better than the stock E46 sedan RSMs at taking track abuse? If so, then for the amount of tracking I currently do, they'll prolly be fine for a while.

You know, I did a heap of searching/reading about RSMs here, E46Fanatics, Bimmerforums, and one or two others, and I really couldn't figure out which of the aftermarket RSMs to get. I'm still not a full blown track junkie yet and I have yet to autocross (which I do wanna at least try a few times), so I fell back on the least common denominator which is the E46 M3 RSMs with the Z3 reinforcement plates.

The RE onces that Kaz just put in sound appealing, but I don't have as much of a hassle with getting to them that he does in the wagon, so having the "up side down" design of the RE RSMs does sound like it would buy me all that much unless I need to change them a hell of a lot more often.

And like I said, at the time I was hoping to get 'em done at Hack's place that weekend a few weeks back, so the quickest path for me was the BMW ones. Now that that plan went belly up, I have the luxury of more time to think about aftermarket ones, but now I would have to put up with the hassle of selling the stock ones that I have or else eat the cost.

Operknockity, want to order at the same time I do so we can save on shipping?
Thanks for the offer. Send me an e-mail, if you would, with what you are planning to buy and from where. Or we could just talk about one evening later this week (or this weekend if things are still a go and you'll be there).

[doeboy]

doeboy: :throw:

:rofl: :angel: ;)

[Raffi]

:rofl: :angel: ;)
:slap:

:p :D ;)

[AG]

JT-Designs also makes an RSM.
http://store.yahoo.com/jtdesigns/suspension.html

It's not a bottom mount (neither is the TCK) but the bushing is accessible from the top. You can get the Rouge re-inforcement plates that will make them bottom mount. I use the Rouge plates with the TC Kline rubber mounts on my 330i.

Also, the Turner Motorsport website lists a number of options.

[Nick325xiT 5spd]

If you *really* don't care about noise, GC or TCK solids are superb.

[Raffi]

If you *really* don't care about noise, GC or TCK solids are superb.
Well, ok, I don't want to put up with that much noise either! :D

[Nick325xiT 5spd]

Well, ok, I don't want to put up with that much noise either! :D
Teh funny thing is that the amount of noise they make seems awfully variable. They're dead silent in my M3, and loud as all get out in the 323.

[Pinecone]

Check how much they are tightened.

The reason for not 1) is that they fail, and while not as quickly as non-M ones, why bother putting in a part that you KNOW will fail and have to be replaced, and doesn't make the replacing any easier?

My choice is GC.

[Raffi]

Check how much they are tightened.

The reason for not 1) is that they fail, and while not as quickly as non-M ones, why bother putting in a part that you KNOW will fail and have to be replaced, and doesn't make the replacing any easier?

My choice is GC.
Thanks.

[phrider]

Just to make a late addition to the confusion, there are the less expensive and less stiff Meyle RSM replacements.

I was going to go with RE reinforcement and the Meyle, but haven't gotten to it (and John Handal at EMW talked me out of it).

[AndyM]

If you decide to go with the Rogue RSMs, let me know and I will help you out on the price quite a bit.

[Kaz]

If you decide to go with the Rogue RSMs, let me know and I will help you out on the price quite a bit.

Hey, how come nobody mentioned this a month ago?

[Raffi]

Hey, how come nobody mentioned this a month ago?
Did you start a thread on it? :dunno:


:neener:

[Raffi]

If you decide to go with the Rogue RSMs, let me know and I will help you out on the price quite a bit.
Cool; how much?

[operknockity]

Cool; how much?
I sent you an e-mail about it.

[Raffi]

I sent you an e-mail about it.
:thumbup:

[AndyM]

I sent you an e-mail about it.

Replied. :thumbup:

On some products, I prefer not to post special pricing. If we carry something you need, let me know and I will do my best to help out the bimmerfest crowd.

[operknockity]

Replied. :thumbup:

On some products, I prefer not to post special pricing. If we carry something you need, let me know and I will do my best to help out the bimmerfest crowd. I figured that if you wanted the prices to be public knowledge that you'd have posted them in the thread, rather than me posting info from a PM in to the thread.