DIY: Replacing Engine Mounts on 4.4i

[admranger]

Ok V8 owners, gather 'round for my tale of how to DIY the motor mounts, or if you prefer, engine mounts on my 2005 4.4i X5.

First of all, I didn't take any pics b/c when I got started I was using the DIY on Pelican Parts -- turns out it was only good for the 3.0 X5's...

Motor mounts:

2 of 22116770793

Torx bolts and mount nuts (if you want to be correct)

4 of 22111096940
2 of 33306760587

If you decide to change the front flex disc at the same time, you'll need the flex disc: 26117503159
And, if you want to be correct, the following bolts/nuts:

3 of 26117551225
3 of 26207564559
3 of 07129904473

Tools (that I remember) besides what you need to get the car in the air:

-E12 internal torx socket
-E18 internal torx socket
-3/8 stiff universal joint (floppy ones need not apply -- feed yours viagra or get a new one)
-3/8 extensions to get to 24 inches, or, if you are lucky like me, use your -Snappy 24" 3/8 extension
-3/8 ratchet wrench
-3/8 flex head ratchet wrench (just so you don't think I'm a tool snob, I used one from Harbor Freight since I didn't have one handy - Pittsburg brand and it worked great!)
-3/8 torque wrench
-16mm deep 3/8 socket
-16mm shallow 3/8 socket
-a couple pry bars
-1/2 ratchet
-18mm 1/2 socket
-16mm 1/2 socket (not mandatory, but the bolts on the flex disc are on there pretty tightly)
-16mm combination wrench
-jack and some scrap 2x4 or other wood block(s)
-10mm combination wrench -- you can use this on the e12 torx headed bolts on the motor mounts, but I don't advise it except for running them in when space is limited
-some grease
-a 2x4 about 12" long or so (to hold wheel away from X5 while you pry the half-shaft out)

Ok, so here's the step by step as I remember it (minus a whole lot of cursing).

Use the long 3/8 extension, regular 3/8 ratchet, and 3/8 universal joint (plus appropriate sockets) for the following two steps:

-Remove the front E12 torx bolt on the driver's side mount
-Remove 16mm nut from driver's side mount

Put the X5 in the air at this point.

-Remove stiffener plate (yeah, you're supposed to replace the bolts but no one does -- outside of some here)
-Remove the torx bolts and take the other motor mount nut off (flex head 3/8 ratchet will be your friend here!) -- also it may be useful to jack (and wood bits) the driver's side of the engine up a bit for access to the rear most torx bolt.

Now things get interesting...move the jack to the passenger side of the oil pan and jack it up as far as it will go (hint: the axle will hit the body, limiting how far things go).
-back the three front subframe bolts from the passenger side out 4-5 full turns, use a pry bar, if necessary, to give you room to twist the motor mount out -- even if you take them out all the way nothing bad will happen
-twist/turn/slide the new motor mount in
-slowly lower the jack while simultaneously snaking the motor mount stud through the hole in the support arm
-hand screw in the front and rear torx bolts and the nut on the motor mount stud -- do not tighten yet!
-if you totally unscrewed the subframe bolts then, screw them back in and then back out 4-5 turns

-Lower the jack and move to the driver's side of the oil pan, but do NOT jack that side up yet.

-use the 18mm 1/2 inch socket, 1/2 ratchet, and 16mm combination wrench to remove the bolt in the driver's side center control arm (at the engine end)
-use the 12" 2x4 to prop the wheel out from the body of the X5
-use your pry bar to pop the driver's side half-shaft out from the front diff, push the axle out of the way towards the rear of the car
-Use the 16mm 1/2 inch socket, 1/2 ratchet, and 16mm combination wrench to remove the front flex disc bolts out of the flex disc -- do the three that thread into the front diff first, then the three with the nuts
-use a pry bar to pry the front driveshaft all the way back as far as it will go (this will take some force, especially for those of you up north as the grease has dried up and there may be rust)
-take the flex disc out
-take the front drive shaft out, clean the splines (on the driveshaft and transfer case), and apply a good lube like molycoat or redline synthetic grease, set aside for reinstallation later
-Now jack the driver's side of the oil pan up
-Unscrew all the three e18 subframe all the way out
-Use the pry bar to pry the back of the front subframe down
-wiggle the driver's side motor mount out
-wiggle new motor mount in, lower the jack enough to get the motor mount stud through the hole (but not all the way), then hand tighten the E12 torx bolts, then tighten the rear E12 torx bolt with the socket and flex head ratchet
-put the axle shaft into the front diff
-lower the jack the rest of the way
-take the 12" 2x4 out and push the wheel in so the axle snaps back into place
-reattach the center control arm, but only hand tighten the nut as you have to have the wheel at ride height before torquing
-snug all the subframe bolts up, then torque to 100Nm (only torque value that I remember right now)
-tighten the passenger side torx bolts and the top nut
-reinstall the front driveshaft and flex disc (pay attention to the arrows on the flex disc)
-make sure you've tightened everything you loosened underneath the car
-put the car on the ground and tighen the top nut and torx bolt of the driver's side motor mount

drink heavily as you've successfully changed the motor mounts (and done some preventative maintenance on your front drive shaft splines).

[Junkycosmos]

admranger

Wow, thx for taking the time to write this up!

Were you showing signs of wear or symptoms, how many miles is your X at now?

Thx
J

[admranger]

Originally Posted by Junkycosmos

admranger

Wow, thx for taking the time to write this up!

Were you showing signs of wear or symptoms, how many miles is your X at now?

Thx
J

Yeah, I think I have carpal tunnel syndrome now.

I was getting a vibration at idle, park, in gear, neutral, so I took a stab at the motor mounts being the cause.

I'm at 95k miles now, so they weren't going to be in the prime of their lives anyway.

[BMWX5CHI]

Any difference ?

[admranger]

Originally Posted by BMWX5CHI

Any difference ?

It's still up on my lift due to the front flex disc that I ordered ended up being the wrong part in the right box...:roll eyes:

I'm putting her back together with the old flex disc tomorrow. New one won't be here for a few days it appears.

[admranger]

I put the old flex disc back in this morning. Started it up and the vibration was gone.

So, if you have a vibration at idle in park, one that goes away when you rev to 1k rpm, think motor mounts.

FWIW, mine did not have any leaks and looked to be in good shape, visually with no big cracks or anything.

[crystalworks]

Posting here to sub because mine need to be done... FOR SURE!

Thanks for taking the time to post the DIY... even with no pics it's priceless.

[admranger]

Originally Posted by crystalworks

Thanks for taking the time to post the DIY...

You are welcime.

Originally Posted by crystalworks

even with no pics it's priceless.

A lack of a soundtrack also spared your ears of some pretty 'discouraging words' that were spoken (yelled?) during the progress of this work. I went into full Bo Pelini mode more than a few times.

[ScoobyDooBMW]

I'm going to tackle this as soon as the weather breaks here. Snowing at the moment. I believe I can do this!!!

[GBorklu]

admranger I wish to thank you for this detailed DIY. It helped me a lot.

I don't recommend this operation to anyone without a lift I can not remember how many times I raised it up and down.

Also I did not remove the flex disc and taking out the axle created enough play zone to take the left side mount.

Thanks a lot!