Question 1

What symptoms tell you the BMW E46 engine mounts or transmission mounts are bad?

Accepted Answer

For me it was a vibration that showed up around town, especially sitting at a stop light with my foot on the brake. You can feel it transferring into the chassis and the body of the car. When I pulled the mounts, you could see they were collapsed and cracked, so they were definitely done.

Question 2

Do stiffer M3 engine mounts reduce vibration on a non-M E46?

Accepted Answer

Not in my case. I originally thought “stiffer is better,” but the more I chased the issue, the more it made sense that stiffer mounts can transfer more vibration instead of absorbing it. Switching back to fresh OEM-style mounts made the car feel way smoother.

Question 3

Do you have to remove the mechanical fan to replace E46 engine mounts?

Accepted Answer

If you have an automatic with the engine-driven fan, yes—because when you jack the engine up, the fan can hit the shroud. I’ve converted mine to an electric fan setup, so it wasn’t an issue for me. If you still have the clutch fan, pull the fan and shroud first so you don’t break anything.

Question 4

What tools do I need to replace BMW E46 engine mounts at home?

Accepted Answer

You need standard hand tools, plus a lot of extensions and a swivel socket to hit the top nut on the harder side. The top engine mount nuts are 16mm, and the aluminum stiffening plate uses 16mm bolts too. The only “special” thing I’d call out is the swivel socket—Harbor Freight stuff works fine.

Question 5

Why do you replace E46 engine mounts one side at a time?

Accepted Answer

The engine is tilted, so it wants to lift unevenly when you jack it. If you do both sides at once, it’s way easier for the engine to come down off-center and miss the stud, and then you’re fighting it. Doing one side at a time lets the engine pivot and makes it much easier to land it back on the mount safely.

Question 6

How do you access and remove the BMW E46 transmission mount nuts?

Accepted Answer

Everything back there is basically 13mm, but the top nuts are the annoying part because you’re working sideways with a wrench. I crack them loose, then because the bracket is forked, it’ll slide off once it’s loosened enough. On one side I had to put the car in neutral so I could rotate the driveshaft and get a better swing on the wrench.

Question 7

Where do the nubs on E46 engine and transmission mounts face?

Accepted Answer

On the engine mount, there’s a little locating nub that locks into a hole—so you turn the mount until you feel it seat. On the transmission mounts, the nub goes toward the outside to help locate it. Getting that orientation right saves you a lot of frustration when you lower everything back down.

BMW E46 Engine & Transmission Mount Replacement

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