Rogue Engineering Trans Mounts

[JeffchaPz]

Hey Dudez... well, I changed mine yesterday afternoon. I used the neo... from RE. I must admit that taking things apart was pretty easy but things don't go back in the same order - making things pretty difficult, if you don't have the right tools to screw/tight the top nuts on the trans mounts.... you'll be Ph*CkT for lack of better words.

Thank God my neighbor is another gear hear and has better tools than I and he saved the day. I recommend that you try to loose the top nut on the oem mounts before you remove anything... if you can get to them and loosen the nuts.... then you will have no problem screwing the new ones in place.... you'll see what I mean.

After 2-3 hours of wrestling my trans and the drive shaft, I went up took a shower and got ready to go for a test drive, I jumped in the car threw in neutral and started it up, about 20 secs later I threw the car in 1st and with a panic face I said OH SH*T! shifting from neutral to 1st felt so smooth that for a split second I thought "I messed up my trans..." threw it back in neutral and paid a closer attention on how 1st engaged and felt..... slowly I let the clutch go and the car moved forward.... UFFF what a relieve. 1st gear is butter smooth now. 2nd is less notchy and engages faster. I know it sounds stupid, but I totally love my upgrade. if you hate your 1st gear..... do this upgrade, it improves the way the trans accepts the gears a lot softer and to be honest makes shifting half a sec faster = less fighting or keeping an eye on the right RPM so you can shift. Now I can shift from 1st to 2nd at 2.5 RPM if I want with no grinding. Shifting at 3.5 RPMs or higher makes any gear butter smooth.

[Beedub]

Originally Posted by JeffchaPz

Hey Dudez... well, I changed mine yesterday afternoon. I used the neo... from RE. I must admit that taking things apart was pretty easy but things don't go back in the same order - making things pretty difficult, if you don't have the right tools to screw/tight the top nuts on the trans mounts.... you'll be Ph*CkT for lack of better words.

Thank God my neighbor is another gear hear and has better tools than I and he saved the day. I recommend that you try to loose the top nut on the oem mounts before you remove anything... if you can get to them and loosen the nuts.... then you will have no problem screwing the new ones in place.... you'll see what I mean.

After 2-3 hours of wrestling my trans and the drive shaft, I went up took a shower and got ready to go for a test drive, I jumped in the car threw in neutral and started it up, about 20 secs later I threw the car in 1st and with a panic face I said OH SH*T! shifting from neutral to 1st felt so smooth that for a split second I thought "I messed up my trans..." threw it back in neutral and paid a closer attention on how 1st engaged and felt..... slowly I let the clutch go and the car moved forward.... UFFF what a relieve. 1st gear is butter smooth now. 2nd is less notchy and engages faster. I know it sounds stupid, but I totally love my upgrade. if you hate your 1st gear..... do this upgrade, it improves the way the trans accepts the gears a lot softer and to be honest makes shifting half a sec faster = less fighting or keeping an eye on the right RPM so you can shift. Now I can shift from 1st to 2nd at 2.5 RPM if I want with no grinding. Shifting at 3.5 RPMs or higher makes any gear butter smooth.

Good info...

[beta]

JeffchaPz how would you rate the increase (if any) of NVH?

[JeffchaPz]

Originally Posted by beta

JeffchaPz how would you rate the increase (if any) of NVH?

__________________________________________________ _______

It depends... if you drive with your right hand on the lever... you will feel more vibration. but if you don't.... trust me you won't be able to tell the difference in any NVH. but if you still want a # then I'll say = 7.30389% more

Trust me it won't bother you and you'll love shifting more around town.

[BIMMERGUY91]

Glad to hear your results are the same as mine. This is must for ANY BMW not just our car. They all use the same shitty transmission mounts.

[gtMc]

Have also experienced all the issues mentioned everywhere about shifting. Between this thread and the sticky thread on tranny mounts and talking to Dubbed and others... I've gotta do this stuff too now.

ZHP done, Zeck CDV ordered, now adding the RE mounts, and hopefully getting both installed Monday, maybe a clutch stop as well. So much for 'keeping it 100% stock'...

[BIMMERGUY91]

I wanted to keep mine 100% stock too but the thing is there are mods that really make the car so much more enjoyable. I have not done 1 mod that hasnt been a 100% improvement and none of them have had any downsides.

[gtMc]

Yeah im starting to gather that many upgrades make so much sense, as I read thru threads. Glad im starting here with the tranny issues. I just need to resist building something crazy that'll get me into trouble.

And I'll do the clutch stop too. So, the 4 basics of tranny stuff. ex #5 the fluid.

[Finnegan]

Originally Posted by gtMc

Have also experienced all the issues mentioned everywhere about shifting. Between this thread and the sticky thread on tranny mounts and talking to Dubbed and others... I've gotta do this stuff too now.

ZHP done, Zeck CDV ordered, now adding the RE mounts, and hopefully getting both installed Monday, maybe a clutch stop as well. So much for 'keeping it 100% stock'...

It's easy to get carried away, but like you said, many of these upgrades make sense, and they're not that expensive. CDV delete, RE mounts, clutch stop are should be about 200 with installation (cheaper DIY). ZHP knob isn't that bad if you don't get the illuminated one.

The other thing worth considering are camber washers if you plan to Autox or take the car to the track. 20 bucks or so if you DIY the install, and 100-150 for a good alignment.

Stubby antennas look good too, and are damn cheap (Mangowalk, 15 bucks). Or you can DIY a stubby yourself by popping off the plastic tip, cutting down the antenna, and popping the tip back on.

From there, it's a slippery slope downhill to cosmetic improvements, wheels, coilover suspensions, exhaust systems, supercharger kits, and BBKs, I'm already on that slope!

[DataStream18]

I installed mine last weekend with the pucks and I prefer the stock over the new ones, but i do notice smoother shifts but more noise. I love the total feel of it, to me you feel more connected to the car but almost excessive maybe? Idk, overall I'm happy!

*Edit* I'm inebriated and just figured out its UUC, not RE apologize

[Finnegan]

Originally Posted by DataStream18

I installed mine last weekend with the pucks and I prefer the stock over the new ones, but i do notice smoother shifts but more noise. I love the total feel of it, to me you feel more connected to the car but almost excessive maybe? Idk, overall I'm happy!

*Edit* I'm inebriated and just figured out its UUC, not RE apologize

UUC are black poly; RE are neoprene. Poly is much stiffer, and transmits more noise and vibration; neoprene has more isolation and isn't as stiff. The RE would give you the same improvements w/o the downsides. If you're going to swap them out and back to stock consider going RE instead.

[DataStream18]

I think I'm going to do that, there is just a little to much noise for my liking. Now sober I have read through the thread and a lot of good info, thanks!

[Finnegan]

Originally Posted by DataStream18

I think I'm going to do that, there is just a little to much noise for my liking. Now sober I have read through the thread and a lot of good info, thanks!

Cool. Let us know how it goes. (You've seen the sticky on mounts, right?)

[gtMc]

Just got done making the run to Zeck and then Rogue. Zeck CDV and the RE trans mounts are now on, as well as RE clutch stop. Overall, a noticable improvement in shifting thru gears, esp into 2nd from any gear. And releasing the clutch is much better without the stock CDV, hardly any bucking under power. Not noticing any additional noises either. VERY happy with all of it.

Finnegan, i'm trying to avoid that slippery slope!

[Finnegan]

Originally Posted by gtMc

Just got done making the run to Zeck and then Rogue. Zeck CDV and the RE trans mounts are now on, as well as RE clutch stop. Overall, a noticable improvement in shifting thru gears, esp into 2nd from any gear. And releasing the clutch is much better without the stock CDV, hardly any bucking under power. Not noticing any additional noises either. VERY happy with all of it.

Finnegan, i'm trying to avoid that slippery slope!

Great! I'm glad you like these mods, and they're such great bang for the buck too! I'd almost put these under "repairs" or "fixes" rather than mods. (Nice way to split a hair wouldn't you say? )

As for that slope, man, it's a tough one once you're on it. Don't even go over to look at the slope--you'll be on it before you can say "oooopssss, weeeee!" See this example.

[Aries326]

Originally Posted by Finnegan

Great! I'm glad you like these mods, and they're such great bang for the buck too! I'd almost put these under "repairs" or "fixes" rather than mods. (Nice way to split a hair wouldn't you say? )

As for that slope, man, it's a tough one once you're on it. Don't even go over to look at the slope--you'll be on it before you can say "oooopssss, weeeee!" See this example.

I've got the new shift knob. I think the car does shift better. I'm considering the Zeck CDV but I've read people comment on other threads that's its not really necessary and you really just need to get used to shifting on the Z4. The clutch stop I'm considering. The RE Transmission mounts should be easy to for my brother to do (he's the mechanic in the family) but I wouldn't want "us" to go through the pain of installing it if it doesn't make a huge difference. Out of all the mentioned upgrades, which one really helped shifting and making the car more enjoyable the most?

[BIMMERGUY91]

The mounts for sure

[Finnegan]

Originally Posted by BIMMERGUY91

The mounts for sure

Agreed, Rogue Engineering neoprene recommended.

I'd say CDV delete (or Zeckhausen) as well. I'm biased, and a CDV hater. After driving stick for 30 years I'll decide when and how much the clutch engages. It's so much easier to be consistent and shift smoothly without it. With it, I was always trying to adjust for the CDV's interference. If you're out of warranty, you can just delete the CDV, no need for the Zeckhausen.

[johanness]

Originally Posted by Aries326

I've got the new shift knob. I think the car does shift better. I'm considering the Zeck CDV but I've read people comment on other threads that's its not really necessary and you really just need to get used to shifting on the Z4. The clutch stop I'm considering. The RE Transmission mounts should be easy to for my brother to do (he's the mechanic in the family) but I wouldn't want "us" to go through the pain of installing it if it doesn't make a huge difference. Out of all the mentioned upgrades, which one really helped shifting and making the car more enjoyable the most?

The people in 'other threads' who say the Zeck CDV (or Delete) isn't necessary, have not experienced the difference. Finnegan is bang on.

[gtMc]

In strong agreement with you guys on these last couple posts. Aries, I did them all at once, but knowing what to expect from each one serately helped me appreciate the real impact of them together.

I'd def give the CDV a try, whats the worst that happens if you fall into the supposed camp of not noticing a difference..... then youre out a few bucks and a little time. I doubt that happens though. And do the mounts for sure (now I'm even thinking motor mounts). (that darn slippery slope)

Ironically, the clutch stop was the afterthought as I decided on the way to Rogue, to get that too. And thats the one you notice first instantly, marked difference. Make sure you tell the guys at RE to trim the length of the clutch stop bolt. I forget, but I think they either trim 20mm off of it, or they trim it to a total length of 20mm. But they will know....

[BIMMERGUY91]

I was going to say that the clutch stop made a nice difference too I immediately loved the change. Just go to lowes and make one that's what I did no problems at all

[Shipkiller]

Alright, someone please educate me on just who, what, why, when a clutch stop can, using some elses words on this board, 'dramatically change' how your clutch feels?

Please, because I just don't get it. Am I missing something? Maybe I am. I just don't know.