'03 C4S with 50600 miles on it.

What would be telltale(if any) that I may need to consider replacing motor mounts?

THanks

 

I replaced mine a month or so ago (nearly exact same car/mileage as you). My passenger side tail pipe was sagging slightly was the only sign. It was an easy DIY job.

 

hmm. just replaced my second set since the car was new (147k miles) last weekend. While my tailpipe wasn't sagging, I replaced mine because I had a little difficulty shifting. Also, when I went to change the oil, there was quite a bit of movement of the engine and the tailpipes moved up quite a bit more (lifted from the rear middle to place jackstands on the rear).

So as a preventative measure, I replaced both before the mounts went on it, which would mean added strain on the transmission mount.

Easy. took 1/2 hour total.

 

on best mods for $500 and several posts mentioned, quite effusively, going to solid motor mounts (I'm assuming same as engine mounts?)

So what are the obvious, noticeable benefits? besides the not directly noticeable "less strain on engine / transmission engagement" which I'm aware of)

Thanks

 

My tail pipes were not sagging but replaced motor mounts anyway at 67000 miles as no records came with my car. Didn't really feel anything different in performance either. Both mounts had lengthened by about 1/2 an inch. Since then I changed plugs and Motul gear box oil and that DID make a BIG difference to performance and sound of car.

 

I just replaced mine a pair of weeks ago. It was a simple DIY and the car made great improvements. My only regret not doing it earlier!
Check the thread with the description of the issue I was having, the comments from the R'Listers, and my diagnosis/result.

https://rennlist.com/forums/996-foru...errerid=124894

 

Thanks for sharing - and for giving some of us less-mechanically inclined folks hope

 

I just changed mine to the rs mount and they have made a huge positive change to the car. The car feels solid. A big improvement to the stock unit.

 

There is an obvious difference. This is one of my old ones compared to a new one.

 

I have the same car ('03 C4S) and recently upgraded to RSS solid mounts. My car has 57K on the odometer and I track it a lot; I'd had problems with grinding gears a bit when downshifting into 2nd under load. That seems to be gone now. But the comment of "it feels more solid" rings true with me ... it's subtle but the car feels more like new again. And I get better "butt feel" for what the engine and transmission are doing now. Subtle, but a nice improvement.

 

For me it was passenger seat vibration, it was very noticeable, as well as the engine just felt a little more rough, if that makes sense. Once I had the new mounts in, it was an immediate difference...I noticed it before I even had it off my ramps. Just felt a lot more smooth, and the passenger seat vibration was gone. As they get older, they stop working as effeciently as they used to, but it is not necessarily noticeable until you put the new ones in. I have a '99 (build date '98) and did this early last year, so mine were roughly 14 years old.

 

I knew mine needed to be replaced when they started leaking oil. They were damaged by jacking the rear of the car up by the motor so don't do that.

 

The biggest improvement I've noticed on replacing the engine mounts, new OEM is improved stability when changing lanes on the highway. The car would 'crab' following the tram lines, at high speed while cornering this was some what off putting.
The exhausts were probably 1/2" low before replacement. Oddly enough I didn't notice a reduction in vibration a lot people talk about.

 

Just have my 99' 3.4L done, the passenger seat vibration is gone. Shifting is a lot smoother.

 

Do I need to jack the car up at all?

I am getting ready to order my replacement mounts for a 51K '03 C4S(vibration and odd exhaust tips.)

One question I have for those who have done this: All the DIYs I have read thus far start by jacking the car up first and then supporting the engine before the mount swap. The question: Is it imperative to jack the car up at all? I believe I have enough clearance for the jack and I am able to see the current mount tips fairly easily without even getting my head fully under the car(probably won't be able to rotate to be able to look up - feel that I have good visibility)

Has anyone done this without jacking the whole car/rearend up?