Rogue Engineering Rear Shock Mounts for BMW 3-series/M3 (e30/e36/e46), Z3/MZ3, Z4/MZ4 (e85/e86)

Say goodbye to rear end clunks! With the legendary Rogue Engineering Rear Shock Mounts (RSMs) you have high-quality, rebuildable, easily serviceable parts, unlike the factory OE throwaway parts. Do not settle for imitations! Thousands of RSMs have already been sold to BMW enthusiasts!.

Fits the following vehicles:

• All 3-series (e30) - including the M3
• All 3-series (e36) - including the Z3 and 318ti
• All 3-series (e46) - including the M3
• All Z4 - including the MZ4

Rogue Engineering Rear Shock Mount (RSM) Components:

• Two (2) Rogue Engineering 6061-T6 CNC, Anodized Rear Shock Mounts
• Four (4) Shore A 60 Rubber Bushings (stiffer TRACK versions available at extra cost)
• Two (2) 303 Stainless Steel Bushing Spacers (to be used with standard 10mm rear shocks, remove these for 12mm)
• Four (4) 303 Stainless Steel Washers (2 required per mount)
• Four (4) Yellow Zinc plated M8 serrated lock nuts
• Two (2) Shock Tower Reinforcement Assemblies (with 10.9 hardware welded)
• Two (2) factory gaskets

Problems with Factory Mounts:
The factory BMW rear shock mounts are generally a little soft, to provide the most possible acoustically dampening in the vehicle. However, design precludes them from being stout enough to withstand the rigors of aftermarket suspension, or even badly damaged roads. A decent sized pothole can send a perfectly good factory rear shock mount to pop out, making it entirely useless necessitating replacement. Upgrading to E46 M3 rear mounts (a popular alternative) is not a guarantee that it doesn't happen again and again.

Because of poor design and extensive abuse, stock BMW rear shock mounts mounts often fail with rubber deteriorating which then allows the inner metal sleeve to start moving (or eventually separate from the rubber). Usually, this manifests itself as squeaking, rattling, clunking and deflection of the rear shock mount, leading to poor suspension performance and a great deal of annoyance. Replacing the RSM's with OEM units provides temporary relief, but invariably they fail again, usually in 20K miles or so, but often MUCH less when aftermarket high performance shocks are used.

What about those "heavy duty" factory style mounts?:
There has been the introduction of a factory style mount touted as "heavy duty", "taper-core", "ultimate", "stage 1" and many more marketing names. This revised version of a factory mount addresses a single issue (of many) problems with factory style mounts.

A rear shock typically exerts a load (F) on the rear shock mount. The claim being made by these "ultimate doodie" mounts is that the redesigned center steel core with "wings" (indicated by the blue arrows) prevent the center core from tearing, separating and falling through the bottom of the rubber mount. The problem which still exists, when the rubber deteriorates and fails. When cracking/tearing rubber begins at the top (highlighted in yellow), then entire rubber assembly (with very secure steel core!) comes down with it all.

Like factory mounts, these revised versions are not serviceable and only will only eventually take up room in the local garbage can when they fail. It's black-painted, stamped steel housing cannot resist corrosion the same way aluminum and 304 stainless steel.

Rogue Engineering Rear Shock Mount:
By producing a rear shock machined from 6061-T6 aluminum, we are able attain a more stable, and stiffer platform which to mount the top of the rear shock. However, rather than use race-only spherical bearings or even overly stiff urethane bushings, we specify Shore A 65 hardness rubber bushings (approximately 30% stiffer than the factory bushings) to allow for street comfort and compliance. Our findings show that overly stiff urethane bushings do not allow the rear shock to move, making the attachment of the lower part of the shock under strain.

The construction of the aluminum shock mount plate and orientation of the bushings makes it impossible for the bushings to "pop out" in the manner which the factory style mounts fail. Since the bushings are rubber, when they require replacement, rebuilding them takes only a matter of minutes. Only 4 bushings require replacement (for a pair of RSMs) and are sold for $6 for the set.

Other important details include the use of 303 stainless steel components (compression washers and spacers) for long-lasting corrosion resistance. All other hardware is metric, and either Grade 8 or better, treated with a yellow zinc plating, again for corrosion resistance.

Protection and Quick Installation/Removal:
Another unique feature is the reinforcement assembly which secures the rear shock mount to the vehicle. By reinforcing the top of the shock tower in the vehicle, it protect against the rear shock from ripping out the sheet metal.

Additionally, the reinforcement has its hardware welded to it, allowing for the rear shock mount to become a bottom-mount design. This means that if the rear shocks need to be removed, it only requires removing the two nuts and the single bolt at the bottom of the shock. Once installed, there is no need to completely disassemble the trunk area to gain access. If being used with a rear strut tower brace, the reinforcement assembly may be mounted from the bottom, so that the rear shock mount can be secured in the traditional manner.

The Rogue Engineering Rear Shock Mounts are designed to be used with standard 10mm shaft diameter rear shocks, but can also be used with 12mm shaft diameter shocks (shocks typically with top adjustments) with the use of optional top and bottom washers (or modifying the supplied ones, by opening them larger). Simply removing the center stainless steel shaft of the assembly allows for the larger diameter shock to then be used.

Photos of the Rogue Engineering Rear Shock Mount Installed Correctly:

Photo of the Rogue Engineering Rear Shock Mount Installed Incorrectly:

Photos of the Rogue Engineering Rear Shock Mount (RSM): (this is the older paint scheme. The current RSM that you will receive is identical, with the only changes being the color of the mount body (it is now black) and the color of the gasket, which is now green)

FAQ:

Q. I have a convertible. Why do I need to have modified plates?
A. Because of the different method of RSM installation in a convertible, the upper plates must be modified to accommodate and protect the tower. See pictures below, for a visual explanation.

Convertible top shows two access holes, to remove RSM nuts. However, no way of installing the plate on top.	The RE RSM plate, modified for convertible installation.
Closeup of modified plate installed. This is done entirely from within the wheel well.	Cutting the RSM plate into a "C" allows you to insert the plate into the large shock opening first. Fishing it into the hole will then require you to move the plate until it drops into position.

Q. I can't get a torque wrench on the top of my rear shock. How much should I tighten the top nut?
A. A visual indicator that you have enough preload is that the rubber bushings start to get "chubby". Over tightening the bushings will lead to too much compression of the bushings.

Q. I just installed Rogue Engineering RSMs and now I have a clunk from the back. What did I do wrong?
A. Check torque of top nut, making sure you have enough preload. Too much is also bad, as it prematurely wears out the bushings.

Q. Everybody on every forum recommends Rogue Engineering RSMs. Are they that good, or does Rogue Engineering pay each and every one of them for the advertising plug?
A. Your purchase allows Rogue Engineering to continue paying the thousands of people who already have Rogue Engineering RSMs, to tell others to buy them.

Q. Do you make RSMs for anybody else?
A. Yes.

Q. I have an M3 (e46) with Dinan Stage suspension. Are the RSMs compatible?
A. Yes. A customer recently thought Rogue Engineering RSMs were too "thick" causing the Dinan springs to fall out when on a lift. It turns out, the Dinan springs are spec'd short already, and they already fall out under full droop with stock RSMs in place.

Q. Will adding Rogue Engineering RSMs to my Dinan suspension bring the incredible performance to even higher levels of performance?
A. No. It will just provide your Dinan-stickered Koni shocks from pulling out of your rear shock tower.

Q. Can I get Rogue Engineering RSMs in a custom color?
A. No (except if ordering 150 units or more for resale).

Q. The pictures in this product listing show pewter (grey) colored plates, but the ones I received are black. What happened?
A. As of May 2008, Rogue Engineering decided to change the anodizing to black.

Q. Are Rogue Engineering RSMs made in China or Korea? Does Rogue Engineering use sweat shops to assemble them?
A. Neither. The aluminum plates are machined for Rogue Engineering by three different contract machine shops companies (one in Brooklyn, NY, one in Bergen County, NJ, the other in Perth Amboy, NJ). Anodizing is also done locally. The rubber bushings are custom made for Rogue Engineering in Ohio. The stainless steel "sleeve" is machined for Rogue Engineering in Bergen County, NJ on the oldest machine on the planet (Brown and Sharp). Rogue Engineering does not know where the factory paper gaskets come from, since they get those from a BMW dealer. Rogue Engineering are not sure of the origin of the flanged, serrated hardware either. Rogue Engineering does know that the yellow zinc plating is done in the US. The entire assembly is done here in Rogue Engineering's facility in Upper Saddle River, NJ.

Detailed Photos of the Rogue Engineering Rear Shock Mount (RSM): (this is the older paint scheme. The current RSM that you will receive is identical, with the only changes being the color of the mount body (it is now black) and the color of the gasket, which is now green)