BFI Stage 1 Engine & Tranny Mounts

[cablekibble]

Just installed bfi stg1 mounts and insert. Vibration is basically the same, but the noise is crazy loud. I can hear the synchros whine constantly, and the previously subtle SMF chatter is now worryingly loud and unending. I can live with this noise but I feel like the car is harming itself. I've been told that the SMF + sturdy mounts quickly wears down our 02Q transmission. Thoughts?

 

[GTI Jake]

Just installed bfi stg1 mounts and insert. Vibration is basically the same, but the noise is crazy loud. I can hear the synchros whine constantly, and the previously subtle SMF chatter is now worryingly loud and unending. I can live with this noise but I feel like the car is harming itself. I've been told that the SMF + sturdy mounts quickly wears down our 02Q transmission. Thoughts?

I’ve had BFI stage 2 mounts for 130k miles, & can confirm zero abnormal wear.

My DKM clutch did have a design flaw, which ruined the input shaft though.

 

[cablekibble]

I’ve had BFI stage 2 mounts for 130k miles, & can confirm zero abnormal wear.View attachment 279712

My DKM clutch did have a design flaw, which ruined the input shaft though.

was that dkm smf?

 

[GTI Jake]

was that dkm smf?

Of course, that had nothing to do with the failure. They got the offset of the discs (twin disc clutch) wrong so it was only partially engaged on the input shaft (which ruined the splines).

Every single DKM MS (aka stage 3) clutch built 2018~2021 has this design flaw BTW, so if you’re reading this and have that clutch get rid of it!

 

[wascally wabbitt]

Just installed bfi stg1 mounts and insert. Vibration is basically the same, but the noise is crazy loud. I can hear the synchros whine constantly, and the previously subtle SMF chatter is now worryingly loud and unending. I can live with this noise but I feel like the car is harming itself. I've been told that the SMF + sturdy mounts quickly wears down our 02Q transmission. Thoughts?

I'll echo Jake here. I've had my stage 2 BFI engine and tranny mounts for almost 50k miles without issues. The Stage 2 inserts produced insane NVH at low engine speeds for the first 20k miles or so. For the first 1000 miles in particular the drivetrain felt like you described, kinda like it was going to explode. At 50k miles it's still quite loud compared to normal cars, especially at low engine speeds under load (like a Soundaktor on steroids) but not even close to how loud they were for the first year or so. If I keep the car for another 100k, which I plan to, I'll probably going to replace them with Stage 1 inserts in 15k miles or so.

 

[MK7GTIJACOB]

Every single DKM MS (aka stage 3) clutch built 2018~2021 has this design flaw BTW, so if you’re reading this and have that clutch get rid of it!

Yikes!

 

[scrllock]

Depending where you are, it's worth noting that the stiffer poly mounts are much more livable in the warm months. 80F is a world of difference in harshness vs. low-mid 40s currently.

 

[GTI Jake]

Yikes!

It’s worse than it sounds, they’re a nightmare to deal with & in the end wasted months of my time. They left me further in the hole than before I contacted them (out shipping cost of sending my destroyed clutch & they kept my ARP hardware that “had to go back for warranty claims to be considered”).

 

[cablekibble]

I'll echo Jake here. I've had my stage 2 BFI engine and tranny mounts for almost 50k miles without issues. The Stage 2 inserts produced insane NVH at low engine speeds for the first 20k miles or so. For the first 1000 miles in particular the drivetrain felt like you described, kinda like it was going to explode. At 50k miles it's still quite loud compared to normal cars, especially at low engine speeds under load (like a Soundaktor on steroids) but not even close to how loud they were for the first year or so. If I keep the car for another 100k, which I plan to, I'll probably going to replace them with Stage 1 inserts in 15k miles or so.

Noted—I was worried mostly because I could specifically hear the synchros whining/scraping which I hadn't heard anyone else talk about.

 

[wascally wabbitt]

Noted—I was worried mostly because I could specifically hear the synchros whining/scraping which I hadn't heard anyone else talk about.

During the post-install settling-in period I was shocked by how much transmission and engine noise they transmitted to the cabin. Synchros, gear whine, engine noise. I was whelmed, lol. I can't comment on SMFW noise though.

As for SMFW and stiff mounts being hard on the 02Q transmission, SMFW and stiff mounts will always be harder on a transmission than plush mounts and DMFW. That said, the SMFW+poly mounts+02Q combo has existed since the FSI days of the Mk5, so if I were in your shoes I probably wouldn't sweat it unless you're routinely hard on it like dumping the clutch or sloppily shifting shifting especially while it's cold.

 

[cablekibble]

I was right. My transmission just blew, only 500 miles after I had the BFI mounts installed and ~2000 after the smf/southbend clutch installed. The worst part is, the shop that did the work is also my employer. Do you guys think I should try to pin this on them and ask them to partially cover the replacement? Or how screwed am I

 

[Brian_]

Were they obviously improperly installed? If not then can't really see how the shop would be at fault for anything. What failed in the transmission?

 

[cablekibble]

Were they obviously improperly installed? If not then can't really see how the shop would be at fault for anything. What failed in the transmission?

They won't tell me what failed... just said it critically failed and showed me a bottle of black liquid with silvery sparkles. I didn't see anything off but I don't have an eye for it, I usually just trust what they tell me. Lol. Lots of lessons being learned right now

 

[GTI Jake]

They won't tell me what failed... just said it critically failed and showed me a bottle of black liquid with silvery sparkles. I didn't see anything off but I don't have an eye for it, I usually just trust what they tell me. Lol. Lots of lessons being learned right now

Highly unlikely anything they did external to the transmission caused internal damage.

If the fluid is black it’s probably original (OEM fill looks dark after 40k miles). Not sure how many miles you have or if you’ve ever serviced the transmission

 

[Michael gti07]

I finally got around to installing the BFI transmission mount. What a bear!
Actually, I'm not done. I've a conflicting mod issue.
I had the ECS Master Brake Cylinder Brace. Super happy with it. I put it over the BFI, and its around 1/2" lower. Placing the foot too low to brace the end of the master.
Bending the battery support ears up a bit might help, but maybe difficult.
Suggestions ?
2019 gti rabbit dsg