NRG Engine Damper Fabrication and Install

(Undertaken 6/13/06)

The MINI engine is isolated from the frame with rubber engine mounts, which do a great job of isolating the occupants from engine vibrations and other nuisances, but also introduce a little give in the drivetrain.  This can be reduced to provide more positive takeoff when releasing the clutch by adding an engine damper.  These are used by many who modify Japanese cars, but there are few kits available for the MINI.  A NAMer called pfunk was importing kits from Japan and selling them for $180. 

I did some research and found that the damping units, which use polyurethane inserts, are pretty generic, it's really the mounting hardware that is MINI specific, and in fact differs from early to late models.  I bought the NRG damper unit for a Honda, then fabricated mounting brackets.

It looks like this: