BMW Z3 Shaking When Idle: Engine Mount or Something Else?

Hey there! I had a similar issue with my 2005 BMW Z4 last month. Initially thought it was the engine mount too, but turned out to be faulty spark plugs and ignition coils. The symptoms were identical, rough idle, vibrations, and check engine light. Took it to the garage and they diagnosed it after running some tests. Had to replace three ignition coils and all spark plugs. Not a major repair in terms of engine health, but definitely something that needed immediate attention to prevent any damage to the catalytic converter. If I were you, I'd ask the mechanic to specifically check: 1. Spark plugs condition 2. Ignition coils 3. Fuel injectors 4. Then engine mounts The repair was straightforward once properly diagnosed. Just make sure they show you the old parts so you can see the wear yourself. My car runs smooth as butter now. Good luck with yours!

Hey, that's exactly what happened to my Z3 last year! Totally agree about the spark plugs and ignition coils, they can cause all sorts of weird vibrations. Can't remember if you mentioned how much you ended up paying for the whole job? Just curious because prices seem to vary quite a bit these days. Also, has everything been running smoothly since the repair? Mine's been good so far, but I'm always paranoid about these things coming back to haunt me, you know?

Hey again! Thanks for asking about the follow-up. Actually, I need to correct my previous response, while I initially thought it was the spark plugs and coils, it turned out to be a defective engine mount after all! The mechanic found it during inspection and fixed it right away. The main issue was actually a faulty cable/plug connection component, which cost me 95€ to fix. Much cheaper than I expected! Since getting it sorted, my Z4's been running like a dream, no more annoying vibrations or shaking. It's honestly like driving a different car now. I get what you mean about being paranoid though, these older BMWs can be tricky sometimes! But I've put about 2,000 km on it since the repair without any issues. You're right about repair prices varying a lot. I'd say I got pretty lucky with the cost on this one. How's your Z3 holding up now? Still running smooth after last year's fixes?

Thanks for the update! Funny enough, I just got back from the mechanic today. Turned out my current issue was actually a combination of problems, worn spark plugs and a cracked vacuum hose. The total bill came to around 200 for parts and labor, which wasn't too bad considering I was expecting much worse! The mechanic found the issues pretty quickly and showed me the old parts. The spark plugs were completely shot, no wonder the car was shaking so much! He also pointed out the vacuum hose crack, which apparently was causing some of the rough idling. I took it for a test drive after the repair, and wow, what a difference! No more shaking, and it feels much more responsive. I'm still keeping my fingers crossed that this fixes everything, but so far, it's running great. Definitely a relief it wasn't anything more serious like I initially feared. Thanks again for sharing your experience, it really helped me know what to look out for!