Front engine mount

[JShadzi at aol.com]

In a message dated Wed, 21 Mar 2001  5:37:23 AM Eastern Standard Time, quk at isham-research.freeserve.co.uk writes:

<< I'm not sure I'd describe that as an 'upgrade'.  The purpose of
the original fitting is to push the engine under the car during a
frontal impact.  Is this function retained?>>

I don't see why it would'nt be, the only thing that is changed is the amount of movement allowed within the bracket.  The engine is still held in the same basic position, in the same basic way as the original brackets.

<<The engine is _supposed_ to move.  There is a noticeable lack of rigid struts between it and the bodywork.  On the later Type 44s, Audi introduced a quite complex compensation mechanism to the gearshift to make this movement even less noticeable to the driver - it would have been easier to anchor
the engine more solidly, but they didn't.>>

Yes, but WHY is it supposed to move...you imply some functional reason...I belive it is for no other reason than NVH.  A rigidly mounted engine is prone to increased vibration trasfer to the passenger compartment.  Those cushy, fluid filled mounts are for comfort in every respect.