My 2000 Acura TL needs a motor mount replacement. The main front one per my mechanic. He is saying to just let the car go instead of putting more money into it. The car has 172K miles on it. No other issues besides that currently.
My question is, should I get the $60 part from a non OEM auto parts store or get it from the Acura dealer? I have heard that aftermarket motor mount increase vibrations compared to the OEM ones.
My friend is going to help me change the motor mount out so labor is technically free.
Does anyone in the community have any suggestions which way to go?
Thank you in advance for your help.

 

Well, hard to tell without looking at the car. I mean, I could imagine if the motor mount required a TON of labor or other parts to be replaced in order to get it taken care of; but this is just the front motor mount.

does the car shift OK? no check engine lights? if so...let er ride!

$60 or even $160 (oem) is still less than a month's financing on a new car.

 

Front mount is slightly tricky. You basically have to jack up the engine so that it clears the mount before you can replace it. It's been a long time since I changed mine, but there were instructions on the DIY section. Take a look at the instructions and see if it's something you and your friend can handle. Even if it's something you have to pay a mechanic for, the math works out unless you have other problems (transmission starting to slip, etc.) with the car.

 

Even though it'll cost more money, I'd bite the bullet and get the OEM mount for the front or the rear. They both tap into the vacuum lines and use some hydraulic wizardry to cancel out engine vibrations. The side mount does not, just FYI.

 

Thank you for your replies. I am going to get the front motor mount and replace it this Saturday.