Hydraulic engine mounts don’t always fail quietly.

In this Inside the Brands episode, CRP Automotive looks at what happens when a hydraulic engine mount collapses and how a small, missed issue can turn into a much bigger repair.

Hydraulic mounts are designed to improve ride quality by isolating vibration and noise, but when they fail, they can lose height and “pancake”, allowing excessive engine movement. That movement can lead to secondary damage, including contact with the cooling fan, fan shroud, or even the hood.

Using a BMW E46 as an example, this video shows how a failed mount allowed the engine to jump far enough to cause visible damage. In this case, there were no obvious leaks, which made the failure harder to spot during a quick inspection.

This video covers what collapsed hydraulic engine mounts look like.
Symptoms to watch for during inspection and test drive.
Why catching mount failure early can prevent costly secondary damage.

Simple checks like watching for vibration at idle or excessive engine movement when revving can help identify failing mounts before they create bigger problems.