XC90 D5 vibrations groans and rattles

[RyanNotBryan]

DO NOT BUY AFTERMARKET ENGINE MOUNTS FOR YOUR DIESEL XC90

Owned our 2012 D5 XC90 for 8 years. 3 years ago discovered the engine mounts required replacing/bad vibrations. Couldn't buy aftermarket here in Australia so bought them through AutoDoc in the UK with a family member posting them to me. The part numbers I ordered are listed as direct replacements for the OE numbers I provided.

Part numbers: Price in pounds
247E0103 $53.38
2969601 $35.05
247E0052 $21.43
30144 $57.12
22673 $76.39

After fitment, still had similar groans and vibrations which led me down the garden path trying to resolve. Eventually, the first thing I discovered:

1) The lower torque mount was overall 13mm shorter than the OE part. It still fitted though.

2) The top torsion mount. The aftermarket inner rubber piece is a loose fit and allows too much swing when loaded back and forth. Also, the rubber density is different. The OE rubber is moulded to the metal structure. Aftermarket is terrible quality.

I fitted two OE mounts and the insane 80km/hr vibration, idling ignition key rattle, and left hand headlight vibrating in its mount was gone. There was still terrible groans/vibrations when accelerating and turning right under throttle.and various interior rattles.

After driving another 30000km, 35000km in total after initially replacing all 5 mounts with aftermarket. I finally cracked the shits and had another look..

3) Discovered the rear mount wasn't holding vacuum. Bought an OE genuine one. Upon comparing the two, the aftermarket one was 10mm shorter in height and overall appeared about 90% in size of the OE one. Fitted it and the difference was minimal. At least it wasn't leaking vacuum anymore..

4) I managed to convince myself that despite the r/h mount looking fine and intact, the groan under acceleration, particularly when turning right could be the issue. I bought an OE genuine one to replace it. Wow!! When I removed it. The issue was obvious. There was aluminium metal dust settled beneath it. The inner metal structure of the mount is not inset to the mount as far as the OE one. The inner part of the mount was resting on the chassis!! Also the rubber is far too soft and nowhere near the density and quality of the OE mount.

Finally after two years or so of going crazy, it was as simple as, the aftermarket mounts aren't worth the cost of a postage stamp. Absolute rubbish!! You know what? the genuine ones weren't that expensive being twice the cost and 50 times the quality and THEY ACTUALLY WORK AS INTENDED.

I can't help but wonder how many others have fitted these shit mounts and drive around with crazy vibrations, door trims rattling, headlights vibrating, steering wheel buzzing, pedals buzzing, and a general feeling of imminent doom.

Yes - I should have thoroughly compared before fitting but this was difficult with the originals being busted at the time.