HDI Engine Cover Dampers & Clips

[trufflehunt]

Went out today to check the fluid levels.

Saw that 2 of the engine cover clips were missing.
On closer examination, the dampers had broken at the top, so presumably the
clips had fallen away. And on a third damper, the rubber was almost separated from the metal base.

Absolutely incredulous. The full set was new off ebay about 6 weeks ago.

I do realise that these parts from the dealers hardly have a wonderful reputation for long life, but they
must be better than this.

Except at £6 each, that seems excessive to me.
So question is...

Are the genuine parts from the dealers of significantly better quality ?
I can't believe a dealer would dare sell something with a projected life measured in weeks.
If the dealer items have a better life, then they must somehow be available cheaper through some other channel.

Who ? Any recommendations at all?

[steve_earwig]

Are the genuine parts from the dealers of significantly better quality ?

Oh yes indeed, they might even last 6 months...

Any recommendations at all?

Renault exhaust rubbers with wing nuts. Similar to this lot http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-0-HDI-Engin ... 1058534160

I myself got open nuts, opened up the clips, took out the spring, sweated the nuts into the clips and held them there with epoxy.

[grasmere59]

I bought 2 from the dealers last week and they were just over £9 the pair.I'd rather pay that than the ebay ones as I've been there done that and they are rubbish.

[GingerMagic]

I read a thread on a forum a while ago, may have even been on here, where someone did a ' how to ' replace the rubber pins with stuff you might find in your shed etc.

Have a look around Goooooogle.

[jasper5]

The Renault 5 exhaust mounting bobbins are bullet proof, they will last forever used as engine cover mounting points.I've been using them for years.

There is another method of repairing these (one of many) ...get 4 x 6mm bolts, 4 x washers and some strong rubber hose pipe...cut the pipe just a bit longer than the old rubber mountings and screw the cover down using the rubber hose as insulator and the bolts as the hold down method.

[trufflehunt]

Thanks all. I'll go down the Renault rubbers route.

Andrew

[azazel]

They seem to shear off at the base where the rubber joins the metal. I have successfully glued them back togeather with superglue and they have lasted a year so far.

[Quinny]

I concur with Steve and Jasper about the Renault bobbins, as that is what is on my car, and strangely enough, the originals that I have salvaged, will be used on the Wife's Xsara.