Questions about Motor Mount Replacement
 

I have a C7 2012 A6. The motor mounts are going bad. I have looked through the procedure and it looks pretty straightforward and a good job to do to save $1000 or so. But I have a couple of questions.

First, is it necessary to drop the oil cooler as the procedure indicates or can you do it without doing that? Not that big a deal but it makes it more of a pain having to catch the oil and replace the gasket. I'd rather not dump the oil if I don't need to. I just had a service interval done which included the oil change so a change isn't due.

Second, the procedure indicates that the retaining plates should be replaced along with the mounts. Those are around $30 each and it doesn't seem like a part that would need replacement. If you've done it, did you replace those?

Third, the left coolant hose only needs to be moved out of the way, correct? The coolant doesn't have to be dumped does it?

And Fourth, I see others have jacked the engine from below. I worry about damaging the oil pan doing that. The procedure calls for using an engine support bridge and threaded spindles to raise it the required 20mm. Couldn't you just use an engine hoist with a load leveler hooked to the 2 lifting eyes?

Thank you,

Scott