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Just installed Z3 steering rack
Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 8:57 am
by E30_Pilot
My old steering rack was dying and so I decide to upgrade to a Z3 rack.
So I just finished installing it last night(tuesday). And wow it feels so sharp and tight(thats the best I could come up with)
I didn't really "test" it out,but I could feel the differences based on regular driving/parking.
I couldn't get pics during the install,cause my sister took the camera with her.
Next up...supension!
Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 9:09 am
by Demlotcrew
SO it fits in with out the need to fab anything up?
Andrew
Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 9:40 am
by Giggz
Very interested to know details on this one. Was it a straight swap then? What sort of difficulties(if any) did you encounter?
Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 11:03 am
by Stevin
Me 2 ... cause I need 2 replace mine, should do it while the engine is out... but cash is short
Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 11:15 am
by Morat
IF this is a drop-in replacement, Z3s are going to become an endangered species as us E30 owners hunt them down for their gear levers and steering racks
Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 11:24 am
by Geeman
Did you have to manufacture any bespoke parts for it...? What about the hoses...? Standard ones fit?
Sounds interesting if this is the case...
Giles
Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 6:23 pm
by E30_Pilot
I should've mention that I ordered the "kit" from Zionville Autosports.
The only thing you need to modify is the steering linkage
and the High Pressure hose. I have the instructional CD,but didnt use it.Didn't even open it.
The CD comes in handy if you did not buy the entire "kit" from Zionsville. Because they show exactly how you need to modify your steering linkage for the new rack. They don't show how the high pressure hose needs to be modified though. But they mention that it needs to be modified, but don't show how. My car is non-airbag. I think for airbag cars, you need to do
some extra stuff.
Other than that,it fits. The Z3 does bolt up fits to the e30 mounts.
There's a guy on r3vlimited that is going to do the swap
also. Hopefully he'll be more detailled with pics unlike me
Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 9:32 pm
by Martinaston
E30_Pilot
I take it your car is left hand drive ? (it's a bit more work for a right hand drive).
And did you just mount the rack in the forward holes in the subframe ?
Cheers
Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 9:33 pm
by Dan318-is
What car also mate; a 325i i take it?
Posted: Fri Mar 03, 2006 6:04 am
by E30_Pilot
-Martinaston
Yes, it's LHD. And yes I just
mounted the rack in the forward holes in the subframe. No drilling or anything.
It's like replacing the old rack with a e30 one.but instead
I used a Z3 rack.
-318-is
my car is a '87 325is
Posted: Fri Mar 03, 2006 11:56 am
by Martinaston
Cheers
It sounds pretty simple for the left hand drive cars, with the right hand drive ones it's a bodge on top of BMW's original bodge to make it right hand drive
Posted: Fri Mar 03, 2006 8:02 pm
by Morat
How many turns lock to lock do you get with the Z3 rack? (and do your indicators still cancel?)
Sounds tempting....
Posted: Fri Mar 03, 2006 8:17 pm
by E30Adam
This rack will not fit straight into a RHD E30 because the steering linkage comes too close to the exhaust downpipes.
The Z3 is very similar to the E36 rack which I have installed in my car. The linkage needs to be modified and there are still quite severe clearance issues that I haven't fully for over yet.
Posted: Sat Mar 04, 2006 7:17 am
by E30_Pilot
E30Adam wrote:This rack will not fit straight into a RHD E30 because the steering linkage comes too close to the exhaust downpipes.
The Z3 is very similar to the E36 rack which I have installed in my car. The linkage needs to be modified and there are still quite severe clearance issues that I haven't fully for over yet.
the Z3 is 2.7 turns, i think the E36 is 3 turns. But yes they're similar.
I didn't think about the exhaust downpipes for RHD e30's. But i can picture what is happening.