power steering conversion and cambelt advice

[dan_cup]

Hello, im a newbie and this is my first post so be gentle!!

ive just got myself a 1987 320i saloon in alpine white.

shes bit rough round the edges but not bad for 121k.

anyway i was wondering is it possible to convert it to power steering and if so wheres the best place to be getting the parts i need?

also ive just bought and cambelt and im going to give this a go. is it a major job?

im going to have a search through to forum but just asking the question for now.

im also looking for a lip spolier for the boot and whether the fog lights are a generic size, if anyone could help with that also. thanks

Dan

[eamo]

anyway i was wondering is it possible to convert it to power steering and if so wheres the best place to be getting the parts i need?

yes it is. all parts are readily available and come up for sale quite often in the for sale section. all you need is the rack (your own tie rods will do) ps belt, ps pump and bracket, ps reservoir and hoses

also ive just bought and cambelt and im going to give this a go. is it a major job?

its not too bad - depends on what your like with a spanner. if i were you id replace the tensioner and water pump while your at it as well.

im also looking for a lip spolier for the boot and whether the fog lights are a generic size, if anyone could help with that also

again check the for sale section - these come up from time to time as well. you'll need the pre face lift fogs for your car as yours is a chrome bumper model. the wire to connect into the back of them is already there. all you need after that is the switch and relay number k8

by aboard!

[Dave_M3]

For the steering, you'll need the PAS rack, pump, resivoir and steering column U-Joint coupling and of course a new belt to drive the pump

Easy enough to fit, just a case of bolting the stuff on.
Best place to look would be a scrapies nearby or ask in the wanted section here since somebody will surely have it or maybe Spadge or Chris-W on here might have everything you need to convert it

Could also put an e36 or E46 rack in while your at it but it's a little bit more work and costs a abit more however the improvement in steering and feel is worth it.

Cambelt on an M20 is an easy enough, Rad, fan, waterpump hosing, and pulleys have to come off to get the timing covers off alright and it's nearly easier to take the bonnet off for space and ease of access but the job is far from complicated. Change the stat and waterpump while you are in there too
Loads of threads and guides on here floating about anyway on it.

Also try the wanted section for the lip spoiler and fogs
The Fogs are different for the pre-facelift and facelift cars alright, The first having square shaped ones and the later having ones that are curved at one side


***EDIT***
Arrrgh
beat me to it, Eamo

[FlappySocks]

Get a E36 rack or better still a Z3 rack. Standard racks are disappointing.

[dan_cup]

thanks for the rapid response guys, take it the water pump and stat can be got from local motor factor places?

im quite competant with the spanner i have changed cambelts on other cars before.

how much extra work is the E36 rack? i dont want to be throwing too much money at the car.

[FlappySocks]

Plenty of info on E36/Z3 if you search. No extra work in your case, except in getting the bits you need, which may cost a bit more. It does transform the steering, particularly a Z3 rack.

[dan_cup]

ive found a power steering package for £50, i presume this is a good price?

[Dave_M3]

Yep, that's a good price alright

E36 racks go for abit more just on they're own and you then need to get the bits to make it fit. I know what you mean about not wanting to throw too much money at the car, May be better to just put in the E30 PAS rack and see how it goes since you can't go wrong for 50 quid if the pump is a good one.

The bad thing about the E30 rack is it's very slow as in around 4 turns lock to lock,
The E36 racks are around 3.4 which means steering input is far less and plus the racks are usually in better nick since they are newer

E46 racks are abit better still being newer again.

Z3 racks are then only 2.7 turns which totally transforms the car but they are really hard to find

[dan_cup]

ah right very good now i understand why they are a better rack,

the only reason im after the PAS is with the non PAS being so heavy shes a bit hard to control when the back end comes to play..

ive just ordered a waterpump of ebay for £16

are the gaskets readily available?

[dan_cup]

well ive found a complete PAS setup for £75 delivered. seems like a decent price? anyone know if that can be bettered?