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E30 Steering Rack to Purple Tag Help Required

Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2018 9:08 pm
by Rizy247
Hi hope you're all well.

Just managed to get my hands on a decent E46 Purple Tag steering rack for my E30. Just wanted to know is there anything additional I will require before I hand over the parts to my local garage to fit.

Please see the picture attached to see what I have so far.

Many thanks all

Re: E30 Steering Rack to Purple Tag Help Required

Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2018 11:55 pm
by ChrisHC
Yes, it is not a simple swap, you will need new hoses from Danthe, and even with those my local BMW specialist could not get it together, and I ended up taking it to Dan to get the job done properly.

Re: E30 Steering Rack to Purple Tag Help Required

Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2018 12:17 pm
by SaturnBlau
I managed to get this done.. eventually.

Steering hoses were the first problem - tried bending the original ones and c*cked up so DanThe sorted me for proper ones.

The steering coupling will need shortening - I just took out the vibration damper and ground off the edges of the lower knuckle. Also needed new oem engine mounts with a couple washers on the manifold side to get the necessary clearance.

Will need two spacers to fit in the gap between the rack and the subframe brackets too. Thatโ€™s a fiddly couple of bolts to get in.

Last thing is to sort the tie rods and venting of the rubber boots. I got a groove machined into each e30 inner tie rod thread. Cost me a tenner.

Itโ€™s not an impossible job and was only the second thing I did to my e30. Definitely worth a stab if you have the space and some basic tools. The difference in low speed manoeuvrability is huge.. canโ€™t say for higher speed stuff yet.

Re: E30 Steering Rack to Purple Tag Help Required

Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2018 11:07 pm
by magpie
washers on the manifold to get clearance ?

Re: E30 Steering Rack to Purple Tag Help Required

Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2018 10:46 am
by HRH-squidlips_III
i found the 067 rack to twitchy at 70-80mph but as you say great at lower speeds got the e46 m3 rack now and feels a good compromise

Re: E30 Steering Rack to Purple Tag Help Required

Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2018 10:57 am
by SaturnBlau
magpie wrote: โ†‘
Fri Dec 14, 2018 11:07 pm
washers on the manifold to get clearance ?
๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚ god, no! 2 wide washers between the rubber engine mount and bracket.

Re: E30 Steering Rack to Purple Tag Help Required

Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2018 12:14 pm
by magpie
SaturnBlau wrote: โ†‘
Sun Dec 16, 2018 10:57 am
magpie wrote: โ†‘
Fri Dec 14, 2018 11:07 pm
washers on the manifold to get clearance ?
๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚ god, no! 2 wide washers between the rubber engine mount and bracket.
it didn't read very well :mad: :D

Re: E30 Steering Rack to Purple Tag Help Required

Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2021 10:30 am
by onthames
SaturnBlau wrote: โ†‘
Fri Dec 14, 2018 12:17 pm
I managed to get this done.. eventually.

Steering hoses were the first problem - tried bending the original ones and c*cked up so DanThe sorted me for proper ones.

The steering coupling will need shortening - I just took out the vibration damper and ground off the edges of the lower knuckle. Also needed new oem engine mounts with a couple washers on the manifold side to get the necessary clearance.

Will need two spacers to fit in the gap between the rack and the subframe brackets too. Thatโ€™s a fiddly couple of bolts to get in.

Last thing is to sort the tie rods and venting of the rubber boots. I got a groove machined into each e30 inner tie rod thread. Cost me a tenner.

Itโ€™s not an impossible job and was only the second thing I did to my e30. Definitely worth a stab if you have the space and some basic tools. The difference in low speed manoeuvrability is huge.. canโ€™t say for higher speed stuff yet.
Hi mate few years later but what car were you fitting this to
What engine