New daily turd.. Lowering the tone..

[Jhonno]

Small update.. Front end was feeling rather wishy washy, and could be put down to TCA bushes being shafted and a few tired ball joints. Tie rods were seized also on 1 side.. So why do 1/2 a job...





Wish me luck.. Rack is off an e46, 3 turns lock to lock. Nice clean red fluid spilling out of it is encouraging (at the same time annoying.) Only really bought it as it was on the way back from somewhere I was headed.. Man math?



2 spare lollipops with old bushes..



Removed..



1 of 2 in..



All the old off..



How it was left..



For this reason..



Ran out of man up pills to get them on, after twatting my hand with a hammer a few times, it made it painful/awkward. I was knackered also.

New rack is on and bled up, coupling was on, but it gave the tiniest bit of difference on left to right lock.. My OCD kicked in, so undid it to have another go at getting it spot on and then couldn't get it to go back on

Quite excited to try the new rack tbh.. Such a child.

Rainbow.. How pretty..



All back together again now.. Steering is bang central, drives in a straight line. What a difference! The rack is epic, and the front end feel so tight now! Managed to turn into the inside of a roundabout 1st drive out.

Sticking caliper and rear trailing arm bushes up next.

Also needs a Hedgehog Si.. Seems it was broken

[retroboyo]

Whats the speed like on these things, have been tempted more than once

[Jhonno]

They are quick when you put your foot down.. Just don't necessarily feel it as they are very refined. The handling is superb, if not quite as 'exciting' as an e30. Very comfortable.

Capable of doing mid 30's mpg on a sensible commute as well

[retroboyo]

Sounds positive, thanks for the reply

[harry_p]

really want to do a rack swap on mine, how tricky was it?

i'd definately be bunging new ends on too, i had to resort to a lot of heat and mole grips when i wanted to give one of the ones on there a tweek.

hopefully doing rear diff carrier and trailing arm bushes in a couple of weeks...

[Jhonno]

Rack swap was a piece of piss.. However, you have the Evo with the front sump bowl also.. So will be harder I reckon. Well worth doing imo. Go for a late model e46 one, check for 3 turns. Mine just came from a 320d Coupe. Also make sure you trim the plastic collar to clear the power steering pies.

Yeah, makes sense. Heat didn't even work with 1 side on mine.

Ooo ouch. I think I am going to hand to to BMW to do the trailing arm bushes. Not sure I fancy poly, and the rubber ones sound a bit of an arse to do, as they have to be fitted to work at ride height or some shit.

[rossmc88]

What part numbers are on your rack? I'm trying to get a 3 turns e46 rack for my e30, but they seemed to fit lots of different racks to the e46

so far I've found that this should be the numbers on one of the 3 turn racks

7852 974 679
6 755 067
006888 0701

Was trying to find out more 3 lock part numbers for when I go to the scrappy this weekend

[harry_p]

there's lots of conflicting advice on e46 racks, from what i've picked up all e46 compacts should have the 3 turn rack, as should the clubsport, but after that it's a bit of a lottery

[Jhonno]

there's lots of conflicting advice on e46 racks, from what i've picked up all e46 compacts should have the 3 turn rack, as should the clubsport, but after that it's a bit of a lottery

This..

Will check see if I can get numbers off mine.

[rossmc88]

Cheers for that, looks like I'm going to have fun twirlling some steering wheels down the scrappy this weekend I'll report back any parts numbers for 3 turn racks I find

[Jhonno]

Rimzz..

[leeparkes]

Looks loads better. are they 18"?

[Jhonno]

Yeah, 18x8.5 et13..

[leeparkes]

ET13. what size tyres you running?

[Jhonno]

215/35, Falken 452

Fits straight on the front! Rears have been a little more work

[darren_mk]

That does look well!

[E30BeemerLad]

stop it you gay boy, it's starting to make me want one of these

[goosiegander]

Epic dude, now take the stickers off the tyres like a good chap

Looking good

[Simon13]

theres been some rear arch action to get them on!

[Jhonno]

theres been some rear arch action to get them on!

It's had a tickle.. Bought an arch roller

[gcs325i]

theres been some rear arch action to get them on!

It's had a tickle.. Bought an arch roller

Did it distort the arch in the process? or is that just a dirty mark?

[Jhonno]

The arch is dented from previous.. 1 from before I got it, the other was my old man, when he reversed into it..

[Andy325i]

Good work Coming together nicely How much were the Top mounts and were they Stealer only?

[Jhonno]

Top mounts were 2nd hand.. Perfectly good though. See them for £50 reguarly. I got them with a load of bits..

[harry_p]

E36s are odd, 17s look small, but 18s look huge.

Looks great

[Jhonno]

Sadly 17.5" rims were lacking..

I think they can pull off 18's if you are low enough, imo. 18's look like 17's on an E30..

[Simon13]

how does it ride on 17/18's Dan? This alpina is on yellow billys B6/8 at a guess i'm guessing on the 17's it won't be anywhere as soft as my 328 on its 16's

[Jhonno]

On the 17" BBS it rode absolutely fine imo on Eibachs. With the 18's it's a little firmer, but not too bad imo. Not as comfy as the 15's though the turn in is much sharper.

[Jhonno]

[Jhonno]

Intrax coilovers fitted.

[Dezzy]

Too low, Rears are too wide, stretch Tyres, all the things I normally hate!

I can't believe I'm saying this, It look's fooking good!

[Jhonno]

Council with class...

Cheers Dezzy.. The tyres are on the limit of what I'd call acceptable, however, I think it gets away with it. IMO, all the ingredients of a council turd, just on the right side of looking good.

Drives brilliantly. However, they are expensive coilovers, designed to be run low. Handling/ride is all in the damper imo.

[gooner1]

TBH, I've always considered E36.s to be quite bland looking.
I'm beginning to change my outlook, those wheels transform the whole car, Dan.

[capri_rob]

Looks like a kool-art car !

[leeparkes]

Looks loads better dropped, have you nearly pulled the front wing off with the tyre yet?