Quick racks,Z3 conversion-now with pics! for 4 and 6 cyls

[Karan]

no because i made the coupling as per Ian haynes' design and then fitted the engine box etc in correct position and then took car to hayward and scott to build the manifold and system around everything,.... so it all fits lovely... nice and snug like everything else in the bay, no touching on cornering either

[Karan]

its like this






but i have since dropped the subframe 20mm to allow bonnet closure and lower engine to lower centre of gravity (or something) just loosened the splined part on rack and retightened and there was enough adjustability left in it to avoid making a new steering coupling arrangement

[Theo]

Those pics really do make me jealous mate!

Are those M20 mounts? Think they will suffer with that engine and your driving style. I'm getting some uprated ones as there is already alot of engine movement on my mounts, which were new a few months ago.

[Karan]

we'll see if they suffer..... thing is with this u dont need to clutch kick the hell outta it.... u just jerk the throttle in most gears and the arse comes out.... the handling is lovely much less understeery than the sport was especiallly cos of the quicker rack.

i was shitting it when i lowered the subframe i thought i would have to have parts of the manifold remade

[Kedge]

Just had a feed pipe made up, but i'm still waiting for my return to be made since they didn't have the correct size hose in stock. Slight problem though that i think the pipe is directional in which case it looks like it maybe the wrong way around but i will have to check when i collect the othe pipe.

Still waiting for the bloody rack though which should of been here yesterday or today

[gareth]

i've still got to get round to tackling this on mine. i have a E36 rack to fit but it's the M30 manifold clearance issues that will cause me problems. i'll have to hack up my nice downpipe assembly to get it all in, which will be a shame.

it currently looks like this:



and i currently have about 5mm clearance between the UJ and downpipes. this is the best pic i can find....


at least i could re-route the downpipes a bit so i don't have to squash them so much to clear that bush!

why oh why did BMW change the angle of the column


oh a thought i did have, fitting M3 offset bushes will push the wheel forwards which will in turn compensate for mounting the rack in the front holes. i have these to go on too

[Dan318-is]

Fook me thats tight gareth! I have the m3 bushes on mine and it still did not want to mount in the PAS holes, different manifolds though like you say so could work!

[Slarty_Bartfast]

Hi there

Is there anywhere out there where I can buy this as a kit??? Or does someone want to sell me one???

I have a standard E36 rack ready to be adapted, but would prefer a Z3 one.

Cheers

Slarty

[Kedge]

No need for a kit mate its dead easy to do.

Buy a rack, i got mine from quarry motors in the end, there isn't many about at all for some reason.

Get some spacers for the mounting bolts but some washers would do.

When you take your old rack off remove the metal return pipe which goes back to the resevoir and the metal and rubber feed pipe that goes between the pump and rack.

Take these to a place that can make some hoses up, anywhere that deals with air hoses or hydraulics will be able to crimp the ends onto some hoses.

This is my feed pipe, the return is just thicker and is open one end to go back on the resevoir. Only cost me £20 for the pair and if they have the right size hose they'll be able to do it while you wait in which case you'll have it running fine inside a day easily.

[Slarty_Bartfast]

Cool, I know somebody who deals with hydrolic hoses ect so that shouldn't be a problem. I would prefer to go for a Z3 rack rather than the E36 one I already have so I will have to do a bit more searching.

I'm not a mechanic so not very good at manufacturing things, I'm ok to just bolt on and off, and hence it would be easier to by a kit of some sort. I don't mind paying a bit extra for the kit as it would save me installation costs.

The E30 was up for sale, but a friend had an incident at Cadwell on Wednesday so repaired parts will be of a better grade as we will now be keeping her.

Cheers

Slarty

[Kedge]

Well if you can get the pipes made easily then it is pretty much bolt off bolt on, just remember to put in some spacers.

I'm doing mine today so will let you know how long it took.

[Slarty_Bartfast]

Are you using an E36 or a Z3 rack???

[Kedge]

Z3 rack, already got my pipes made up so just need to find something to use as spacers and take my old rack off.

[Slarty_Bartfast]

What are the part numbers for the Z3 rack???

[Kedge]

Thats what it says on Sheuy's rack and mine is the same, but realoem doesn't seem to find it for some reason.

[agreen]

what pipes are they are they metal or braided??? can i do this on my 318is sorry new to thred

[Kedge]

The feed pipe is braided and the return is just think rubber since there isn't as much pressure on that.

I'll post some pics of the old pipes and new pipes to give you an idea in a bit.

[agreen]

cheers mate wanna do it to my 318is any idea of cost sorry to be checky what do i ask for at the scrappy just a z3 steering rack ???

[schuey]

The thread is based around my old 318IS,about £100 at scrappy if you can find one is about the right price

[agreen]

so does it work i cant keep up is there like a step by step guid yet for this matey

[schuey]

Yep it works fine,the guide is from page 1 of this thread

[agreen]

okwell then off i go to find a rack i can find one which is a m z3 but that aint n good so i am gonna keep looking

[Slarty_Bartfast]

Find another one for me as well if you like…

[Kedge]

It took me weeks to find one, try Quarry motors in Sheffield as that where mine came from the other day say they may have some others has mine was freshly refurbished.

I might be tempted to write up a guide and submit it on the zone.

Has anyone fitted it to anyother model of E30 other than the iS?

[schuey]

I will do it to my boat anchor when I get 5 mins-still fixing all the other sh1t that breaks on it.
Never had such hassles with my IS

[stratos]

Can anyone tell me if the Z3 rack is useable without the pump etc fitted. This would be for a track only 318 is.
Or would the steering be too heavy ?
Perhaps I should use an E 36 rack without pump instead ?
Dan318is - I gather that you drove your conversion without pipes or pump working. How was it ?

[DRIFTBOY]

I drove my E30 335i for about 5 months with an E36 rack without a pas belt on.
I found it stupidly heavy when parking, and around fast bends I found the steering loaded up quite alarmingly.
I've now got a Z3 rack with a new pas pump and things are sooo much better.

Having no pas is probably ok with a non-pas steering rack but a non-assisted pas rack is a bit heavy going and lacking in feel for my liking.

[Dan318-is]

I drove my E30 335i for about 5 months with an E36 rack without a pas belt on.
I found it stupidly heavy when parking, and around fast bends I found the steering loaded up quite alarmingly.
I've now got a Z3 rack with a new pas pump and things are sooo much better.

Having no pas is probably ok with a non-pas steering rack but a non-assisted pas rack is a bit heavy going and lacking in feel for my liking.

Exactly what he said. It was ok for a few days but after a while the steering was a joke and a PAS rack without fluid felt horrible. Was a relief when i finally got the pump back on

[Kedge]

I've now got a Z3 rack with a new pas pump and things are sooo much better.

So it fits ok to a M30 engined car then?

[agreen]

a guid would be so good for a dummylike me lol

[Neil_M]

Anyone fancy doing a parts list for the conversion guide?

Also can I ask what the Z3 rack is worth new?

[agreen]

i bet a new rack would be sooooooo much but i agree with the above i cant see there is much a z3 1.9 rack spacers i new flow hose ???

[StuBeeDoo]

Also can I ask what the Z3 rack is worth new?

I don't know about new as in genuine BMW, but the ECP Z3 unit is roughly the same price as their E30 one - ie about 220sovs + VAT exchange.

[Neil_M]

OK cool, I dont want to go new at the thought of the price.

So say as StuBeeDoo says its around £220.

Any idea on thickness of spacers reqd?

Maybe some new hoses for good measure?

[Kedge]

I paid £135 for a recon rack inc P&P with no exchange.

The spacer needs to be approx 7mm, i just used 3 thick washers.

You can use the original E30 hoses and bend them but this is obviously risky as they could kink or split.