Steering racks, Z3 or E36?

Post Mon Jul 14, 2008 1:05 pm

Now I know a few months ago the answer would have been Z3, but E36 racks seem to be getting cheaper and Z3 racks are definitely getting more expensive. I've seen E36 racks as cheap as £30 and Z3 racks going well over £100.

So does the benefit of the extra 0.5 turns justify the extra cash?

Post Mon Jul 14, 2008 1:19 pm

I asked that question recently, and the answer was a definite yes. I went for a Z3 anyway, and love it. Transforms the E30 experience. I guess the E36 rack would too.

Post Mon Jul 14, 2008 1:39 pm

Id say yes. The rack itself is easier to fit with the Z3 (the rack/spline is the same) E36 I think you need to use the adapter coupling. I'm about to fit my Z3n rack this weekend hopefully. 2.7turns lock to lock. Not sure about the E36 rack, but I know they change from model to year to model.

Post Mon Jul 14, 2008 1:42 pm

Good point. No changes needed to my coupling.

Post Mon Jul 14, 2008 1:44 pm

I think the E36 and Z3 have the same pinion, so there's no difference in fitting one relative to the other.

Post Mon Jul 14, 2008 4:20 pm

i've had both on my car, (318is), and the e36 rack is a good improvement and if you do normal driving will be a good upgrade. however if you put an e36 rack on it'll just feel like how the car should have felt from factory, if you want a proper quick rack then you have to go z3. to rove the point, i went through the fuss of sourcing an e36 rack and fitted it then a month later fitted a z3 rack.
Kev

Post Mon Jul 14, 2008 4:30 pm

kevo wrote:i've had both on my car, (318is), and the e36 rack is a good improvement and if you do normal driving will be a good upgrade. however if you put an e36 rack on it'll just feel like how the car should have felt from factory, if you want a proper quick rack then you have to go z3. to rove the point, i went through the fuss of sourcing an e36 rack and fitted it then a month later fitted a z3 rack.
Kev

I think thats probably the answer I was looking for. Z3 it is then, if I can ever find one

Post Mon Jul 14, 2008 4:36 pm

I used an E46 M3 one, which is also about 2.8 turns lock to lock. Actually that's not strictly true, it's 2.8 turns lock to lock on an e30 as the wheels will hit the ARB before the full lock potential of the rack is reached.

Post Wed Jul 16, 2008 7:49 pm

Anyone know if a Z3 PAS rack will fit a non PAS 325i yet maintain PAS?

Post Wed Jul 16, 2008 8:12 pm

doggydoo2000 wrote:Anyone know if a Z3 PAS rack will fit a non PAS 325i yet maintain PAS?

yes, if you transfer all the pas bits- pump, lines etc. Not sure if the coupling is different or how.