e36 / z3 pas reservoir location

[mt1104]

Hello,

Anyone know where the PAS fluid reservoir is located on a e36 318/316 and z3 1.9?

*edit*

Also is anyone able to comment on how the 4pot in a e36 sits in relation to the steering rack compared to a e30.

[oze30]

E36 is located on the inside of the passenger chassis rail near the front. Very awkward to fill, but the bracket is handy for many conversions.

The rack is totally different to an e36-The steering joint is more upright than the E30 rack but they should sit the same in relation to their mounts. The E36 rack is also mounted further forward from the mounts than the E30 (which mounts almost under the e30 mounts.)

[oze30]

You can just see the top of the bottle in this pic:

[mt1104]

awesome, cheers for the picture,

That means I wont be able to use the hose from the rack to the reservoir, but, I may be able to use the hose that goes from the PAS pump to the rack, if the rack is roughly in the same position compared to the engine in the e36.

Has anyone got a picture of the steering coupling on a e36 316 / 318 showing its proximity to the exhaust manifold, this will give an indication to their relationship.

[oze30]

Might help if you tell us what you want to do. If you're trying to do the E36 rack conversion, the hard lines to the rack are different and the holes on the rack are in different locations on the 2 racks.

[mt1104]

I have a z3 rack fitted in my e30 at the moment, in manual mode until I can get some pas pipes made up. I just thought I might be able to use the high pressure pipe from an e36 as the pump is in the same location on the engine - is just a question if the rack in a e36 is further forward / backward compared to the engine (and so pump). It doesn't need to be exact as the high pressure hose has a rubber bit which probably will take up some slack but if its way out I'd be best to get them made.

Just thought if I could use the high pressure pipe from an e36, I would just have to get the low pressure one made up which will be cheaper.

[oze30]

E36 pump/rack pipe will fit. I used this on an E30.but had to bend them to fit the E30. If it's an E36 rack, the E36 pipe will fit, no problems. Getting the low pressure return line made up isn't that difficult, There's a company in MK that can do hydraulic lines.

I wouldn't worry though. Just use the E36 pipes.

[DanThe]

I used an E30 return pipe which was a perfect fit after some trimming of the rubber part