E30 Steering Rack to Purple Tag Help Required

[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

[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.

[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. That’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.

It’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.. can’t say for higher speed stuff yet.

[magpie]

washers on the manifold to get clearance ?

[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

[SaturnBlau]

washers on the manifold to get clearance ?

god, no! 2 wide washers between the rubber engine mount and bracket.

[magpie]

washers on the manifold to get clearance ?

god, no! 2 wide washers between the rubber engine mount and bracket.

it didn't read very well

[onthames]

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. That’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.

It’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.. can’t say for higher speed stuff yet.

Hi mate few years later but what car were you fitting this to
What engine