E36 rack with M30

Post Thu Oct 05, 2006 7:29 pm

as most ogf you will now know, have a M30 in my tourer. i have picked up a E36 rack but suspect there could be clearance problems. has anyone managed to fit a E36 rack with a M30 and if so, what problems are there?

Post Thu Oct 05, 2006 10:25 pm

I think Driftboy(?) has an E36 rack in his 335 ?

Post Fri Oct 06, 2006 8:30 pm

Gareth - I can't pm anyone because I'm on crappy AOL!

Mine isn't going good, but I'll leave that for another topic!

I sure do have an E36 rack in my 335. Not without issues though!

If I had known what it was like to drive with before I would have spent the extra on a Z3 rack, still too many turns lock to lock for my liking.

If I corner very hard left the manifold hits the coupling and virtually locks the steering! Nice!

I had already cut, rotated and re-welded the manifold flange so might try uprated engine mounts when I can afford it.

I kept the original E30 pas hoses though, just spent a couple of hours trial and error bending and re-routing one of them to fit. It's a bit fiddly to get the banjo bolt on and off but cheap! I'll try and get some pics of the pipe routing this weekend.

I take it you know about the mounting bolt spacers and column coupling mods already? If not I'll explain that too.

Post Fri Oct 06, 2006 8:47 pm

Yeah, it'd be nice to see how you get on with it as i'd like to try it if it works out, is the Z3 rack casing the same as the E36 ?

Post Fri Oct 06, 2006 8:59 pm

i have a rough idea of the work needed with the spacers etc.

did you get the M30 in there with the E30 rack first? it looks like there will be a lot less clearance due to hte exit angle of the rack stem and mine currently smacks the steering column as it is. though i've not trimmed the exhaust flange back yet...

i am tempted to look at the sunbeam manual quickrack option now though. i used to have a 2.2 turn quickrack in my MK2 RS2000 and it was awesome!

i'm sure i'd have no troubles selling the E36 rack on to someone with more room.

Post Fri Oct 06, 2006 9:00 pm

As far as I can make out from other people's threads they are externally the same - not 100% sure though!

Post Fri Oct 06, 2006 9:05 pm

I had a mk2 Escort with a quick rack too! Excellent fun!

I did have the E30 rack in there when I fitted the M30 so worked the exhaust around that.
There still is plenty of room there when it is stationary - that engine must tilt some way when cornering!

I've wondered about the Sunbeam rack also but wonder how heavy the steering will be with no pas - especially when getting all sideways!

I had a 2.8 V6 Sierra XR4i with no pas (very early one) and it was hard work to slide!

Post Fri Oct 06, 2006 9:05 pm

i am tempted to look at the sunbeam manual quickrack option now though. i used to have a 2.2 turn quickrack in my MK2 RS2000 and it was awesome!

But it would be a manual rack i'd guess ?

Post Fri Oct 06, 2006 9:08 pm

yup. that said, you never ever need to move the wheel enough to need to shuffle your hands which makes it a lot easier. you also get a lot more respect for correct parking practice and only turn the wheel when moving!

Post Fri Oct 06, 2006 9:11 pm

And you loose a bit of weight taking off the pas!
And less engine power is used not having to drive the pump!

Post Fri Oct 06, 2006 9:17 pm

it all helps!

is the E36 rack a lot closer to the exhaust?

Post Fri Oct 06, 2006 9:21 pm

I just remembered!
The guy in this 335i told me he had removed the pas and he was drifting like a good'un!

I think the difference in angle of the pinion coming out of the E36 / Z3 rack puts the coupling a little closer to the manifold.

Post Fri Oct 06, 2006 9:26 pm

thought it might....

at present my setup has a very nicely made set of downpipes that mate to a M3 flange and it would all be a pig to modify.

the other option would be a 2.7 turn E30 manual rack from the chappie who has the E21 racks (E21jason or something?)