Z3 Steering rack

[DIBLY]

Anyone know if the steering stem bit is at same angle on a Z3 rack compared to an e30? reason is have a rhd m3 with normal rack and want a ratio close to the orig lhd one. got an e36 rack but the stem comes out of rack at a different angle to the e30 and things are well tight around exhaust manifold. Thanks...............

[Dave_M3]

Think the Z3 rack fits better than the E36 one on a 318iS abit better but not certain. Do a search cos theres a good few threads on the Z3 rack too, Schuey has a good write up on installing it on an iS. Think the M3 would have been best left LHD imo.

Heard the exhaust manifold is prick altogether with the S14 for RHD

[DIBLY]

Yup you is right there, it should have been left as lhd, but was a sqweeky clean one so........ this manifolds quite good as it goes with nice gentle curves round the steering, although have seen what birds did omg looked like someone with bandy legs. Thanks for reply.

[DRIFTBOY]

I'm sure that E36 and Z3 racks are the same angle on the stub.
I recently swapped an E36 rack for a Z3 one in my E30 and it all seemed a direct swap.

[odbod]

I've got a Z3 Rack on my IS, brilliant... used a bent E30 pressure feed pipe and E36 return pipe extended back to the resevoir, had to mod the small boss on the casing to clear the sump (30s with a grinder). Much easier to do with the engione out but OK lying on the ground.

[DRIFTBOY]

Yeah, I modified - by carefully bending and re-routing the standars 325 M20 pas pipes too, didn't get any new ones made up.

I modified my coupling, splicing it on to an E36 coupling and I'm using it with a steel plate instead of the rubber bush as well, no ill effects so far! Just very nice steering!