Quick racks,Z3 conversion-now with pics! for 4 and 6 cyls

[agreen]

is it a good idea to get a rekor rack as z3's aint that old are they so allwe need is a guide by pics come on someone must have the time lol cheers kedge

[Slarty_Bartfast]

Where From?

[DRIFTBOY]

I've now got a Z3 rack with a new pas pump and things are sooo much better.

So it fits ok to a M30 engined car then?

Nope!

There is a serious clearance issue between the steering coupling and exhaust manifold, even with it ground down.

I can't turn left too quickly!

I know how I'm going to get round the problem though - turbo!

[Kedge]

Well a recon rack is going to be bettter than a non recon rack in my eyes.

I will try and get round to doing a guide as best i can bearing in mind my rack is on although the engine is out so i can get decent pics.

It really is exactly the same as just doing a normal rack change though apart from you some spacers and maybe some pipes making up.

[agreen]

cheers fella

[Dan318-is]

I've now got a Z3 rack with a new pas pump and things are sooo much better.

So it fits ok to a M30 engined car then?

Nope!

There is a serious clearance issue between the steering coupling and exhaust manifold, even with it ground down.

I can't turn left too quickly!

I know how I'm going to get round the problem though - turbo!

Good thinking but wouldn't some sort of heatshield be needed for the turbo/UJ? Especially if the UJ is alloy, which i think it is?

[DRIFTBOY]

Well, I don't have any rubber in my steering coupling, the turbo will be up top and to the front, and I hope the downpipe will be a reasonable distance away from the coupling.

Not sure the alloy would mind too much with that level of heat...?

Heatshield might be worth considering I suppose...?

[Dan318-is]

Well, I don't have any rubber in my steering coupling, the turbo will be up top and to the front, and I hope the downpipe will be a reasonable distance away from the coupling.

Not sure the alloy would mind too much with that level of heat...?

Heatshield might be worth considering I suppose...?

Good idea with the solid steering guibo, same here! Its much easier to work with also if you have to loosen or remove the UJ!

I think the alloy may take the heat as they conduct heat fairly well, so i have been told. I suppose the turbo will be taking most the heat?

So you currently have an e36 rack then? Is that the progressive type ?

[DRIFTBOY]

Yeah, it's much easier to work with without the guibo, haven't noticed any ill effects either! I bolted a thick steel plate between the two halves of the coupling.

The turbo will be conducting heat all over the place (I'd be cautious of sitting on the bonnet after a hard drive!), so I'd hope no single part will get too hot! ?
The coupling would conduct heat up the column and down to the rack too, I suppose. ?

I was using an E36 rack (not progrssive as far as I know), now using a Z3 rack, and with brand new track rods and rod ends.

[skidmark]

No-one seems to be mentioning the spacer used in the steering column that replaces the standard rubber joint ?

I believe that the gap between the steering column and the new Z3 (and E36) rack shaft is increased and a longer spacer is needed for the splines to sit in the right place. There was a pic earlier on this thread of a red annodised aluminium spacer. The bolt patterns (spacing) are different from the original column to the new steering shaft and this spacer rectify's that issue.

Where can this spacer be sourced ?

Can the original E30 drumsticks (adjustable tie rods) be used with the Z3 rack ?

CHEERS
MARK

[Dan318-is]

Yeah, it's much easier to work with without the guibo, haven't noticed any ill effects either! I bolted a thick steel plate between the two halves of the coupling.

The turbo will be conducting heat all over the place (I'd be cautious of sitting on the bonnet after a hard drive!), so I'd hope no single part will get too hot! ?
The coupling would conduct heat up the column and down to the rack too, I suppose. ?

I was using an E36 rack (not progrssive as far as I know), now using a Z3 rack, and with brand new track rods and rod ends.

So you have a z3 rack on your m30 as it is in standard guise? Or are you in the process of turboing now and have hence just fitted the rack? Was chatting to theo when i was at his on friday and he is convinced that a 3 rack will not go!

No-one seems to be mentioning the spacer used in the steering column that replaces the standard rubber joint ?

I believe that the gap between the steering column and the new Z3 (and E36) rack shaft is increased and a longer spacer is needed for the splines to sit in the right place. There was a pic earlier on this thread of a red annodised aluminium spacer. The bolt patterns (spacing) are different from the original column to the new steering shaft and this spacer rectify's that issue.

Where can this spacer be sourced ?

Can the original E30 drumsticks (adjustable tie rods) be used with the Z3 rack ?

CHEERS
MARK

You do not have to use an alluminium spacer on the UJ like the red aluminium one on my car; i replaced that a while ago as my rubber one was knackered and i wanted a solid one in there. You can buy the metal bush from http://www.muzzimotorsport.com. The guy who suplies them is called Roger, he is very helpful and has good english! From memory it was around £25-30. Alternatively if you know any good machine shops or are generally handy with metal work you can make your own like driftboy & turbo brown have. Im not quite sure what you mean by an increase in 'space' between the two points you have mentioned? However, what i did notice is that the universal joint is pracitcally maxed out on both of its splines at the bulkhead & steering rack ends once everything is connected up; hope this makes sense!

You can also replace the rubber with a new rubber insert from BMW, whatever you decide to do, if you do replace it, you will need special nuts and bolts from BMW as the original bush was rivited in, but the rivets are replaced by these particular bolts ( i can dig out the part number if you need it).

The track rod ends from the e30 racks do bolt straight on; you can undo the inner track rod at the rack end on your e30 and bolt it straight onto the z3 rack. However, as martin mentioned, replacing them is a much better idea as it would be rude not too while everything is off, and it also makes the tracking a doddle.

HTH

[DRIFTBOY]

[So you have a z3 rack on your m30 as it is in standard guise? Or are you in the process of turboing now and have hence just fitted the rack? Was chatting to theo when i was at his on friday and he is convinced that a 3 rack will not go!

At the moment I have a standard M30 engine and Z3 rack which recently replaced the (worn out) E36 rack.

This combination would be a disaster for a car used on track like Theo's (mine will be eventually!) because of the clearance issues, especially around left hand corners.

It would be interesting to see if uprated engine mounts would help.

It's that or serious cutting and re-welding of the steel part of the manifold.

I think it might be possible to make good, but a lot of fiddling around.

[gareth]

this is why my E36 rack is still in the garage and not on my M30 beastie! at the moment, mine just touches the downpipes on the column on hard left hand bends. i'd need to move the downpipe over a lot to clear a E36/Z3 rack. this is also a pain as my downpipes went together into a welded assembly so nicely!

[drifty325i]

So with my v8 conversion we may have to mount the rack in the front mounting holes to help with sump clearance is there anything i should worry about with mounting them on the front holes? will it affect anything etc? cheers

[DRIFTBOY]

E30s with manual steering came from the factory with the the rack mounted in the front holes, so it shouldn't be a problem.
I think people on here have done it before.

[Dan318-is]

I have mine on the front holes and regardless of what many people may say it makes absolutely no difference to subframe strength etc. The holes were there from the factory for manual racks and so are perfectly useable, i have had no issues with mine and cannot see any fatigue marks etc whatsoever, so i think it should be ok!

[skidmark]

Hello Dan 318-IS,

Yes, it would help if you can advise the part numbers for the bolts.

And thanks for the response.

CHEERS
MARK

[Dave_M3]

I need to find 2 Z3 racks for my track iS and road iS

1000 euro from the dealer is out of the question anyway
I'm asking all the breakers around lately if they could get one. Not telling them its for an E30 and that they're only 2.7 turns, lol.
But no sucess

GOing to have to find one over on ye're side of the water and get it posted over. If I can get one for 150 quid I'll be sorted as thats what breakers are still asking here for E36 ones

Looking forward to putting it in since I was driving a Z3 not that long ago and fell in love with the rack in which you could change direction so quick. Also is nice in car-parks or around town with the shorter ratio

About the manual racks... The PAS rack feels shit without the the oil going through it
What if someone just looped the feed and return pipes on the rack and kept the fliud inside it?

[drifty325i]

Sweet thanks guys ill move my rack to the front holes

[Dan318-is]

I need to find 2 Z3 racks for my track iS and road iS

1000 euro from the dealer is out of the question anyway
I'm asking all the breakers around lately if they could get one. Not telling them its for an E30 and that they're only 2.7 turns, lol.
But no sucess

GOing to have to find one over on ye're side of the water and get it posted over. If I can get one for 150 quid I'll be sorted as thats what breakers are still asking here for E36 ones

Looking forward to putting it in since I was driving a Z3 not that long ago and fell in love with the rack in which you could change direction so quick. Also is nice in car-parks or around town with the shorter ratio

About the manual racks... The PAS rack feels shit without the the oil going through it
What if someone just looped the feed and return pipes on the rack and kept the fliud inside it?

All the breakers i rang said that z3 parts in general are extremely sparse at the moment for some reason!

[Dan318-is]

Hello Dan 318-IS,

Yes, it would help if you can advise the part numbers for the bolts.

And thanks for the response.

CHEERS
MARK

06 FIT BOLT 4 32311153995 $3.08 (4 of these)

10 WAVE WASHER B8 8 07119932095 $0.04 (8 of these)

07 SELF-LOCKING HEX NUT M8 6 03/2007 07129946400 $0.30 (4 of thse)

HTH

[mybmw6]

Interesting topic

[agreen]

2 z3 racks thats just greddy lol

[schuey]

This has now been done on a 325i,exactly the same process just use the front mounting holes and it works fine,will be enough room for a 6 branch too probably Its on an e30 325i track car(stoneyv6 on here) he has done the conversion today. So all you loons making new universal joints etc can save yourselves the hassle

[Kedge]

No ones got an excuse now then, apart from maybe there not being enough Z3 racks to go around!

[schuey]

Tell me about it,I cant find one anywhere,so I am on with another solution to the problem,which will result in 2 turns lock to lock for a tenth of the work involved and marginally cheaper than a second hand rack
Will keep you informed of how it turns out

[stoneyV6]

yep just done our 325 track car same way that you did yours schuey works a treat very happy with the way the car drives but i suspect i may need a cooler for track work to stop the fluid boiling.

great thread very helpful cheers schuey.

[schuey]

We will see how it goes at cadwell on thursday eh steve?

[Yaninnya]

Will keep you informed of how it turns out

I'm very interested. Any more details?
Jan

[schuey]

Will be when its done

[OBs]

[M3Compact]

yep just done our 325 track car same way that you did yours schuey works a treat very happy with the way the car drives but i suspect i may need a cooler for track work to stop the fluid boiling.

Doubtful imo.

[stoneyV6]

yep just done our 325 track car same way that you did yours schuey works a treat very happy with the way the car drives but i suspect i may need a cooler for track work to stop the fluid boiling.

Doubtful imo.

pretty sure its going to need one not had chance to test it fully so will give it a good blat down some twisty roads,,, every Z3 i have seen has one from 1.9 to Z3 M.

could be that BMW had some left over and just fit them for no good reason.

[Yaninnya]

Will be when its done

So I need to be patient now. Bloody hell, I'm not good in it.
Jan

[stoneyV6]

Doubtful imo.

seems you were right after giving it a dam good test i noticed it only happened on left hand corners bit of head scratching then i realized the engine moves so much the exhaust hits the U/J.

so of with the front pipe and put a small flat spot on it and the jobs a good un,,,, the car drives so much better with a quicker rack,, well happy.