 » Site Navigation | | | | » Recent Threads | | | | | |  |  |  |  12-05-2007, 06:48 AM | #1 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Los Alamos, NM Posts: 344 |  M3 steering rack?
I hate to double post, but I can't drip like this any longer. SO, I have 2 questions: 1) Is the M3 rack compatable and 2) Is it in any way better? |  |  | | 12-05-2007, 07:56 AM | #2 | | Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: 43609 Posts: 3,425 |
Yes its compatible, the 95 m3 rack and the 1.9z3 are the quickest racks for the e36. __________________ 1995 Hellrot Clubsport 318ti -Gone 1996 Schwartz II Sport 357ti - 5.7L V8 LS1/6 1997 Moregrun Metallic 318ti - Gone
1998 Schwartz II sport 318ti - M50TUB25/5 | | | | | 12-05-2007, 12:02 PM | #3 | | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: state college, pa Posts: 3,431 |
Has anyone bought a rebuilt rack? I'd like to know your experiences, mine is on its way out. __________________
I scream, you scream, we all scream for ZOMBIES. | | | | | 12-08-2007, 06:38 PM | #4 | | aka Stabby Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mead, CO Posts: 5,336 |
Quote: Originally Posted by Bluebimma  Yes its compatible, the 95 m3 rack and the 1.9z3 are the quickest racks for the e36. | do you know the ratios? are they the same or different? Quote: | Originally Posted by aceyx Has anyone bought a rebuilt rack? I'd like to know your experiences, mine is on its way out. | i'd like to know this too. anyone? __________________ 1996 318ti, California package, 267k miles
current mods: bilstein sports, bavauto springs, e30 m3 LCABs, solid metal ball joints, bavauto RSMs w/reinforcements, e30 3.73 LSD & halfshafts, supersprint cat-back exhaust, turner rear sway bar reinforcements, IE poly subframe & RTABs + camber/toe kits, powdercoated e36 32x front calipers, sport mirrors, H&R 28mmF/19mmR sway bars, x-brace, auto solutions SSK w/poly bushing upgrade, BMW CD43 head unit, DICE HD Radio w/iPod integration and "stealth" HD antenna, staggered style 68s, orange electronic TPMS, leather arm rest, JT Designs metal undertray
acquired and awaiting install: heated seat kit, cali top switch relo, lumbar support kit, park distance control kit, heated washer nozzle kit, m-coupe rear subframe, trailing arms, differential, and halfshafts, m-coupe front/rear brakes with master cylinder, under hood light kit, mud flaps, rear sun blind, auto-dimming rear view mirror, tilt steering wheel retrofit, apexcone 5000K HIDs with 55W ballasts
2002 X5 4.4 Sport Package, 53.5k miles
Current Mods: e46 m3 steering wheel | | | | | 12-08-2007, 07:06 PM | #5 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: lancashire, england Posts: 300 |
1.yes
2.hell yes
z3 unit needs modification __________________ 
E36 3.0 M3 Cosmos Schwarz
E36 1.8 318ti Cosmos Schwarz | | | | | 12-08-2007, 10:34 PM | #6 | | Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: 43609 Posts: 3,425 |
Quote: Originally Posted by cali-ti do you know the ratios? are they the same or different? | I dont have the ratios off hand, but you can find them on bf.c. If im not mistaken, the z3 is a smidge quicker than the 95 m3, but nothing enough to notice at any point. __________________ 1995 Hellrot Clubsport 318ti -Gone 1996 Schwartz II Sport 357ti - 5.7L V8 LS1/6 1997 Moregrun Metallic 318ti - Gone
1998 Schwartz II sport 318ti - M50TUB25/5 | | | | | 12-08-2007, 10:37 PM | #7 | | aka Stabby Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mead, CO Posts: 5,336 |
Quote: Originally Posted by cosmos schwarz z3 unit needs modification | what mods need to be made? __________________ 1996 318ti, California package, 267k miles
current mods: bilstein sports, bavauto springs, e30 m3 LCABs, solid metal ball joints, bavauto RSMs w/reinforcements, e30 3.73 LSD & halfshafts, supersprint cat-back exhaust, turner rear sway bar reinforcements, IE poly subframe & RTABs + camber/toe kits, powdercoated e36 32x front calipers, sport mirrors, H&R 28mmF/19mmR sway bars, x-brace, auto solutions SSK w/poly bushing upgrade, BMW CD43 head unit, DICE HD Radio w/iPod integration and "stealth" HD antenna, staggered style 68s, orange electronic TPMS, leather arm rest, JT Designs metal undertray
acquired and awaiting install: heated seat kit, cali top switch relo, lumbar support kit, park distance control kit, heated washer nozzle kit, m-coupe rear subframe, trailing arms, differential, and halfshafts, m-coupe front/rear brakes with master cylinder, under hood light kit, mud flaps, rear sun blind, auto-dimming rear view mirror, tilt steering wheel retrofit, apexcone 5000K HIDs with 55W ballasts
2002 X5 4.4 Sport Package, 53.5k miles
Current Mods: e46 m3 steering wheel | | | | | 12-08-2007, 10:47 PM | #8 | | Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: 43609 Posts: 3,425 |
You need to remove 2 bolts holding the rack in seperate the tie rods somehow, probably best to lift the gaitors back, and unscrew the inner balljoints, and leave the tie rod ball and track rod together and also one nut on the ally clamp at the bottom of the steering column. Use a screwdriver to pry the clamped section apart a little when the retaining bolt is out.
Undo the 2 hoses/banjo connectors, on the rack is easier, and expect to loose some fluid.
Center the steering wheel and rack, the wheel is easy, just turn it back to the centre (remember the slipring cartridge has a ribbon cable that only can stand about 4-5 turns each way, so keep it close to the centre before removing.
Center the rack, count the turns from lock to lock and divide by 2, an accurate way is turn it full lock one way, and mark a 12o'clock, then far the other way, mark 12 o'clock again, and back off to what should be half way. The exact center will be midway between the two marks you made (this new midpoint may turn up at 12 or 6 0'clock, but you'd be pretty much on top of it, so you'd be able to figure out which one)
Bolt this up, steering coulmn on, clamping bolt through, and you can screw on the inner balljoints, and fold over the securing plate
Job done! Now for the fluid, with the car up in the air, turn the wheel (engine off ) full left and full right slowly.
Top off fluid, repeat slowly, top up. Start the car, left/right top up if needed __________________ 1995 Hellrot Clubsport 318ti -Gone 1996 Schwartz II Sport 357ti - 5.7L V8 LS1/6 1997 Moregrun Metallic 318ti - Gone
1998 Schwartz II sport 318ti - M50TUB25/5 | | | | | 12-09-2007, 12:53 AM | #9 | | aka Stabby Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mead, CO Posts: 5,336 |
from bimmerforums.com Quote: The info I have on BMW racks is:
95 M3 15.4 ratio 3.0 turns lock-to-lock
96+ M3/MZ3 17.8 ratio 3.2 turns lock-to-lock
Z3 15.4 ratio 2.7 turns lock-to-lock
325 16.8 ratio 3.4 turns lock-to-lock
328 15.4 ratio 3.2 turns lock-to-lock
I have a E36 325i rack and a '98 z3 2.8 rack sitting on my shop table. The z3 rack is going in my E30.
The z3 rack is more like 2.8 or 2.9 (definately not 2.7) turns lock to lock with 5.5" of total travel - has a zinc-plated steel body
The E36 rack is 3.2 or 3.3 turns lock to lock, also w/ 5.5" of total travel - has an aluminum body.
Would love to know what the '95 m3 rack travel is
I have heard that the z3 rack has an even steering ratio, while the '95 m3 has a weighted ratio, less ratio on center, then more ratio as the turn increases. If the total travel is the same 5.5" on the '95 rack, then the turning radius would be the same on all of the racks. The z3 rack would just give you a bit more responsive feel on center than the '95 rack. | from what i read, they also indicated the z3 racks (with tie rods, aka "long racks") are direct bolt ins. some remans appeared to be lacking one of the trombone pipe mounting holes with was "resolved" by using a tie wrap. __________________ 1996 318ti, California package, 267k miles
current mods: bilstein sports, bavauto springs, e30 m3 LCABs, solid metal ball joints, bavauto RSMs w/reinforcements, e30 3.73 LSD & halfshafts, supersprint cat-back exhaust, turner rear sway bar reinforcements, IE poly subframe & RTABs + camber/toe kits, powdercoated e36 32x front calipers, sport mirrors, H&R 28mmF/19mmR sway bars, x-brace, auto solutions SSK w/poly bushing upgrade, BMW CD43 head unit, DICE HD Radio w/iPod integration and "stealth" HD antenna, staggered style 68s, orange electronic TPMS, leather arm rest, JT Designs metal undertray
acquired and awaiting install: heated seat kit, cali top switch relo, lumbar support kit, park distance control kit, heated washer nozzle kit, m-coupe rear subframe, trailing arms, differential, and halfshafts, m-coupe front/rear brakes with master cylinder, under hood light kit, mud flaps, rear sun blind, auto-dimming rear view mirror, tilt steering wheel retrofit, apexcone 5000K HIDs with 55W ballasts
2002 X5 4.4 Sport Package, 53.5k miles
Current Mods: e46 m3 steering wheel | | | | | 04-23-2008, 01:54 AM | #10 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Los Alamos, NM Posts: 344 |
http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/se...294966970+5882 this is a link to steering racks off an E36 M3. None of them are listed as compatible with our cars. I am looking for a bolt on fix. thanks guys. I just might be gaining faith in the car after all. | | | | | 04-23-2008, 02:21 AM | #11 | | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: maritimes Posts: 1,433 |
all e36 racks are compatible... our stockers even have an extra mounting point for the 6cyl rack to pump line. __________________ 11/97 Base  328Ti
| | | | | 04-23-2008, 03:09 AM | #12 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Los Alamos, NM Posts: 344 |
thanks for the quick reply. is there any reason the ZF can charge so much more? | | | | |
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