E46/ZHP/purple tag rack *donor car* identification tricks?

[Maybe Magpie]

BLUF: I want to know if there's a shortcut to identifying ZHP cars in scrapyards. If so, how?

More detailed: I'm saving up to eventually do a rack swap because my original is slowly on the way out and I want to pull and rebuild the sucker myself or have it done locally, but there doesn't seem to be a way to filter for the right spec of rack or search by part number on the likes of car-part junkyard search. Is there a way to easily identify ZHP cars or do I just have to get under all the damn E46s in yards local to me to find the right rack?

Thanks.

[av8drvr]

I own a ZHP, and have installed a "ZHP" rack in my E30. What I understand is that all ZHP E46's came with the yellow tag (712) rack, however, that rack was also found on non ZHP E46's as well. If you want to easily identify a factory ZHP at the junkyard, the gauges will have orange needles. I have found that although wheels/bumpers/steering wheels are often swapped to clone a AZHP, very few folks will actually swap out the gauges so it is usually a good indication.

[Maybe Magpie]

I own a ZHP, and have installed a "ZHP" rack in my E30. What I understand is that all ZHP E46's came with the yellow tag (712) rack, however, that rack was also found on non ZHP E46's as well. If you want to easily identify a factory ZHP at the junkyard, the gauges will have orange needles. I have found that although wheels/bumpers/steering wheels are often swapped to clone a AZHP, very few folks will actually swap out the gauges so it is usually a good indication.

This is a great tip, thank you. I was under the impression the ZHP yellow and clubsport purple racks were both found on ZHP cars, am I mistaken? I have a somewhat strong preference for the purple but if the price and condition are good and I can't find one of the purples, I'd settle for a yellow. To my understanding the torsion bar and valving are slightly different and the purple is a little better for a streeted e30, right? Appreciate the advice!

[av8drvr]

I believe all US sped ZHP's were sold with 712 yellow racks. Where it gets convoluted is the presence of Canadian spec 330i's that were essentially ZHP's but had a different option code than the performance package (we got S767A on the VIN decoder, our cousins to the north had "ZAM" I think. I also think they got purple tags). Just FYI, I went from stock E30 to 96' e36 non-M rack to the yellow tag. To me the 712 with stock power steering in place is perfect..

[av8drvr]

Just another data point. I also owned an E46 M3, and to be honest the steering on my ZHP is better, a touch quicker and tighter. US M3's came with purple tags. I think the 712 is peak BMW steering feel. I think the purple tag is a better rack for 100 MPH and greater conditions (less twitchy) which makes sense. But at everyday speeds, especially in my 318iS, the 712 is nirvana.

[Maybe Magpie]

Just another data point. I also owned an E46 M3, and to be honest the steering on my ZHP is better, a touch quicker and tighter. US M3's came with purple tags. I think the 712 is peak BMW steering feel. I think the purple tag is a better rack for 100 MPH and greater conditions (less twitchy) which makes sense. But at everyday speeds, especially in my 318iS, the 712 is nirvana.

Huh, that surprises me - I was under the impression US M3s had blue tags? Good to know. Still, I'll take a look and see if I can turn a purple tag rack up on a yard E46 M3. I prefer a less twitchy rack, is all. Thanks!