Is my rack different because I have a airbag car

[MR 325]

This just popped in to my head. I remember hearing the airbag cars have a bit of a different steering rack. If this is true will my car take a rack out of a non airbag car? Also, I swapped a subframe in out of a non airbag car, would that matter.

Some help on this ASAP would be great

[DarkWing6]

James Crivellone was telling me the other day that most people will say that you cannot use the non air bag with an air bag and vise versa, but he says you can. I believe he did.

[Brian 89 325i]

When you buy one they are different. So maybe, In the pics that online parts places have, they look different.

Brian

[nando]

the steering columns are different. it may work to put an airbag rack in a non-airbag car (what james did), but it might not work to put a non-airbag rack in an airbag car.

[JeffRR]

I've got an air-bag car ('90) and I'm in the middle of swapping in a 95 M rack, so far I can't see where the problem would be.

I've only removed the old rack and now I'm machining a spacer to adapt ther E30 upper to the E36 lower. I'm not planning on installing the new rack until next weekend.

I haven't found anything that states why you can't install the E36 rack if your car originally had the air-bag column.

Jeff

[James Crivellone]

the steering columns are different. it may work to put an airbag rack in a non-airbag car (what james did), but it might not work to put a non-airbag rack in an airbag car.

they are compatible, at least mine were. to swap either way

[Digitalwave]

I think the steering racks themselves are the same, its the columns in the dash that are different.

[BS87]

I think the steering racks themselves are the same, its the columns in the dash that are different.

Yep, everything is re-inforced.

[golde30]

i put the rack from my 90 325i, into my 88 325is. the only difference is from the steering column coupler up...in other words, the bare rack is the same.

[zandi]

Oh dude, come on...you gotta have love for that steering wheel, it's the best stress reliever. You take out stress by twisting the top of it around and you don't have to put much effort into honking, just pound your first on the front of it and you got your horn. And then there's safety!

[SC ic]

So, I can use a 1988 325i steering rack in a 1990 airbag 325ic without modification?

[golde30]

So, I can use a 1988 325i steering rack in a 1990 airbag 325ic without modification?

the reverse worked out...

[SC ic]

Anyone? I need to know by yesterday.

[gearheadE30]

Yes, you will have to use the steering coupler from the airbag rack, though.