Did the Z3 Rack Conversion and It's Awesome

[mr ilia]

Does your steering wheel centers after the turn or you have to help?

I only got about 30 mins of driving in after alignment but Damn is tight! Ive been PS delete for a few months now w the stock rack, but Im thinking I might need to reinstall it now with this new rack. I'll definitely give it a few more days to decide though, but w/ my 225's initiating turns is a bit tough.

[mccor023]

I only got about 30 mins of driving in after alignment but Damn is tight! Ive been PS delete for a few months now w the stock rack, but Im thinking I might need to reinstall it now with this new rack. I'll definitely give it a few more days to decide though, but w/ my 225's initiating turns is a bit tough.

[mccor023]

I ended up making just using a couple thin spacers to connect the knuckle. The possibility does exist that the reason for the spacing is I tapped the knuckle down too far on the rack creating the unusual space.
Im getting alignment now, and will see if they can zero out the toe, and Ill test drive to see how it all feels. Fingers cross, buddha belly and all that.

[mr ilia]

How did it do with the install?

I'm starting to think that is the case! I started this solo and after giving up attaching the knuckle to column and then knuckle to rack (w/ spacers installed). I separated the knuckle, inserted the top and installed rack to subframe w bottom half of knuckle. Now im looking and there is no way the spacers will fit, and Im doubting everything. [ATTACH]73841[/ATTACH]

[mccor023]

Actually the Z3 rack may NOT require knuckle modification. E36 racks do, but the splines on the Z3 rack go deeper (oh baby) and may not require knuckle shortening.

The funny thing is, the Z3 rack is such a huge improvement over the stock rack but it's still not THAT fast. For instance, try driving a car with a z3 rack and then driving an Evo or a Mazda3.

I'm starting to think that is the case! I started this solo and after giving up attaching the knuckle to column and then knuckle to rack (w/ spacers installed). I separated the knuckle, inserted the top and installed rack to subframe w bottom half of knuckle. Now im looking and there is no way the spacers will fit, and Im doubting everything.

[Wh33lhop]

Just to clarify: non airbag needs knuckle modification but no firewall modification- and reverse is true for airbag?

Actually the Z3 rack may NOT require knuckle modification. E36 racks do, but the splines on the Z3 rack go deeper (oh baby) and may not require knuckle shortening.

The funny thing is, the Z3 rack is such a huge improvement over the stock rack but it's still not THAT fast. For instance, try driving a car with a z3 rack and then driving an Evo or a Mazda3.

[Polaris15]

On my air bag car when i open the glove box it has an airbag warning sticker. Perhaps check your car for that?

[mulletman]

type your vin into a BMW vin decoder

I did this. It doesn't say anything about an airbag, but it does list that my Mtech 2 wheel was a factory option, and not added aftermarket.

That would mean that my car is a non-airbag car, yes?

I haven't had a chance to look at the steering knuckle to verify.

[fronton]

This will likely be the next mod my car gets, once I put my suspension back together.


My issue is figuring out whether or not my car originally came with an airbag. It currently has an MTech2 steering wheel, with no bag.

-It's a 1990. And yes, those had airbags, except for some really early ones. Mine is an August-1989 build. Really early 1990 model.
-It has no airbag light on the instrument panel anywhere, like I would expect an airbag car to have. Can someone verify that the airbag cars actually do have a light?
-RealOEM lists both airbag parts and non-airbag parts when I type in my VIN.

Any other ideas on how to find out?

type your vin into a BMW vin decoder

[ClayW]

Just to clarify: non airbag needs knuckle modification but no firewall modification- and reverse is true for airbag?

Correct.

Airbag cars need the firewall to be modified.
Non-airbag cars need the knuckle to be modified.

[mccor023]

Just to clarify: non airbag needs knuckle modification but no firewall modification- and reverse is true for airbag?

[ClayW]

This will likely be the next mod my car gets, once I put my suspension back together.


My issue is figuring out whether or not my car originally came with an airbag. It currently has an MTech2 steering wheel, with no bag.

-It's a 1990. And yes, those had airbags, except for some really early ones. Mine is an August-1989 build. Really early 1990 model.
-It has no airbag light on the instrument panel anywhere, like I would expect an airbag car to have. Can someone verify that the airbag cars actually do have a light?
-RealOEM lists both airbag parts and non-airbag parts when I type in my VIN.

Any other ideas on how to find out?

The difference is in the steering knuckle.

Airbag E30 Knuckle:




Non-Airbag E30 Knuckle (which needs modification):

[mulletman]

This will likely be the next mod my car gets, once I put my suspension back together.


My issue is figuring out whether or not my car originally came with an airbag. It currently has an MTech2 steering wheel, with no bag.

-It's a 1990. And yes, those had airbags, except for some really early ones. Mine is an August-1989 build. Really early 1990 model.
-It has no airbag light on the instrument panel anywhere, like I would expect an airbag car to have. Can someone verify that the airbag cars actually do have a light?
-RealOEM lists both airbag parts and non-airbag parts when I type in my VIN.

Any other ideas on how to find out?

[ClayW]

Clay, I see you have a late model I am bout to do this next week. Did you have an problems with the firewall? Also was your car airbag or non airbag?

Thanks.

Yep, my car is a 1991 sedan with an airbag.

You have to notch out the firewall and make a plate to hold the firewall shaft seal. See the bottom of this page.

Notching:




New firewall seal plate:



It's really not that difficult to do, but it requires some thought. See my swap here.

[mccor023]

Clay, I see you have a late model I am bout to do this next week. Did you have an problems with the firewall? Also was your car airbag or non airbag?

Thanks.