Z3 rack: best mod to date!!

[noE30]

i mean, just re-attach the hoses and get a new belt? not hard at all.

The problem is I don't know if the pump works. I'm just thinking hypothetically as I would like quicker steering eventually, I guess when the time comes I'll just have to try it out.

[grantlacey11]

just one question... did you use e36 tie rod ends on your z3 inners?

I used my e30 inner and outer tie rods on the z3 core. worked perfectly.

[grantlacey11]

The problem is I don't know if the pump works. I'm just thinking hypothetically as I would like quicker steering eventually, I guess when the time comes I'll just have to try it out.

high pressure hose is from the pump to the rack. the low pressure hose goes from the rack to the res. simple!

[Ian Bowers]

I used my e30 inner and outer tie rods on the z3 core. worked perfectly.

What this man said. I purchased new inner/outer tie rods from Blunt. Aside from the boots being a bitch to get back on, all is well nearly a year later.

[SoEm0]

just one question... did you use e36 tie rod ends on your z3 inners?

Yeah you use e36 outers on the Z3 inners.

[Heysüß]

What this man said. I purchased new inner/outer tie rods from Blunt. Aside from the boots being a bitch to get back on, all is well nearly a year later.

Yeah you use e36 outers on the Z3 inners.

so what do you guys recommend I do?

I have two new, unopened tie rod assemblies (inner and outer) for e30. Should I order new e36 outers ? since my z3 rack came with inners and it just needs outers? or should I put the whole e30 tie rod assembly on instead?

[MikeDE]

Did you mod the steering column knuckle like on the DIY???

[grantlacey11]

so what do you guys recommend I do?

I have two new, unopened tie rod assemblies (inner and outer) for e30. Should I order new e36 outers ? since my z3 rack came with inners and it just needs outers? or should I put the whole e30 tie rod assembly on instead?

put the whole e30 tie rod assembly on it. simple as that!

when i took it to get aligned it was just barely off too.

[e30polak]

but the z3 has the least turns to lock. but i believe the 95 m3 rack is the most progressive, despite the 3.5 turns to lock.

'95 M3 is the 2nd best at 3.0 turns, not 3.5

'96 + 328/M3 are 3.2 turns

E30 M3 is 3.5 turns

Stock E30 is 4 turns

Yeah, the 95 M3 rack is crap. There is no downside to the Z3 rack over other E36/E30 racks unless you have allergies (don't want to inadvertently change lanes when you sneeze ;))

Anyway, awesome. A full front-end refresh is always fun. Did you use offset CABs?

How so Nate? Have you driven the 2 back to back? The 0.3 turns is negligible, especially for the difference in price. The 95 M3 rack is far from crap. :roll:

I've driven each type of rack now, and the Z3 1.9 one is a bit twitchy for me on the freeway if you have power steering AND light wheels, with responsive tires.

I used to have the '98 M3 rack on my swap car, with pretty heavy 17s, but responsive FK452 tires and I loved it! I also had full coil-overs, with polyurethane offset M3 CABs, M3 sway link conversion and a polyurethane steering coupler.

Also if anyone is doing this swap, make sure to buy a polyurethane steering coupler from Ireland. It cleans up any extra "sloppyness" left from a rubber steering coupler and is only $20!

[blunttech]

so what do you guys recommend I do?

I have two new, unopened tie rod assemblies (inner and outer) for e30. Should I order new e36 outers ? since my z3 rack came with inners and it just needs outers? or should I put the whole e30 tie rod assembly on instead?

The Mavel racks come with lemfoerder inners so they are good quality. I just removed mine and installed new complete lemfoerder (e30) and sold the inners that came with the rack. This is my favorite mod next to a snail

[Wh33lhop]

How so Nate?

How so?

Least overall travel of all E36 racks
Heavily progressive behavior
Slowest overall turn-to-travel ratio of all E36 racks

Remember there is a lot more to a steering rack than the lock-to-lock figures that everyone loves to throw around. Is the 95 M3 rack crap in itself? No, but I tend to be more emphatic about the point because of the misinformation out there regarding the rack and the high prices it fetches. $300 for a rack that is inferior in every way to a regular $100 E36 rack? THAT'S crap.

I made a thread awhile back a little more in-depth when I stumbled upon a thread about E36 M3 guys swapping for Z3 racks.

<3

[rares]

thanks guys, getting mine here soon, good info

[Heysüß]

Did you mod the steering column knuckle like on the DIY???

that was another hiccup, I swear I've never felt dumber than I do right now. I don't have those two intertwining fork looking things, it's just the u-joints and the steering coupler (flex disk). And I don't know what year e30s were airbags so I don't know if all I have to do is grind the wall a little bit.

I've replaced an entire rear subframe bushings and all and this, which seems easier is holding me back more. :(

The Mavel racks come with lemfoerder inners so they are good quality. I just removed mine and installed new complete lemfoerder (e30) and sold the inners that came with the rack. This is my favorite mod next to a snail

Awesome, good to hear this, just makes me want to get mine done quicker.

[Heysüß]

took a little while, but here is my steering knuckle...

see how it's just the flex disk and u joints?

[CHITTY]

There were different racks. The 96 M44 1.9l Z3 has the 2.7T rack, as far as I know.

I have see everone saying the M44 Z3 rack is the one to get, but when I look up that number on ETK it show that part # 32131095575 fits the 1.9 2.5 and 3.0 Z3. So I'm wondering if all these Z3 reman racks out there are all the 2.7 lock to lock linerar style or they mixing them up with other e36 racks and calling them all the same. Just a tad bit confused and want to order the correct one from my supplier, which could not help with that answer. Thanks in advance.