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  • Steering upgrade question?

    Hi all

    I've finally got my car sorted for its MOT after 2 years being laid up.

    Today I drove it to the garage for its MOT fingers crossed it passes tomorrow? I couldn't help noticing the feel of the steering is pretty sluggish and the rack isn't quick enough.

    I understand this was intention on BMW's part due to power and making it safer to drive I believe?

    After driving a new seat Leon company car over the last few years I've got used to sharper steering and I think I want to upgrade mine.

    Am I correct in thinking I can replace the rack with another from a z3? If so can anyone advise which one I should be looking to get?

    Thanks Ash

  • #2
    I changed mine over to the standard Z3 one....easily obtainable and worth it,i also think i have herd that the E46 one is good too!

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    • #3
      Ok Thanks

      Are there many variants? Or are all the Z3 racks the same accept ours?

      Ash

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      • #4
        All the same.

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        • #5
          I am in the process of installing a new one : https://v2tre.wordpress.com/2016/01/...y-for-install/

          This model is originally for Z3 1.8 - 3.0. Should be faster than that of Z3M.

          Some other pics showing how easily the rack can be accessed in these maschines : https://v2tre.wordpress.com/2016/01/...s-version-2-0/

          Has anyone used one of these : http://www.ebay.de/itm/121843079895

          Wonder whether the solid bush instead of the rubber one can create any negative effect ?
          The older I get, the faster I was ...
          BMW HP2 Sport
          ex- BMW Z3 M Coupe - Cosmosschwartz Metallic

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          • #6
            I have a Z3 rack on mine since buying (since I had a spare rack from my old Roadster).

            I also have no rubber bush in the column; bolted together with some spacers. This gets rid of the centre slop that no doubt all Coupes will now have at this age. The only trade off I noticed is that you can feel the engine at idle very slightly, whereas with the rubber bush this is masked.

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            • #7
              Sorry to hijack this threat but is it really so that the lower steering column is a one piece part : http://bmwfans.info/parts-catalog/Z3...ssy/#1092644_1

              The rubber joint is not available separately at all ?

              Took of the steering column today and inspected the rubber joint. It looks ok but the rubber is rather soft and it will definitely give some slobbyness to the steering input.
              The older I get, the faster I was ...
              BMW HP2 Sport
              ex- BMW Z3 M Coupe - Cosmosschwartz Metallic

              Comment


              • #8
                I'm surprised if there's not some slop between the dowels and the rubber, mine had some play there, though you can tell as tehre's some dead play in the steering wheel at rest.

                It's one part for the Z3, but old BMWs, like E30 and E34 you can buy the new rubber joint. The E30 one is hilariously soft and thin, something I would not like to rely on to steer the car!

                I managed to get a new one that is similar to the Coupe's and fitted tight sleeves using some alloy tubing and was able to bolt it up, but for some reason it creaked on the car, so I just used metal spacers and bolted the two halves rigidly and find it's fine.

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                • #9
                  So the spacer further up this thread ia a good buy then ?

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                  • #10
                    It's worth getting if you can't be faffed with the DIY aspect (ie it should all bolt on). You will have to cut your original fixed bolts off though (they are like big rivets through the bush).

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Any body tried one of these i doubt there is much difference between lhd and rhd

                      http://www.akgmotorsport.com/catalog...2FM%20Steering
                      BMW e21 track car
                      Z3M (S62)
                      2.8 Z3 Coupe
                      Ariel Atom
                      GT86 race car
                      Ferrari 348 Challenge
                      Merc G500

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                      • #12
                        Originally posted by e21jason View Post
                        Any body tried one of these i doubt there is much difference between lhd and rhd

                        http://www.akgmotorsport.com/catalog...2FM%20Steering
                        That would work perfectly as it maintains the original angle between the parts. Although I don't think that it makes big difference if one just removes the rubber mount, then rotates the parts 90 degrees to connect them with just two polts and appropriate spacers. I think that this was the mod done by c_w ?

                        The 4 bolt approach will be a bit stronger and the original position of the parts may make the installation of the steering column a bit easier perhaps.

                        The ultimate version would be to have the aluminium coupler with smaller polyurethane inserts around the bolts.

                        If I can locate suitable polyurethane rod I might go and manufacture a version with polyurethane inserts around the bolts and rest of the coupling milled from solid aluminium.
                        The older I get, the faster I was ...
                        BMW HP2 Sport
                        ex- BMW Z3 M Coupe - Cosmosschwartz Metallic

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Originally posted by JuhaV View Post
                          Sorry to hijack this threat but is it really so that the lower steering column is a one piece part : http://bmwfans.info/parts-catalog/Z3...ssy/#1092644_1

                          The rubber joint is not available separately at all ?

                          Took of the steering column today and inspected the rubber joint. It looks ok but the rubber is rather soft and it will definitely give some slobbyness to the steering input.
                          some details here,

                          http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/sh...-favorite-mods

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            The steering feel is MUCH better, like it should be. I don't see a down side. I guess on older cars, the bushing is made to rip on impact so the column doesn't hit the driver, but on Z3s, the lower joint is made to collapse.
                            It's fitment is purely NVH I think; with it fitted you cannot feel the engine at all (particularly at idle), with it bolted rigidly you can feel a faint hum through the wheel when it idles but it's really something I never notice anymore, but something I noticed initially.

                            It doesn't affect how the column "collapses" as the column is telescopic there (ie the top half of the column locates in the lower UJ with a centre tube which you can't see when the shaft is made up (but basically the tube locates through the rubber donut bush in to the lower part, so for me the rubber bush merely insulates the lower part from the cabin, and wouldn't allow for much compression on the bush compared with solid).
                            Last edited by c_w; 26-01-2016, 08:43 PM.

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