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DISCUSSION => General Topics => Topic started by: G-Man on June 30, 2009, 11:41:34 PM

Title: E30 318is steering rack question
Post by: G-Man on June 30, 2009, 11:41:34 PM

The steering rack in my latest project  (91 318is) is toast. I have a friend who has parted several E30's (325's and 318's) and offered me a spare steering rack.  Problem is, he doesn't remember if the rack he's offering me came off a M20 or M42 E30.  

Are there any differences between the steering rack on a  M20 & M42 E30?  If so, what are the differences so we can tell which E30 model the rack came from?

G-Man
91 318i 4 door M42 (GF DD)
91 318is (new project)
89 325i 4 door M20 5 speed (RIP)
86 325 2 door M20 eta (youngest daughters DD)
85 525e M20 Euro spec (oldest daughters DD)
81 528iA M30 Euro spec, time warp, 5 speed conversion in progress
74 2002tii M10 (many mods)
70 E3 2800 M30 Euro spec, stock
96 4Runner (parts hauler)

Title: E30 318is steering rack question
Post by: teh Phil on July 01, 2009, 03:08:53 AM

E30 racks are the same. Grab an E36 rack for a quicker ratio, 95 M3 or a Z3 rack would be the best.

Title: E30 318is steering rack question
Post by: JP 91iS on July 01, 2009, 08:49:35 AM

+1 on the e36 rack, stock e30 is 4.0 turns lock to lock, e36 is 3.2, 95 m3 is 3.0, Z3 is 2.7 but only because it reduces the turning radius a bit.
If you've got a free e30 rack then that's the easiest way to go. But since you're already doing a replacement, why not upgrade?