BMW Rallying Forum

I'm building an E36 Ti gravel rally car, and hate the standard steering.

Used, warranted Z3 rack with 2.7 turns lock to lock is Aus$880, where a E46 purple tag rack with 3.0 turns L-to-L is $295.

Is it worth spending the extra on a Z3 one?

Dont worth the way of buying it outside AUS?

In europe a refurbished z3 rack is about 250eur/400aud, and shipping will be expensive, but not to reach the 880aud total, isnt it?

Interesting. Is that for LHD or RHD?

I thought that the z3 rack had less throw and steering angle making the 2.7 turns lock to lock more like a limited 3.2 rack

Funny, I did LOTS of reading before posting and didn't see anyone mentioning that.
Then I have read it three times in the last 24 hours!

I am going to go with the Purple Tag rack, and see what happens. If it is too slow, I can investigate the Z3 rack more carefully (and the E46 rack can go into the 316 banger).

Edit: I have decided that I want to do a particular event in a month's time. So the build schedule has been dramatically accelerated - and the budget is taking a hammering, so that makes the cheaper option far more appealing.

I've got both racks. I removed the boots and set the rack to a datum point to measure from. The purple tag extends 50mm per revolution,,, Z3 is 52mm. The std rack I had extended 45mm..... Remember that some racks have limiters fitted - so going by the lock to lock measurement could be deceiving

you could try a steering quickener. Available from the US on ebay.

Overthelimit wrote:you could try a steering quickener. Available from the US on ebay.

Has been discussed and seriously considered, but one of the main goals with this build is to avoid custom/significantly modified parts.
Plus the road registration authorities freak out about stuff like cut & welded steering components.