German speakers - help!

[_Nathan_]

I want a LHD steering rack as converting my car to the way BMW intended, Z4M, CSL\CS, 330i (later model faster than M3) or even normal e46 M3, free translation converts steering rack to Steuerungsständer but nothing found on ebay.de for that, what should I search for?

Thanks.

[northernjim]

Steering gear is lenkgetriebe.....

http://www.lenkgetriebe.net/lenkgetriebe-bmw-e46.html

Do you not know anyone at the ring? Schirmer, Raeder or jacos to ask?

[_Nathan_]

Could email Tom I suppose, dunno why I didn't think of that! Want to look on ebay to see what is about and the costs, Z4M rack is faster but I guess a lot rarer.

[shimmy]

Could email Tom I suppose, dunno why I didn't think of that! Want to look on ebay to see what is about and the costs, Z4M rack is faster but I guess a lot rarer.

Pm Roland on here Nathan, he works/lives Germany so should know.

[alexk]

Hi Nathan,

Search for Lenkgetriebe.
Jim was right

[The Gorilla]

Hi,

Quote - ''I want a LHD steering rack as converting my car to the way BMW intended,''

Not sure I am buying that !!
More to do with S54 slant and of
course some may even argue
'Apex'' sighting !

Not following you on the Z4 Rack though ?

Z3 Rack is 2.7 lock to lock at 54mm per
rev so its about par with the CSL Rack.

Rack from a Z3 1.8 - 2.8 will be the 2.7 Ratio and
will bolt straight in E46 subframe with
correct tie rod spacing.

It also requires an approx 15mm spacer, so you
move the rack up to dial out bump steer,
so even better on a lowered car.

Regards,

The Gorilla.

[_Nathan_]

e92 M3 Rack 12.5:1
Z4M Coupe Rack 12.8:1
Z4M Roadster Rack 13.7:1
330i ZHP, possibly other late 330i Rack 13.7:1
CSL Rack 14.5:1
E46 M3 Rack 15.4:1

Some of the above are apparently variable ratio but not sure exactly which, e92 M3 rack is supposed to be slower in the middle than it is at the extreme ends so not sure if the ratio measurement is done on an average of lock to lock?

Going to use the Merc A Class electric pump I think.

[The Gorilla]

Hi,

E92 M3 Rack does not fit.

Z4 M Coupe Rack is slower than
Z3 Rack, apart from the Z4
Manual Rack which is the same
2.7 ratio [fits with the electric head]

Z4 Roadster is Variable I think.

Merc A Class electric pump makes sense.

After using Merc A Class and BMW Mini
the Merc is much less hassle.

Regards,

The Gorilla.

[_Nathan_]

Thanks for the info.

Have you driven an e46 with a faster rack? Impressions if so?

[The Gorilla]

Hi,

Nathan- you can go to far so to speak.

I drove an E46 M3 with a 2.4 quick Rack
Conversion by the Swiss Guy [Roland] that did the
Manual 2.2 Quick rack on the E30 M3 for me.

There is almost to much steering 'input' that even
on a Track / Race Car, your always 'correcting',
even on the straights !!!

The E92 M3 Rack has a nice feel to it for a
quick rack, 2.5 ratio, but the rack is approx
60mm longer than the CSL rack, so the tie rod
fulcrum points are not in the same plane, as
the pivot point on the front E46 Wishbones.

I expect that Info is 'Googled' as well !!!

There is an E46 Rack on the 1.8 or 2.0 that
is also a power rack with a quick ratio of
something like 2.8 turns lock to lock so
almost the same as the CSL for a lot less
money.

Regards,

The Gorilla.

[_Nathan_]

Thanks for that - it was going too far I was concerned with, don't want to make it really tiring to drive for long distance races.

From a quick realoem scout (or google ) it seems that the 330i ZHP rack is actually the same ratio as loads of the standard e46 range, slightly faster than a CSL rack but miles cheaper which I guess is the rack you are referring to, looks like the part number used in the ZHP has some differences that change the feel despite having the same ratio though.

Do you know if a standard 3 series rack will just drop in?

Might just stick a standard M3 rack in and see what it is like, spares are plentiful...

[The Gorilla]

Hi,

Yes, they bolt straight in, but some
may require ''spacers'' as the
rack pick up points are sometimes
less than the CSL/M3 distance where
it bolts into the front subframe.

Regards,

The Gorilla.

[NZ_M3]

Sometimes google can be your friend :whistle:

http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showpost.php?p=1064763019&postcount=45

[_Nathan_]

Thanks - saw that link before, the us guys have tried pretty much every combo you can think of, not many z4mc racks around though, leaning towards standard m3 rack as easy to get and a known quantity but will speak to a few customers to see what they are using.