E30 Rack Swap Kit

This guide was created to explain how to swap an e36 e46 or z3 steering rack into an e30.

E30 rack swap kit.

This kit includes the spacers and different power steering hoses you will need as the hoses are mounted differently on the z3 rack. Bmw e30 close ratio steering rack swap. These bmw e30 to e36 steering rack conversion spacers are ideal for anyone swapping out their e30 steering rack for an e36 steering rack. This kit is for non airbag models only and includes the following.

The steering racks that can be swapped in from the other chassis make the car feel sportier and become a bit more nimble. All non m 3 series coupes and sedans 92 98 came with a 3 2 turns lock to lock rack. This kit is for airbag equipped e30 models spacers are installed on top of the rack pinion. The good news is that you can use standard e30 units so if your current ones are in good condition then there s no need to buy new parts.

This kit includes everything needed to allows you to install a later model e36 or e46 steering rack into an e30 3 series 1984 1990. Fcp euro now makes a kit to install a z3 rack into an e30. This is desired because the lock to lock ratio on the e30 is quite large. If you are planning to do an e30 steering rack to e36 m3 or e36 z3 steering rack swap you should buy a complete kit.

M3s and m z3s 96 had a 3 2 ratio rack as well. The pros to buying the complete kit is substantial savings over buying the component parts and the kit is complete requiring no retrofitting or fabrication to install unlike the diy procedure. The spacers take up the additional space between the rack and the crossmember that occurs when swapping an e36 rack to an e30 front crossmember. Installation was fairly straight forward but will still take a bit of engineering to get a few details worked out.

For early model e30 s not equipped with an airbag you should purchase kit rpkit. You will need one of these kits. You can use either but not both. Made of solid cnc d 6061 t6 aluminum.

However you can t use complete inner and outer rods from newer bmws. 95 m3 had a 3 0 turns lock to lock rack and a 2 8l z3 96 had a 2 7. There are 3 different ratios that bmw e36 cars came equipped with. Swapping one of these rack and pinions into an e30 allows for quicker steering over the factory equipped racks.

Bmw e30 3 series to z3 e36 e46 steering rack conversion kit lose that school bus steering feel in your e30. There may be other retailers but the kit used by people i know is available from zionsville autosport.