Hydraulic Steering Conversion E85 3.0i

[ianwill90]

I have just had the above conversion completed for me and it is a great success bar one issue, in that the "sport" button no longer works, I am totally devastated! :x . I understand this is because we have removed the motor and EPS (for the best steering feel results), but the "sport" signal comes from the EPS unit, so it does all make sense. I would like to workaround this issue if possible? Has anyone else who has had this conversion had a similar issue and if so did they accept it or manage to find a solution by for example reconnecting the EPS on its own and mounting it somehow? If so, does the EPS seperate from the motor ok?
We do not want to put the motor back on (powered or unpowered) as it badly effects the feel of the steering through resistance.
Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

[Ducklakeview]

The short answer, is no. The sport button alters the resistance of the EPAS via a signal sent to it from the ECU, no motor means nothing to alter. I know the M's have "normal" PAS, but is it changed in sport mode? If so, it'll be some sort of electronic valve body that can alter the flow of fluid.

Mike

 

[ianwill90]

Thanks for the response Mike, I didn't explain myself very well. It is the throttle response change I am seek to get back not the change to the steering feel.

 

[MACK]

Not sure if/how this is possible. However a work around would be something like a switchable sprint booster (although some consider these snake oil). Either that or if you would like a permanently more responsive throttle, its a good excuse for a remap!

Who did the steering conversion for you and what prompted you to do it? I'm interested in this should I ever have a failed column, not the sticking steering as there seems to be a simple fix for this these days, but the total electronic failure of the column some suffered. Don't fancy paying a specialist company £700 or so to recon the column, certainly don't fancy a £2,500 bill from the stealers!

What are your thoughts on the new steering, do you think the new steering has improved feel, weight etc?

 

[goldbcfc]

could try a sprint booster to increase throttle probably best just getting your car remaped would be easier and more beneficial

 

[ianwill90]

Not sure if/how this is possible. However a work around would be something like a switchable sprint booster (although some consider these snake oil). Either that or if you would like a permanently more responsive throttle, its a good excuse for a remap!

Who did the steering conversion for you and what prompted you to do it? I'm interested in this should I ever have a failed column, not the sticking steering as there seems to be a simple fix for this these days, but the total electronic failure of the column some suffered. Don't fancy paying a specialist company £700 or so to recon the column, certainly don't fancy a £2,500 bill from the stealers!

What are your thoughts on the new steering, do you think the new steering has improved feel, weight etc?

Thanks for the responses. A local independent BMW mechanic here in N.Ireland, did the job as it was outside my comfort zone. I have had the car a couple of years and tried many things to solve what started as sticky steering and ended in total EPS failure in February this year. I had seen on the forum a couple at least have done this conversion and couldn't face anymore cost and messing about, so the conversion seemed (and I believe is) the best option for my set of circumstances. The steering feels better than it ever has and is slightly heavier than what it was with a working EPS, which I actually prefer. I am not 100% sure but I think the throttle is more responsive than it was in non-sport mode, but less responisive than when in sport mode, some kind of middle ground, this might be my imagination though. It is early days but so far the results are good.

Does anyone know how the sport button actually increases the acceleration/power from the engine? It certainly makes a difference as far as I see it, I am just not sure why.

 

[Scooba_Steve]

AFAIK it just changes the throttle mapping so 100% throttle is achieved at less pedal travel, even if it changes the map there's no increase in power. I will have a look on WDS tonight and see how the button is wired in.

 

[adam1985]

AFAIK it just changes the throttle mapping so 100% throttle is achieved at less pedal travel, even if it changes the map there's no increase in power. I will have a look on WDS tonight and see how the button is wired in.

Agree with Steve with the sport button on its just a throttle map that is changed so you dont depress the pedal as much for WOT.

 

[adam1985]

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=14948

 

[goldbcfc]

The sport button does not change the car's acceleration. Your Z4 doesn't run any quicker with the sport button on. All the sport button does is change the throttle response so it gives the false impression that the car's quicker. Have you tried the throttle rest process since modding the steering?.

I've had the ZHP file copied to mine as the ecu is the same s54 unit for the USA E46 ZHP model so I had the cam timing part of the maps copied which were different to the map on the UK models

Will be getting the aggressive remap from BW chiptune in June so should liven it up more

its a shame they didn't fit this z4 with the proper adaptive throttle which the e90/e92/e93 has im sure the later E89 would have that too.

 

[MACK]

Not sure if/how this is possible. However a work around would be something like a switchable sprint booster (although some consider these snake oil). Either that or if you would like a permanently more responsive throttle, its a good excuse for a remap!

Who did the steering conversion for you and what prompted you to do it? I'm interested in this should I ever have a failed column, not the sticking steering as there seems to be a simple fix for this these days, but the total electronic failure of the column some suffered. Don't fancy paying a specialist company £700 or so to recon the column, certainly don't fancy a £2,500 bill from the stealers!

What are your thoughts on the new steering, do you think the new steering has improved feel, weight etc?

Thanks for the responses. A local independent BMW mechanic here in N.Ireland, did the job as it was outside my comfort zone. I have had the car a couple of years and tried many things to solve what started as sticky steering and ended in total EPS failure in February this year. I had seen on the forum a couple at least have done this conversion and couldn't face anymore cost and messing about, so the conversion seemed (and I believe is) the best option for my set of circumstances. The steering feels better than it ever has and is slightly heavier than what it was with a working EPS, which I actually prefer. I am not 100% sure but I think the throttle is more responsive than it was in non-sport mode, but less responisive than when in sport mode, some kind of middle ground, this might be my imagination though. It is early days but so far the results are good.

Does anyone know how the sport button actually increases the acceleration/power from the engine? It certainly makes a difference as far as I see it, I am just not sure why.

As far as I am aware the sport button just increases/sharpens throttle response in the same way as say a sprint booster does. It doesn't effect BHP and I suppose the car might be every so slightly faster 0-60 for example due to the faster responding throttle, in reality this will be minimal say 1/10 of a second off a 0-60. Certainly wont make a 6 second car into 5 second car for example.
I quite like the sprint booster on my zed, its one I have had for must be 10 years now on various BMWs (both auto and manuals) I even used it on remapped cars. Does what it says on the tin really! However they are now best part of £200 these days and with remaps available at decent outfits from as little as £300 it does beg the question if its worth just going down that route, they may even be able to restore the sport button function as part of the job.

Did your indie code out the eps when he did your install so you don't get the eps light/fault codes etc ?

 

[ianwill90]

Thanks again for the feedback. I will check if the codes have been masked, but the EPS light is not visible, so this must have been done. I am probably not likely to pursue a sprint booster as I will let the dust settle after all of the recent expense. I am sure the car is more responsive now than it was in "normal" (not sport) mode prior to the conversion, so I am happy with the performance, just would prefer everything to be as normal if possible, i.e. the sport button working.
I can't find the "throttle rest" process on the forum, is it named by soemthing else?

 

[Machine monkey]

I have found driving without the sport button pressed is better. Well easier to modulate power when TC is turned off. And less likely to get more sideways than you wanted. Reading this and hearing what you have to say about the steering. Is making me want to get mine done.

 

[z4pilot]

Thanks again for the feedback. I will check if the codes have been masked, but the EPS light is not visible, so this must have been done. I am probably not likely to pursue a sprint booster as I will let the dust settle after all of the recent expense. I am sure the car is more responsive now than it was in "normal" (not sport) mode prior to the conversion, so I am happy with the performance, just would prefer everything to be as normal if possible, i.e. the sport button working.
I can't find the "throttle rest" process on the forum, is it named by soemthing else?

I think it was a typo. Try this for the throttle reset process...

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=82118&p=1213104&hilit=throttle+reset#p1213104

 

[ianwill90]

Thanks again for the feedback. I will check if the codes have been masked, but the EPS light is not visible, so this must have been done. I am probably not likely to pursue a sprint booster as I will let the dust settle after all of the recent expense. I am sure the car is more responsive now than it was in "normal" (not sport) mode prior to the conversion, so I am happy with the performance, just would prefer everything to be as normal if possible, i.e. the sport button working.
I can't find the "throttle rest" process on the forum, is it named by soemthing else?

I think it was a typo. Try this for the throttle reset process...

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=82118&p=1213104&hilit=throttle+reset#p1213104

Ah got it now, thanks!

 

[ianwill90]

Tried the reset process and no real change, worth a try though. I haven't heard back from anyone who had the conversion with sport button problems, so I I will live with it for now and maybe refit the motor/EPS at some future point avoiding the mechanical contact in someway.