Will a z4m steering rack fit a non-m?

How handy are you with the tools ?.....If I was looking at this I,de check out an E46 power steering rack...It should fit ,..the power steering pump from the E46 will fit on our engines and the pipes from the E46 should fit straight on
The issue (might) be a lack of a pressure switch in the feed pipe from the pump to the rack ......basically the pressure switch senses a rise in pressure and tells the engine ECU to increase the revs slightly to stop it stalling as you wind on some lock at idle and at parking speeds .

Then theres just the matter of isolating the electric power steering motor while retaining the column mounted steering and yaw sensors
 
If its the dreaded sticky steering, it's most likely the column and not the rack. I'd imagine changing to hydraulic power steering would be more hassle than its worth
 
Stuart Truman said:
If its the dreaded sticky steering, it's most likely the column and not the rack. I'd imagine changing to hydraulic power steering would be more hassle than its worth
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Yes it will be the column......the OP wanted to fit a Z4M rack which is hydraulic.......the E 46 is also hydraulic and not as rare ( expensive) as the Z4M ...fitting a hydraulic rack and isolating the steering electric motor would be cheaper option if useing good used parts

I can see this becoming more of a problem as the early examples depreciate.......the cost of a new steering column exceeding the cars value :cry:
 
Thanks for the info.

And yes, it's for the dreaded sticky problem. Good thing I asked first lol. I was about to pull the trigger on the rack.

Gona try and grease up the column.
 
ricekikr said:
Thanks for the info.

And yes, it's for the dreaded sticky problem. Good thing I asked first lol. I was about to pull the trigger on the rack.

Gona try and grease up the column.
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Good luck with that. One or two have reported limited success, but general consensus is that it's the steering column ecu and unfortunately it's an expensive component. The column is one package and costs £1650 plus parts and labour.
 
I fitted a second hand facelift column (which I bought for about £100 I think) and cured it - the later columns are revised and don't do the sticky thing! Steering still sucks after driving an M model, so I am stock piling the parts to do the hydraulic conversion.

The steering angle sensor is not integral to the column, so I hope there won't be too many issues in disconnecting it. I know this conversion has been done - I spoke to a guy who was flogging his old column on ebay after swapping an e46 rack and pump into his 2.5 z4.

How hard can it be.......
 
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