BMW E36 steering rack upgrade
Upgrading the power steering rack of your BMW E36 can significantly enhance your driving experience and provide improved handling and responsiveness.
The factory power steering system may leave some drivers desiring a more direct and engaging feel. Fortunately, there are various power steering upgrades available that can transform the E36's steering characteristics and deliver a heightened level of control and feedback.
Whether you're a performance enthusiast seeking sharper handling or simply looking to enhance the driving dynamics of your E36, a power steering upgrade can be a worthwhile investment.
What are your options for BMW E36 steering upgrade?
OPTION I
BMW E36 Steering Rack
If you want to stay 100% stock with your E36, you can get another E36 power steering rack.
3.33 turns lock to lock- checked by us
Total rod travel from end to end- 150mm
Rod movement per revolution- 45mm
Total rod length- 575mm
Number of rod's splines- 26
One of the biggest advantages of this unit is its price and availability, as E36 racks are commonly available and reasonably priced. However, it's worth noting that all components of the E36 rack are quite old, which can lead to issues over time.
Common problems with used E36 units: One issue that arises is center position play between the rack and pinion, which can be attributed to the spline design of the rack and its age. Additionally, another common problem occurs when the steering system has been working with black, contaminated steering fluid. This often leads to issues in the steering control valve housing area.
If you're considering upgrading your BMW E36 power steering system, we recommend the BMW E46 steering rack upgrade. This upgrade offers better performance and only components that need to be changed are the inner tie rods and boots.
BMW E36 steering rack
OPTION II
BMW E36 M3 Steering Rack
The BMW E36 M3 steering rack has 3.2 turns lock to lock (number of turns also confirmed by us), which may cause some confusion.
Total rod travel from end to end- 144mm
Rod movement per revolution- 45mm
Total rod length- 575mm
Number of rod's splines- 26
In reality, the internals of the E36 M3 and standard E36 steering racks are almost the same. So why the difference in turns? The original M3 steering rack is equipped with 'limiters' between the inner tie rods and the steering rack rod. These spacers limit the turns lock to lock and reduce the rod's travel distance.
To identify an E36 M3 steering rack, you can simply look at the housing color. The standard E36 rack is grey or silver aluminum, while the E36 M3 rack is dark grey in color. In conclusion, the BMW E36 M3 rack is not quicker at all, but it is shorter while the spacers are installed.
Once the spacers are removed, it becomes the same as a standard E36 steering rack with exactly 3.33 turns lock to lock- checked by us.
Measurements for E36 rack without the spacers:
Total rod travel from end to end- 150mm
Rod movement per revolution- 45mm
Total rod length- 575mm
Number of rod's splines- 26
It's worth noting that all types of E36 power steering racks, including LHD, RHD, M3s, and non-M3s, have a 17mm diameter pinion with 54 spline count.
BMW E36 M3 steering rack
OPTION III
BMW E46 Steering Rack SIilver TAG
The BMW E46 Silver Tag steering rack is an affordable upgrade option that offers 3.2 turns lock to lock (exactly 3.33 turns- checked by us).
Total rod travel from end to end- 150mm
Rod movement per revolution- 45mm
Total rod length- 575mm
Number of rod's splines- 26
While it's not as popular as the Purple Tag rack, it comes at a lower price point. However, its handling may not be as good as the more popular 3 turns lock to lock BMW E46 Club Sport Purple Tag steering rack, although it still performs reasonably well. The condition of those racks are usually much better than old E36 steering racks.
To fit an E46 steering rack Silver TAG into your E36 you would need:
1. Tie rods - Fitting BMW E46 steering rack into your BMW E36 is an almost direct swap. You would need to use conversion tie rods as you cannot reuse your inner tie rods. BMW E36 inner tie rod cannot be used into E46 steering rack as it does not have a special air canal and it will be impossible for air to travel internally through the rod.
2. Rubber boots - They are mandatory and have to be replaced. Even if your boots “looks good”!
They are underestimated product which protects your rack from humid, dirt, corrosion etc.
You can have a brand new genuine power steering rack installed with old boots and if they have even a small hole or tear they can cause corrosion and damage to your rack in no time.
BMW E46 steering rack SILVER TAG
OPTION IV
BMW E46 M3 Steering Rack Green TAG
The BMW E46 Green Tag steering rack has 3.2 turns lock to lock (exactly 3.19 turns- checked by us).
Total rod travel from end to end- 150mm
Rod movement per revolution- 47mm
Total rod length- 575mm
Number of rod's splines- to be updated
However, there is a lot of confusion surrounding this unit. The most popular belief is that the E46 M3 rack is progressive, meaning the splines on the center of the rod are different from those on the edges, which is supposed to help turn the steering wheel quicker during U-turns and provide greater precision while driving straight. This type of setup is common in German cars such as other BMW and Mercedes models, but not in the E46 M3. We have dismantled and rebuilt many of these racks and have never seen progressive splines on the rod. The BMW E46 M3 Green Tag steering rack is linear, like all the other racks mentioned on this page.
To fit an E46 M3 steering rack Green TAG into your E36 you would need:
1. Tie rods - Fitting BMW E46 steering rack into your BMW E36 is an almost direct swap. You would need to use conversion tie rods as you cannot reuse your inner tie rods. BMW E36 inner tie rod cannot be used into E46 steering rack as it does not have a special air canal and it will be impossible for air to travel internally through the rod.
2. Rubber boots - They are mandatory and have to be replaced. Even if your boots “looks good”!They are underestimated product which protects your rack from humid, dirt, corrosion etc.You can have a brand new genuine power steering rack installed with old boots and if they have even a small hole or tear they can cause corrosion and damage to your rack in no time.
BMW E46 M3 steering rack GREEN TAG
OPTION V
BMW E46 CLUB SPORT Steering Rack Purple TAG
The BMW E46 Purple Tag steering rack has 3.0 turns lock to lock (number of turns also confirmed by us).
Total rod travel from end to end- 150mm
Rod movement per revolution- 50mm
Total rod length- 575mm
Number of rod's splines- 30
We offer two options for customers to choose from:
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Tested units - These cost roughly half the price of remanufactured ones, are free from play and are ready to be installed. We clean and regrease them, check for any play, and comprehensively test them on our hydraulic test rig to ensure there are no leaks and that the steering control valve is working properly. These racks provide perfect, strong and equal steering assist in both directions and come with a 60-day warranty, as all the seals, O-rings, bushes, and other internals are old and not replaced.
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Remanufactured units - These racks are stripped down, carefully assessed, and all O-rings, bushes, teflons, seals, guides, etc. are replaced with new ones. The rack and pinion are polished with attention to detail and the tube is honed when necessary. If any of the other components are faulty or not 100% perfect, we replace them with new (if available) or another perfect condition second-hand parts. After assembly, the rack is tested on our hydraulic test rig to ensure there are no leaks, the steering control valve is working properly, and the rack provides perfect, strong and equal steering assist in both directions. We also apply some unnatural back pressure to ensure that the pinion seals can handle additional pressure as they should when the rack works in extreme conditions like drifting, racing, etc. These remanufactured units come with a 12-month warranty.
We highly encourage our customers to consider the remanufactured racks option as they are guaranteed to work for many years to come.
To fit an E46 steering rack Purple TAG into your E36 you would need:
1. Tie rods - Fitting BMW E46 steering rack into your BMW E36 is an almost direct swap. You would need to use conversion tie rods as you cannot reuse your inner tie rods. BMW E36 inner tie rod cannot be used into E46 steering rack as it does not have a special air canal and it will be impossible for air to travel internally through the rod.
2. Rubber boots - They are mandatory and have to be replaced. Even if your boots “looks good”!They are underestimated product which protects your rack from humid, dirt, corrosion etc.You can have a brand new genuine power steering rack installed with old boots and if they have even a small hole or tear they can cause corrosion and damage to your rack in no time.
TESTED
BMW E46 steering rack PURPLE TAG
REMANUFACTURED
BMW E46 steering rack PURPLE TAG
OPTION VI
BMW E46 ZHP Steering Rack Yellow TAG
The BMW E46 YELLOW TAG steering rack has 3.0 turns lock to lock (number of turns also confirmed by us) and features a different torsion bar compared to the purple tag option.
Total rod travel from end to end- 150mm
Rod movement per revolution- 50mm
Total rod length- 575mm
Number of rod's splines- 30
Despite the differences, the number of turns is exactly the same as the purple tag option. Genuine ZHP racks can be identified by the presence of a 712 number at the end of the Tag label. However, these racks are rare and difficult to find. It is important to note that yellow tag racks with 3.0 turns lock to lock are only available for left-hand drive vehicles. If you have a right-hand drive vehicle, this option is not available.
To fit an E46 ZHP steering rack Yellow TAG into your E36 you would need:
1. Tie rods - Fitting BMW E46 steering rack into your BMW E36 is an almost direct swap. You would need to use conversion tie rods as you cannot reuse your inner tie rods. BMW E36 inner tie rod cannot be used into E46 steering rack as it does not have a special air canal and it will be impossible for air to travel internally through the rod.
2. Rubber boots - They are mandatory and have to be replaced. Even if your boots “looks good”!They are underestimated product which protects your rack from humid, dirt, corrosion etc.You can have a brand new genuine power steering rack installed with old boots and if they have even a small hole or tear they can cause corrosion and damage to your rack in no time.
BMW E46 ZHP steering rack YELLOW TAG
OPTION VII
BMW E46 Steering Rack Blue TAG
The renowned CSL Blue tag steering rack with 3.0 turns lock to lock (number of turns also confirmed by us) is exclusively manufactured for right-hand drive (RHD) vehicles.
Total rod travel from end to end- 150mm
Rod movement per revolution- 50mm
Total rod length- 575mm
Number of rod's splines- 30
Meanwhile, the Blue tag with 3.2 turns lock to lock (exactly 3.33 turns- checked by us) is available for both RHD and left-hand drive (LHD) options.
Total rod travel from end to end- 150mm
Rod movement per revolution- 45mm
Total rod length- 575mm
Number of rod's splines- 26
It is important to note that this slower rack may be mistaken for the famous and faster CSL unit, but in reality, it is the same as the 3.2 turns lock to lock (exactly 3.33 turns- checked by us) Silver tag steering rack.
To fit an E46 steering rack Blue TAG into your E36 you would need:
1. Tie rods - Fitting BMW E46 steering rack into your BMW E36 is an almost direct swap. You would need to use conversion tie rods as you cannot reuse your inner tie rods. BMW E36 inner tie rod cannot be used into E46 steering rack as it does not have a special air canal and it will be impossible for air to travel internally through the rod.
2. Rubber boots - They are mandatory and have to be replaced. Even if your boots “looks good”!They are underestimated product which protects your rack from humid, dirt, corrosion etc.You can have a brand new genuine power steering rack installed with old boots and if they have even a small hole or tear they can cause corrosion and damage to your rack in no time.
BMW E46 CSL steering rack BLUE TAG
BMW E46 steering rack BLUE TAG LHD
OPTION VIII
BMW Z3 Steering Rack
The BMW Z3 steering has 2.7 turns lock to lock (exactly 2.88 turns- checked by us).
Total rod travel from end to end- 144mm
Rod movement per revolution- 50mm
Total rod length- 577mm
Number of rod's splines- 30
Due to its popularity, the racks are becoming increasingly rare and expensive as demand surpasses supply.
Customers often inquire about the difference between the Z3 and E46 purple tag rack/E46 ZHP Yellow Tag rack, which is only a 0.12 turn variance, and whether it's worth paying double the price.
Yellow tag ZHP steering rack, Purple tag steering rack and Z3 steering rack have the same rod movement per revolution which is 50 mm. The only difference between Z3 steering rack an those 2 other rack is total rod travel from end to end which is 144mm for Z3 rack and 150mm for Purple Tag steering rack and Yellow tag ZHP steering rack, resulting in slightly fewer turns lock to lock. Additionally the Z3 rack splines are designed better. They are stronger less prone to have play and might feel more direct.
Fitting BMW Z3 power steering rack into your BMW E36 is a direct swap and does not need any modifications.
BMW Z3 steering rack
BMW E46 Steering Rack BLACK LABEL / BLACK TAG
The BMW E46 BLACK LABEL steering has 2.5 turns lock to lock.
Total rod travel from end to end- 150mm
Rod movement per revolution- 60mm
Total rod length- 575mm
Number of rod's splines- to be updated
Explore how easy and enjoyable driving can be with our Signature Product.
Designed to suit our customers' needs.
2.5 turns lock to lock makes it the QUICKEST rack that you can possibly install in your BMW without heavy modifications implemented to your vehicle.
It is a life changer for drifters, racers and everyday drivers!
Our RHD E46 BLACK LABEL is incredibly nimble, precise and most importantly NOT TWITCHY on highway driving. Even at high speeds, the steering is very predictable, easy to control and it just feels like the car is on rails!
You don't need to be a drifter to enjoy THE BLACK LABEL.
Our product is also suitable for everyday drivers.
Did you know that nowadays passenger vehicles usually have only between 2.4 -2.7 turns lock to lock? They handle nicely and they do not feel like they are too quick.
After many years of designing, testing and most importantly listening to our customers' needs, we are proud of developing THE BLACK LABEL.
We are confident that you'll love it too! That's why if you are one of the customers who are still not sure and question the rack speed or twitchines- we are happy to brake our terms and conditions in your favour. If you already have a quick rack installed ( Purple tag, Z3 rack, or a CSL Blue Tag) and you are willing to test our signature product we are happy to offer you a change of mind return option.
To fit an E46 BLACK LABEL steering rack into your E36 you would need:
1. Tie rods - Fitting BMW E46 steering rack into your BMW E36 is an almost direct swap. You would need to use conversion tie rods as you cannot reuse your inner tie rods. BMW E36 inner tie rod cannot be used into E46 steering rack as it does not have a special air canal and it will be impossible for air to travel internally through the rod.
2. Rubber boots - They are mandatory and have to be replaced. Even if your boots “looks good”!They are underestimated product which protects your rack from humid, dirt, corrosion etc.You can have a brand new genuine power steering rack installed with old boots and if they have even a small hole or tear they can cause corrosion and damage to your rack in no time.
BMW E46 BLACK LABEL steering rack