[Kizzu]

Originally Posted by BoostNinja

I doubt it. Anyone tried it yet? Ive been swamped with customer cars.

So a hydraulic power steering from an electric assisted power steering conversion is not possible ?

[BoostNinja]

Im working with a coder he thinks it can be done. He showed me some code where servotronic can be set to active. I'll know for sure in a week or so hopefully!

[whosdady]

Originally Posted by BoostNinja

Im working with a coder he thinks it can be done. He showed me some code where servotronic can be set to active. I'll know for sure in a week or so hopefully!

Please keep us updated. The stock rack is one of my least favorite things about the car.

But I still prefer it over a dead servo that kills the luxury of power steering.

[Kong Sheng Han]

Those of you buying M3 steering racks, I recommend y'all check out the Rack Doctor. He sells refurbished racks at great prices and is very helpful if you have any questions. 5/5.

[slinkygn]

Originally Posted by marconi118

The inner tie rod of the 335i has different part number than the M3 one so no idea if you can fit the M3 rack

Anyone figure out what the difference is between these two yet? I haven't gotten to see them side by side, but they sure do look pretty close to identical when seen separately. Do they need to be swapped with a rack swap or not, or does it even matter? (I'm guessing nothing on the wheel side needs to change, since the outer tie rod is the same P/N.)

[robc1976]

Originally Posted by slinkygn

Anyone figure out what the difference is between these two yet? I haven't gotten to see them side by side, but they sure do look pretty close to identical when seen separately. Do they need to be swapped with a rack swap or not, or does it even matter? (I'm guessing nothing on the wheel side needs to change, since the outer tie rod is the same P/N.)

M3 inner tie-rod less threads and can not be used. 335 inner tie-rod has to be used to get proper alignment specs. Outer tie-rod can be used.

[marconi118]

I swapped the M3 rack complete with M3 inner and outer tie rods

allignment was fine

but I have M3 lower arms

[robc1976]

Originally Posted by marconi118

I swapped the M3 rack complete with M3 inner and outer tie rods

allignment was fine

but I have M3 lower arms

as Do I, usually with M3 inner tie-rods you can't get the correct toe settings

[slinkygn]

Trying to wrap my head around that... if an M3 rack needs a 335i tie rod on a 335i but an M3 tie rod on an M3, doesn't that imply that the steering knuckle is a different distance away for the 335i and the M3? I thought the front track distance was the same for both vehicles, no?

[robc1976]

Originally Posted by slinkygn

Trying to wrap my head around that... if an M3 rack needs a 335i tie rod on a 335i but an M3 tie rod on an M3, doesn't that imply that the steering knuckle is a different distance away for the 335i and the M3? I thought the front track distance was the same for both vehicles, no?

M3 has wider stance, wider fenders ect

[Griff500]

The wider stance is in wheel offset alone, not the hub

The M3 upright/hub is different to non M cars. The position of the steering knuckle is a little further outboard on the M cars.

[slinkygn]

Oh, that does make a lot of sense. I guess that'll also displace the strut, then, which is why the sway bar links are different P/Ns as well? That was another set of parts for which the difference between the 335i and M3 were a mystery to me, as they looked identical... a cm or two I didn't notice here and there because the wheel-side steering and suspension components are placed a little differently would explain it.

[robc1976]

Originally Posted by marconi118

I swapped the M3 rack complete with M3 inner and outer tie rods

allignment was fine

but I have M3 lower arms

there is no way, you must have had 335 inner tie rods on your car.

This is M3 next to installed 335 inner tie-rod on M3 rack

[marconi118]

I bolted a complete M3 rack coming from a salvaged M3, so the rods are from M3

have all 4 lower M3 arms and M3 knuckle with M3 shocks

Maybe this explains why it works on my car....

[whosdady]

Just checking in to see if anyone was able to activate the servo? I've been wanting to upgrade the rack for a long time but don't want to deal with heavy turning...

[marconi118]

I activated the servo manually with a PWM circuit

it can be set from fully soft to hard

unfortunately a static setting will not suffice, it will be ok as parking speeds but too soft for high speed or vice versa...


We need speed dependant control coming from the DME

[whosdady]

Originally Posted by marconi118

I activated the servo manually with a PWM circuit

it can be set from fully soft to hard

unfortunately a static setting will not suffice, it will be ok as parking speeds but too soft for high speed or vice versa...


We need speed dependant control coming from the DME

It's too bad it can't be set in the middle. This seems like a great mod. I hope someone figures this out soon...

[marconi118]

It can be set in the middle, but then it is too soft for high speed

It should variate with the speed of the car like in the real M3

[andrey_gta]

Originally Posted by marconi118

I activated the servo manually with a PWM circuit

it can be set from fully soft to hard

unfortunately a static setting will not suffice, it will be ok as parking speeds but too soft for high speed or vice versa...

We need speed dependant control coming from the DME

Bravo!
Can it be made to be an On/Off switch - On for traffic/ parking. Off for driving.
Any details you share of the circuit and voltages/amperes will be great!

[whosdady]

Originally Posted by marconi118

I activated the servo manually with a PWM circuit

it can be set from fully soft to hard

unfortunately a static setting will not suffice, it will be ok as parking speeds but too soft for high speed or vice versa...


We need speed dependant control coming from the DME

Would you explain to me in detail how you did this? (With the pvm)

I'm wondering if I might be satisfied say at 40% stiffness all the time.

[marconi118]

Just purchase on ebay a 12v PWM electric motor speed controller
http://www.ebay.de/itm/381099085157?...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

connect the output to the rack connector and the input to a +12v key switched

Put an Ampermeter in series on one of the wires that goes to the rack
ensure that the regulating potentiometer is at lowest setting

power on the car, slowly increase the pot until you read 0.7A, this is the max soft position, NEVER EXCED this position or you will fry the solenoid inside the rack!!!!!

now you can variate from full stiff 0A to full soft 0.7A

I requested to integrate in the JB4 an output dependant to the car speed to switch automatically from soft to normal, but never had an answer

you could use a switch for manoeuvre / cruise electricians could do that easily

[Bimmer-Bob]

Does anyone know anything about this Servotronic retrofit kit (p/n 32106796480)? I'd love to do this swap as well, but I'm not sure I want to deal with unassisted steering at parking lot speeds...