HustleRussell's old 525i Touring (E34)
Discussion
cornershop said:
What benefits are there to the M5 steering box?
Assuming horrendously expensive?
BMW couldn't make rack and pinion steering work in the E34 with the exception of the 4WD version so they have recirculating ball type steering boxes. The steering boxes have a very slow ratio- that is, you have to turn the steering wheel a lot to change the steering angle at the front axle. Also, as the boxes wear they develop play on centre which makes them feel woolly. Assuming horrendously expensive?
Eventually this really got on my nerves. There were corners I encountered in normal driving which required hand-over-hand action to negotiate. Also if ever you needed to correct for oversteer you'd have to be bloody quick getting that steering lock on and off in time.
I like many others started looking into how much work it'd take to make a steering rack conversion work but predictably I could not succeed where BMW's finest had failed
Plenty of people have actually tried to do it but it requires some scary bodging of steering components and inevitably results in a bump-steering mess of a front axle. The steering box does have its plus points. It is the reason the E34 has such an incredible turning circle. It allows a huge steering angle. If working correctly the steering is not unpleasant at all- it'll never be the sharpest, but not 'bad', by any stretch.
Anyway to finally answer your question, The M5 steering box is a bolt-in replacement and has a slightly quicker ratio than the standard box. It is still a slow ratio compared to any power assisted rack and pinion system but it is just fast enough that it eliminated my issue- now I only have to go hand-over-hand for parking and mini roundabouts etc and I still have exactly the same turning circle as before. I found it for just under £100 on eBay and fortunately it wasn't worn out. Combined with all new rod ends and new steering fluid my steering is now much better than before.
573 said:
Great read, hopefully you soon, finally get it finished OP.
I'm a big fan of the E34, in may ways it was the best car BMW ever made. I had an M50 (pre-vanos) 525i Sport and a couple of M5s. Lovely cars.
Thanks, I feel that the E34 has been unloved for quite a while but we're coming around to it. I think it represents a point in time when cars were 'proper'- it's just modern enough with the M50 to be practical but with the classic look and old school build. I'm a big fan of the E34, in may ways it was the best car BMW ever made. I had an M50 (pre-vanos) 525i Sport and a couple of M5s. Lovely cars.
cornershop said:
What benefits are there to the M5 steering box?
Assuming horrendously expensive?
There was one for sale on the Facebook E34 forum this week for £350. I have no idea how good that is (obviously it's not compared to the £100 above) but at least it's an up to date idea of the potential outlay.Assuming horrendously expensive?
Khaki Suit said:
cornershop said:
What benefits are there to the M5 steering box?
Assuming horrendously expensive?
There was one for sale on the Facebook E34 forum this week for £350. I have no idea how good that is (obviously it's not compared to the £100 above) but at least it's an up to date idea of the potential outlay.Assuming horrendously expensive?
I do think £80 or £90 was a bit of a bargain though, and I did think it had backfired on me until I got that pinch bolt tightened.
I paid £120 for a complete 3.23 LSD assembly so I was a lucky boy with a couple of my purchases
HustleRussell said:
Yeah but you can advertise stuff for whatever price you like, selling it is another matter.
I do think £80 or £90 was a bit of a bargain though, and I did think it had backfired on me until I got that pinch bolt tightened.
I paid £120 for a complete 3.23 LSD assembly so I was a lucky boy with a couple of my purchases
Hence why I said "potential". I have no idea whether that's the going price or someone chancing their arm. That said if you find one up for £100 then please let me know as I could do with an LSD. thanks. I do think £80 or £90 was a bit of a bargain though, and I did think it had backfired on me until I got that pinch bolt tightened.
I paid £120 for a complete 3.23 LSD assembly so I was a lucky boy with a couple of my purchases
It's amazing how one mans tight is another mans utterly loose. I just re-read that...
I don't mind the steering in the E34, mainly because the car is a sweet thing as is. Never driven an M5 though, so I'm sure it sharpens them nicely. Glad it went through the MOT fine, too. Haven't seen an E34 on the road in ages.
I don't mind the steering in the E34, mainly because the car is a sweet thing as is. Never driven an M5 though, so I'm sure it sharpens them nicely. Glad it went through the MOT fine, too. Haven't seen an E34 on the road in ages.
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