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Thread: Solid Steering Coupler Z3M

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2017
    Location
    Oklahoma City
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    My Cars
    2000 M Roadster

    Solid Steering Coupler Z3M

    Is this doable on the Z3M?
    Has anyone done this?
    Was the benifits really noticeable?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    Rochester, NY
    Posts
    1,744
    My Cars
    99 M Coupe, 02 Z3 2.5
    It’s been done. Some have used billet aluminum. The cheaper and faster way is spending $1 on a hockey puck and making your own. Benefits are better feel of the road through your steering wheel, negatives are increased NVH.
    1999 M Coupe Boston Green, Beige, H&R/Bilsteins, Underdrive Pulleys, Euro 6 speed, UUC SSK and Randy Forbes in the back
    2002 2.5 Z3 roadster Oxford Green, auto, all stock
    2013 Ram 3500 Crew Cab Dually 385 HP, 850 ft lbs torque at 1600 rpm, all stock and staying that way
    2004 Mini Cooper Chili Red, daily driver, modified almost daily

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    Rock Hill, SC
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    785
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    2000 BMW M Roadster
    If your car is on the original steering coupler, you would probably see most of the benefit in just replacing it with a new OEM unit. I did this recently and it made a big difference. Of course, you would also want to make sure the ball joints, bushings, and tie rods have also been replaced or you will just be forcing other worn out parts to take the load.

    One of the potential negatives to the hockey puck is death. The stock coupler has braided steel wire molded into the rubber. So, even if the rubber fails completely you will still have a measure of control.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    USA
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    1,170
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    2000 BMW Z3 2.3 Auto
    I used the steering coupler from E30. See post 27 below. BTW mine is not M.

    https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...8#post29647928

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Location
    San Francisco, CA
    Posts
    1,138
    My Cars
    2001 Z3 3.0 Coupe
    Quote Originally Posted by pine1000 View Post
    One of the potential negatives to the hockey puck is death.
    Which is definitely one of the less desirable negative outcomes.
    2001 Z3 3.0 Coupe--Sterling Gray/Sunroof Delete/5MT

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Toronto
    Posts
    72
    My Cars
    2000 M coupe
    I did this to my car using the AKG billet aluminum part. It did improve the steering feel once everything got sorted out, but it caused another problem.

    It turns out the AKG piece was thicker than the original that was removed. This resulted in the upper steering column being pushed up into the car. This meant that the steering spindle bearing (part 2 here http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=32_0913) was no longer being held in place by the backup ring (part 3 in the same diagram). This all resulted in a slight up, down and side to side movement (~1-2 mm) in the steering wheel, there was no movement when pushing and pulling on the wheel in and out.

    I solved it by buying another backup ring (part 3 here http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=32_0913) and cutting it down to fit the gap between parts 3 and 5 in the diagram. See the pic below. The piece I inserted is the lighter coloured one in the middle.

    20170819_184216_HDR.jpg

    - - - Updated - - -

    Forgot to mention that I did not trust the hockey puck solution. I've seen the rubber in pucks degrade with age to the point where they crumbled.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Arida Zona
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    30,108
    My Cars
    z3
    Seems a better solution would be for AKG to make the part to the correct dimensions?

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  8. #8
    Join Date
    Nov 2017
    Location
    Oklahoma City
    Posts
    107
    My Cars
    2000 M Roadster
    Thanks for the input guys. Just trying to do some minor work while I try to figure out what to do to the car.

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