E21 Manual Quick Steering Rack Feel

[greenalpina]

Anyone please let me know the feel of the manual quick/motorsports steering rack; lock to lock about 2.5 turns. My car is 323i with Alpina 6x15 wheel with 195/50/15 tire at front, lowed Hartge spring, Bilstein Sports shocks, and BMW E21 Sports steering wheel and never having any issue and/or feel heavy steering. I know difficult to explain in words and everyone has different standard, but want to know everyone's opinion, since I am considering to install quick steering rack.

[ascot]

The steering feel of the original rack is fairly light. It will be similar to when one changes to a quick ratio steering box on a 2002. You will notice increased effort mainly when the car is in very tight quarters and the vehicle is moving very slow or not at all such as parking lots. Keeping the original diameter steering wheel will keep the effort down as will running tires like 195's such as you have mounted. Switching to smaller diameter steering wheels and increasing tire widths above 195mm will increase your effort. Remember power steering was an option on 323 models. The E30 84-85 318i had a power steering option as well and I believe it would be fairly straight forward to switch that system over to your 323i.
shermanmartinez at Hotmail dot com

[greenalpina]

Thank you for your swift reply and easy to understand explanation. Currently refreshing my car and considering to change steering rack to quick ratio type. I am not a hardcore high speeding street racer, just enjoy driving even at low speed. As everyone know the E21 323i is not first car, but for me good enough for US road and not looking top speed. Just want make the car balanced and make the touch of race car feel. I will most likely change my steering wheel slightly smaller diameter one; about 350 mm Hartge Japan three spoke Italvolanti or Alpina three spoke Momo one which might increase effort as you have mentioned. Keeping 195/50/15 front wheel which is original Alpina C1 and other tuned car set up at 80's, I think the best appearance and appropriate.for old timer E21. I will not adding power steering system keep the weight minimum at front. I also keep original AC unit that shows I am more like weekend pleasure driver. My other updates have done to the car are slight more power and twin caliper disk brake at front. Anyone has any other suggestion please let me know making it enjoyable to drive.