How to lower an E30 Steering Coloum

In this video I show how to remove BMW E30 Steering column bolts and How to lower your BMW E30 steering Column. Overall this is a simple mod that I've been wanting to preform for a while now. I made use of some Garagistic Polyurethane Transmission mounts that turned out to even have the proper thread pitch and overall bolt length.
Garagistic Trans Mounts that I used- store.garagist...
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[@1988bmwm3]

Great video! I’ve done this on a few e30’s. The breakaway head (anti-theft) bolts are PITA! They are in such a hard-to-reach place. I use a drift chisel and hammer, which seemed to work best of me. I use steel bolt spacers from hardware store. You can buy them in ¼ inch increments. I have several pairs of spacers with different lengths, all with matching length bolts. I also recommend using socket cap bolts (instead of hex head) to replace what you drilled out. They are much easier to hold on to with an allen socket and start threading when you are installing them upside-down. I can change the spacer length without removing the plastic pieces surrounding the steering column now, which saves a lot of time when making this adjustment at the track. Make sure you align the column side-to-side before tightening down the hardware. There is more adjustment here than you would think and it helps center the steering wheel to the driver.

[@LifeSOSlive]

Ben Winter good pointers. I'll go the socket head route and use your spacer idea. Thanks for chiming in.

[@nikolaiiaksenov]

Loving the way the interior is turning out! Good job!

[@vroomkeys]

Another great and informative vid. I don't even want to try this but found it interesting, learned some things

[@LifeSOSlive]

Dope! I just put in a recaro seat and noticed the wheel is way too high with where I like the seat. Can't wait to try this. Also just had a z3 rack arrive and putting it in this week. bye bye 4 turns lock to lock, hello 2.7! Love your videos and mods! Thanks Blake!

[@BlakesGarage]

LifeSOS lol I have a Z3 rack and a bunch of other front and goodies sitting waiting to be installed as well.

[@troystevenson4038]

Man this really seems like a must do. Its much simpler than I would've thought. Thanks for the how-to!

[@kenskywaIker]

All these little mods start to add up and make a huge difference! Another good video from BlakesGarage! PS, miss the Bert cameos :) .

[@gregclarke1553]

I like the 1,2,3 style of vid. I'd much rather have to hit pause than FFWD. Much better than guys taking 45 minutes to show us their tool box and front lawn. Really helps to see the back side of what you're working on by braille, like the thumb nuts for the plastic panel. All those little questions you didn't know you had until you dug in. Little tip I've used. Most normal people don't happen to have a 22mm deep and 1/2" drive 6" extension. A metric star lug wrench works great. They're usually cheaper than the socket itself and more useful to keep in the trunk. Another caution: I've broken three cluster faceplates (the clear plastic) by not being careful enough putting it back in. Put a towel down over the steering column before R&R helps. Good opportunity to wax it and rub out the little scratches.

[@gaboutagirl5991]

10min to do it, thanks to you ! From France

[@Wmoore1]

A+, This definitely reminds me I need to lower my steering wheel... lol. Side note.. The "NRG is shit" argument is completely moot nowadays. Their quality is surprisingly exceptional compared to their older products to the point that i'm actually proud to have NRG products in my car. Keep up the videos, you're just reminding me of more and more stuff im clearly neglecting on my car lol

[@BlakesGarage]

william moore thanks! Yeah NRG pro wheels or reinforced wheels are just as good as any other top brand. Eventually I’ll probably trade it for a Sparco once the suede gets nasty. But those people that had issues were basically rocking a car show ricer wheel that was either super ugly or some odd style. Now there pretty damn good or pro formula D drivers would be using them. This mod of lowering the wheel is surprisingly one of my top mods I’ve done.

[@RobynTapps]

Blake you are my fucking hero man.. everything i think of doing you put out a video on it..

[@LifeSOSlive]

So I got my z3 rack and power steering pump in. Whoa big diff! Now I want to lower the column, haven't dug into it yet, but do you guys know what bolts you used? Just want to be sure I get the correct diameter and thread pitch.

[@wed3k]

Thx for the vid, I am planning on putting a spare recaro to replace my broken stock seat and I like the wheel really low as I'm short lol.

[@ALKUKES]

It was hard to take this out but just use small bits dead in center then start going in with big drill bit should be fine

[@lilluke3096]

Would love to know how to fit a shift light that would be a cool video!

[@maximiliansalm2043]

Great Video man! Can you tell me the thickness of the Urethane Bushings you used? I need a little reference on this one. Greetings from Germany!

[@E30ShedSkid]

I have the Mtech 1 steering wheel on with 2 of the original little spacer washer things on the 22mm threaded dealywhopper and its kinda too far away and makes the turn signals/wiper arm things super close to the wheel (super annoying at the autox). Its a late model which I believe changes some things also but I have the opposite problem, like I want the steering wheel to be slightly higher. I feel like since your steering wheel comes out further(from the NRG quick-release and deep dish wheel) it also makes it higher and is probably why you needed it lower but its just interesting how different modifications add to different issues

[@aesmilla]

E30 ShedSkid just bend the turn signal/wiper stalks away from the wheel. That’s what i did when i installed an Alpina wheel on my airbag car.

[@clayp.e30_v86]

Just came across this video, I did this mod to mine around 2 years ago as I also felt it was to high and being an e30, non adjustable. I used 20mm spacers. Those factory snap off bolts were a bit twaty to get out lol I used hammer and chisel 🙈

[@BlakesGarage]

Hell yeah!! Glad to hear I’m not the only one!!! One of my favorite mods for sure.

[@clayp.e30_v86]

@@BlakesGarage it's up there mate yeah. But for me my most favourite mod by far was making the front end totally removable. Drilled out the spot welds on the original front panel (tedious days work 😳), and made the new one boltable. This means I can literally fit the v8 with its 6 speed gearbox attached by myself 😁💪😎

[@tylertinsley9463]

thoughts on a flock dash??? how to maybe??? could be RAD

[@stefanpihlgren3350]

great video! i am doing this thing on my E21 and i wonder how your column goes through the firewall? i believe mine has a stiff bracket thing there making it impossible to just loosen those bolts you drill out and let it hang down. did u modify the firewall-part of the steering anything? again thanks for a great vid!!

[@BlakesGarage]

Just the bolts nothing in the firewall but I did mod my steering knuckle for the Z3 rack mod not sure if that would be necessary for that.

[@atomiek]

Can you do a harness install video?

[@undeadsmheddie]

I took out all the screws for the cluster but for some reason it’s stuck in there I don’t know what to do:/

[@G_Wheezy]

After having this mod for a little bit, how do you feel about it now? Still worth it? Also, have you changed to any other type of spacer or are you still running those bushings? Love the car man.

[@BlakesGarage]

G. Wheezy I still absolutely love it. One of my favorite mods I’ve done actually. Still using the same thing no issues.

[@huntermcmorran9294]

needed this

[@jagersilva2169]

thank you lol i needed this for mine

[@stallonesylvester3901]

can this be applied to an e36? I’m using it as a drift car but I’m kinda short n the aftermarket bucket seat really isn’t helping either lmao.

[@BlakesGarage]

I think so I haven’t done it but I think it’s possible

[@miguelf2160]

Anybody has a link to a video on how to do this on a vert? The bracket is different: like a "C" welded to chassis and tabs on the column with horizontal bolts.

[@htamayo]

I'm in for an aluminum block spacer for this!

[@beepbeepboy]

You still need that steering column bottom cover? I'm stripping out my 84 318i and it won't be going back in

[@BlakesGarage]

beepbeepboy I actually do still need that. DM me on IG @blakesgarage

[@SpencerHogg]

This is sweet dude! So now you can do even FASTER at autox ? haha!! :D

[@bmw-e30]

Not sure why your steering wheel is so high as it would appear to be in the correct position in all of the e30's I have seen. Maybe its something to do with your steering wheel/boss set up.

[@BlakesGarage]

MsCelicagt4 it’s because I’m taller and I have a quick release and deep dish wheel. Those things get the wheel closer to me but because of the racing seat sitting as low as possible it makes the wheel why too high.

[@bmw-e30]

I see, thank you, maybe possible to devise an adjustable column with this idea.

[@willrichards4465]

do you know how to deal with in tank rust in an e30??

[@jaizudda8532]

My e30 power drained after hitting a pot whole why I changed the ground chassis and new battery

[@WebbstR]

easy fix, put the plastic spacers under the new seat mount...

[@BlakesGarage]

WebbstR _ No. You want to have the lowest seating position possible in a race car. This is so that you can look farther ahead so the seat is in the perfect position the steering wheel is just way too high. Hence this fix. It's actually been one of the best mods that I've done to the car so far. It makes a huge difference.

[@MrJBarfield]

Center punch, drill, easy out.

[@sadpug3200]

once you get 1 or 2 good hits on these break away bolts they tread out by hand. most the time.

[@BlakesGarage]

+MrJBar yep that would definitely be the preferred way after trying the other ways. Have you done this yourself or just thought of that after watching my video? If you did lower yours what did you end up using for a spacer?

[@masonbinns2759]

@@sadpug3200 😊ztgszzzzzzzzzzzzzzd

[@BraddJekki]

Bro why is it still an auto? hahaha

[@BlakesGarage]

Mitchum Pacifico because I haven't finished the suspension yet. Manual swap will be coming up next.

[@BraddJekki]

So hectic, can't wait! What you looking at throwing in?

[@henris8367]

no point in not just doing the normal getrag 260. very good tranny. Then he should probs throw in a 6 puck clutch

[@EuroGarageOfficial]

FOREAL

[@oceanrichardson4674]

Mitchum Pacifico hell get to it pice by piece

[@efeick2002]

This is why i am not getting a deep dish wheel

[@BlakesGarage]

Eric F The seating position is perfect for me now. Really the dish depend on how tall you are. I’m 6ft with a Sparco Evo and side mounts so I sit back far and as low as possible. If I had a non dished wheel I would have straight arms and it would be very in comfortable. I find even the stock steering wheel height with stock seat bad for my seating position.

[@efeick2002]

Blake's Garage hey blake thanks for the reply! Your reasoning makes perfect sense. I still have the stock seat and that must make it very different. For me a deep dish would make my arms too bent like a nascar, and too upright like an 18 wheeler. I am also wondering about the aftermarket hub and quick release that you have. Did you find that ours made the wheel stick out further? Anyway thanks for the vids and keep em coming!

[@BlakesGarage]

Eric F thanks Eric! Yes the hub and quick release will make the wheel closer to you. This is why you may want to lower the column afterwards to get the appropriate position

[@mrgray3301]

Lol lower it, I can barely steer the car at regular height

[@pepster85]

“When you’re racing or going down the canyon, you don’t really need to look at your Revs, also this guy turns the service lights into shift lights that would be perfect!” Then proceeds to show an automatic transmission shifter GTFO😅

[@BlakesGarage]

It’s S52 swapped now with a ZF 5 speed and CAE shifter. Just because it was auto didn’t mean I couldn’t still drive the shit of if it. Just slap it into 2 or 3 and you can rip around. I beat a ton of people with this car when it was Automatic at AutoX

[@jabaaronkowalski498]

got a deep dish so why on earth would you want to drive with your elbows locked??????

[@BlakesGarage]

There not locked. If you have your seat low and your tall the steering wheel position is garbage.