Quick ratio steering rack upgrade for E46 M3 comparison 712 ZHP Yellow Tag vs Purple Tag Surprise?!

#e46M3Build #ZHPYellowTag #e46
Welcome! In this episode I will share my recent discovery about quick ratio steering racks for the e46 M3 chassis cars, and do a comparison between old time favorite the ZHP 7852 874 712 Yellow Tag rack and 7852 974 678 Purple tag rack with surprising results! These racks are used to upgrade steering ratios on several Bmw chassis E30, E36, and E46. Enjoy !
I would like to refer and credit below thread from namM3forum with excellent information and data on other possible rack upgrades for the E46 M3 chassis cars, which inspired making this comparison video.
nam3forum.com/forums/forum/ma...
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[@kamalrostov2363]

I’m doing a rebuild on my Euro 2006 E46 M3. That information would be very useful towards my project. So thank you very much! 🙏🏻

[@blackurtins]

Hi Can you give me feedback on wich rack to install on e46 m3. Its not just ratio but the feel.

[@user-ho1sz6yu6q]

Thank you! very useful information. I'm restoring 36 in Russia.

[@MotorsportInspired]

Nice 👍

[@georgef1176]

I been researching these two units purple versus yellow. Yes they both have same turns lock to lock but the yellow tag spool valve has different size holes apparently to make the steering feel more sporty.

[@MotorsportInspired]

Good find and observation 👍👌 wasn’t aware of that

[@DmitryShkeirov]

What is written on the internet, the yellow tag has stiffer torsion bar, what means it'll be slightly sharper and a bit heavier.

[@dkeller626]

@MotorsportInspired Does the yellow tag 712 rack have a slight detent on-center? I've got one sitting on my workbench cleaned up and ready to go into my M3, and I noticed that when moving by hand, it feels like there's a slight notch in the motion when coming off-center. In other words, with your eyes closed, rotating the input shaft by hand you can definitely feel where center is. I cleaned the grease off and shined a light down the side closest to the pinion. You can clearly see the pinion turning, and then right at center the torsion bar moves toward the pinion maybe somewhere between 1 and 1.5 millimeters. You can see the thrust bushing/spring moving down a little as well (as it's spring tension pushes from the backside of the rack). I've marked the distance where the area is on the rack itself, and there aren't any visual anomalies or differences in pitch in that area. This MAY be normal.. I'm just not sure. The rack feels tight otherwise with zero play, but wanted to confirm before installing.

[@PyreneesBMW]

Interesting! My 330i, non ZHP, is equiped from factory with a yellow 712 rack... i also have a 318 diesel E46, who is also equiped with a 712 yellow rack ! Both cars are European, german 330i and french 318D

[@MotorsportInspired]

Yes apparently in Europe these racks are more common Bmw almost put these in all 3 series models in US pre 2003 models you can find them on ZHP post 2004 they can be found on non Zhp as well.

[@jwnbz]

Ah bah moi qui regarde pour mettre ça sur ma e36 te voilà donc. xD

[@jacekp8366]

my 09/2002 330Ci has a silver tag rack and it's significantly slower, i've driven an lci 320d touring and the steering felt much more snappy

[@ErixAudio719]

So, my experience was yes, the ratio was the same - however, the steering FEEL of the rack is appreciably better on the yellow tag ZHP.

[@MotorsportInspired]

Thanks for the feedback 👍, I did not have purple tag installed so I could not comment on the feel.

[@spiky29]

Can you describe the difference in feeling? Which one is heavier?

[@DaveTony206]

Interesting video. Thanks for sharing. If I recall correctly, the difference in the ZHP rack (part # ending with 712) is the torsion bar inside, the ratios are the same as the purple tag rack.

[@KurtV8]

I don't think there is a torsion bar inside these racks.

[@coopersilberling6883]

@@KurtV8 there is

[@rabmc]

I have a purple tag and new track rod ends to go on my m3, I’ve replaced my steering coupling last week due to excessive wheel play at 12 o’clock dead centre but it never fixed my issue unfortunately, now hoping the purple tag is an upgrade and fixes my issue. I did hit a very bad pot hole a while back and feel as if it has come from this, have so much play / float on the steering wheel when centred, also a slight knocking from the wheel when at slow speeds when I turn the wheel left and right.

[@MotorsportInspired]

Yea sometimes theses racks develop on center play either from excessive wear or damage form like a bit pot hole, swap should fix your issue I'm positive👍

[@LochyP]

Sounds like control arm bushings

[@Wishnuful]

Sorry for the late reply. It may be worn steering flex disk (at universal joint.)

[@rabmc]

@@Wishnuful No problem, that never fixed mine and then replaced the upper swivel joint too, actually in the end it was my rack was worn. Drives like new now, but was a long process and a few £ spent.

[@rabmc]

@@_lmagine The one I got was off a 60k car, no issues drives perfect now.

[@regulardude2011]

I actually want to upgrade my steering rack. The problem is I have 1er and the ratio is 16:1. Do you know if 330i rack would fit 1 series?

[@MotorsportInspired]

I don’t believe it’s going to fit because 1-series rack has different length coupler connection.

[@adnanulepa9661]

Can you explain what do we get or lose with using one of these two?

[@MotorsportInspired]

You gain better turn in stock is 3.2 turns lock to lock this is 3.0 turns and better steering feel as well. There’s nothing that you lose 😊 only benefits to this upgrade 😁👌👍

[@G33ZiM3]

I need to replace my leaking rack on my ‘03 E46 M3 which came with a Green Tag rack. You mentioned the Purple Tag 678 rack is from an ‘04 E46 330i and was it a ZF or TRW rack?

[@MotorsportInspired]

Purple tag is a ZF rack

[@blackurtins]

What about the feel? I had a silver tag on my 330 Ref 32136753438 Had very conected feel to the road, nothing like the m3 or 320 racks.

[@spaghettilocomotive]

Nice info. I installed a 712 rack to my e36 not long ago and the car drives good, but I can't help to notice that the required force to turn the wheels are much more than with the standard rack. According to my research the supplied pressure from the power steering pump is the same between e36 and e46, so that can't be it. I do however run normal ATF as that is what is used on my car from the beginning. Is that maybe a problem? Should I swap to the other more costly power steering fluid?

[@MotorsportInspired]

Hi, ATF is not a problem, you can actually adjust steering pump assistance. On the pump itself there is a screw for the pressure regulator for the pump, once unscrew it and take it out, there are shims on there from the factory. Each shim responsible for about 12% assistance. Meaning if you remove one shim from your steering pump regulator it will about 12% lighter and so forth the more shims you remove the steering will get that much lighter and vice versa, hope this answers your question and clarifies things. Most e46 guys actually add shims to make steering feel heavier.

[@spaghettilocomotive]

@@MotorsportInspired Great, thanks so much for the helpful answer.

[@blackurtins]

@@MotorsportInspired very good tip.

[@mariok4610]

@@MotorsportInspired what about e36 pump? Same? Video of it? Thanks. I also have 712 yellow tag rack on e36 and it feels damly heavy. Need to use 2 hands for maneuvering. I think there is inside leakage of seals or clogged oil pressure holes in pinion.

[@sedmioddevet2201]

i wont do to same thing on my e 36.is it yust plug And play? Second,did you acheved light turning steering wheel?thanks

[@MrGoodcat1]

I have yellow tag ZHP rack, it has little vibrations at idle when turning left, and acts normal when turning right. No leaks, and fluid level is ok. Any suggestions?

[@MotorsportInspired]

Hard to say what that might be, generally it should not have any vibrations when turning either way 🤷‍♂️

[@senor7857]

What is going on with the M2? Do you prefer the M3, right..?

[@MotorsportInspired]

Good question?!, I will post an update shortly, Stay tuned!

[@I53-624]

What do e46 m3 comps come with? My steering feels like crab

[@MotorsportInspired]

Comp is the same ratio as yellow tag so I would just rebuild it, you can get a used yellow tag probably cheaper than to rebuild comp blue tag, but the blue tag rack are much more valuable in terms if you ever wanted to sell it.

[@I53-624]

@@MotorsportInspired same ratio but isn’t the yellow tag much tighter? A lot of people have told me it’s way better than m3 racks

[@MotorsportInspired]

Blue vs yellow tag are identical, they probably where comparing yellow vs standard green tag M3 rack which in that case is very true.

[@I53-624]

@@MotorsportInspired gotcha, well then I think I need to get a new steering coupler and refresh other parts, my steering is jsut so loose and feels very bad compared to other non comp e46 m3s I’ve driven

[@easydayez]

Green tag is the best

[@MotorsportInspired]

Well that is subjective depending what are your goals 🤷‍♂️

[@easydayez]

@@MotorsportInspired drive both you’ll see what I mean it just feels smoother and direct with each input

[@jakefarrell4411]

Is there a rack that’s even faster than these? I heard the z3 rack is the tiniest bit tighter

[@MotorsportInspired]

Yes that is correct z3 rack is little bit quicker I believe it’s 2.8 lock to lock but rack travel is shorter so you will lose some turning radius because of it, also it’s much heavier because it metal instead of aluminum casing like these.

[@jakefarrell4411]

What are the weight differences between the yellow and purple tag racks?

[@MotorsportInspired]

@@jakefarrell4411 they are exactly the same

[@JohnFaire]

@@MotorsportInspired I just installed the z3 rack. IDK why, but my turning radius improved. Now I can make a full u-turn on my street... Coming from zhp rack, yellow tag

[@MotorsportInspired]

Hmm 🤔 that’s interesting, how many turn lock to lock do you have ? And what are your overall impressions steering feel compared to Yellow tag rack both good or bad if any ? If you don’t mind sharing.

[@user-wt6wv7xd2t]

which is better?

[@MotorsportInspired]

They technically are the same but most people go with yellow tag rack since it has longest track record

[@zerotohero7449]

I have a yellow tag rack that I cant identify. In the car its about 3.3 turns lock to lock, and the part number is 32136753855. Can you tell me what I have?

[@MotorsportInspired]

What is souds like is, you might have yellow tag rack from early 2000s once I had a opportunity to examine one I don’t remember part number but it had 3.3 lock to lock turns, it was from 2000 prod year car, if you look on the rack there are numbers stamped from the factory what was year and month of production of that particular rack. I’m guessing it’s it’s the same one from early 2000s but the sad 😞news is it’s definitely not the same as 712 yellow Zhp one.

[@zerotohero7449]

@@MotorsportInspired Thanks for your reply. Yes, its from a 2000 330i msport.

[@waaromleefik2]

@@MotorsportInspiredDo you know what about the 713 yellow tag? Is it the 712 but like refurbished? Something I read somewhere but not sure... Is it also a 3.0 lock?

[@Azawaii]

My yellow tag rack is over 3 turns?

[@MotorsportInspired]

Did you measure it without tie rods installed? If so than that’s why, without tie rods its 3.2 turns. Tie rods add a stop making it a 3 turn lock to lock just like if it would be installed on the car. That’s why when checking you need to have tie rods installed.

[@Azawaii]

@@MotorsportInspired Oh, i didnt know that. Thanks alot!

[@MotorsportInspired]

@@Azawaii no problem 👍

[@robmespeedy]

Maybe you have a 599 yellow tag. Booo 👎

[@waaromleefik2]

@@robmespeedyDo you know what about the yellow 713? Is that as bad as a yellow 599?

[@regulardude2011]

I thought ZHP rack has 13.7:1 steering ratio, not 14.5

[@MotorsportInspired]

The 13:7:1 steering ratio is depended on other suspension components not only the rack its self. In ZHP it is in fact 13:7:1 but if you install that rack in e46 M3 it becomes 14:5:1 because other components are different like for example tie rods are longer.

[@remifassol4198]

@@MotorsportInspiredHow can the steering rack ratio depend on anything else than the rack itself?