bmwe21.net forums

Pretty much what the title says..... have been given the whole system to put straight in the car so i dont want it to go to waste.... After reading through most of the other power steering related topics it seems it is a waste of time seeing that the car is so light. But anyway what is everyone's opinion on it in an e21.

It's good for ladies who's arms are tired after carrying all those heavy shopping bags.

having owned and driven both, I would fit the power steering - I know I am getting old, but it is much easier to park and loses very little "feel" in normal driving.

same here, makes your life easier and it isn't that vague, not even at high speeds, useful for drifting too. Only if you do a lot of trackdays power steering feels less precise, but for trackdays I always removed the P/S belt and then it was fine too...

Definately power steering. Owning an E21 is all about enjoying the drive. Not quite sure what is enjoyable about doing a 3 point turn in a non power steering car.

Question: Are power steering racks for E21 "quicker" than the non power steering ones?
My 316 is non power steering, but the rack is not quick, which makes the wheel lighter, but the feeling of road is not very enjoyable, I think I would prefer it to be a bit quicker

I'm in the power steering camp - I've driven both assisted and unassisted , with 185/70/13 and 195/50/15 tyres. You lose little feel in normal driving but the pay-off is parking's a doddle. having said that, if you're running the standard 13 inch wheels you don't need PAS.
I don't believe PAS racks are any quicker than non-PAS racks.

There's no difference in ratio between boys and girls , I mean unassisted and assisted racks. It's personal choice at the end of the day but if you're having trouble turning your steering wheel you might need to pump up the tyres or check your steering is working as it should. Power steering was merely an option, not a necessity and should in no way hinder your driving.

RetroBeemer wrote:Power steering was merely an option, not a necessity and should in no way hinder your driving.

But it does make wheel turning while parking an unnecessary chore on fat, low-profile rubber. Take it from someone who parked two unassissted E21s in tight parking in central London. The assistance it gives you is slight in comparison to say, an early 80's Japanese car, where you could steer around a corner with one finger on the wheel and had no sense of where the front wheels were. Degrees and degrees.

Can you get a pint of milk and 6 eggs?

If you have it then fit it. its easy.

I fitted it. doesn't make me less of a man as there's no difference when moving. just helps when your stood still or going slow.


the steering in my car doesn't feel light, it feels weighted but then I run a different pump n an m50 on top.

I thought you said you broke a nail?

Are you gonna come down to Goodwood on 7th Nov' Nas?

Is it easy enough to change??? Also the one i have been given was out of a 323i i assume the pump is different to the 4cylinder motor?

Yes mate. I think it's just the mounting bracket that differs?

i wonder if an m30 pump fits an m10????

i run powersteering on the panzer and it doesnt really feel much differnt really.