[Mgh024]

Does the sub frame have to be removed to replace the steering rack?

Thank you

[Suvorovo]

Check the bentley manual. Won't post the link, but you can quickly find it. I don't think there's a way around it without lowering the subframe. Good news is you can just let it dangle about 3 inches to give you enough space.

You'll need an alignment regardless.

[Mgh024]

Originally Posted by Suvorovo

Check the bentley manual. Won't post the link, but you can quickly find it. I don't think there's a way around it without lowering the subframe. Good news is you can just let it dangle about 3 inches to give you enough space.

You'll need an alignment regardless.

Thanks for the reply.

Leaning towards my Indy shop for this one.

[Serf27]

Yes it does.
https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1920141

[Mgh024]

What do you all suspect the cost of a rack replacement (with alignment obviously) would cost at an Indy shop in the northeast?

[Serf27]

Not sure, but would be a great time to replace the oil pan gasket while the subframe is removed.
So maybe add the extra cost of the gasket replacement + the subframe.
Water pump and thermostat takes 5 minutes to replace while the subframe is removed too.


I’ve heard of prices from $900 to $1600 and $600 from someone who works out of his house, all in CA.
ONCE, I got it swapped out for like $100 or $150 lol.

The DIY isn’t that bad.
You can do it if you know

[Suvorovo]

It might be better going to an indy shop if they offer to do alignment as part of the job, plus they usually charge more and warranty the reman rack if it ends up being a bad rebuild. I don't think they should quote you for more than 4 hours of labor. The rest will be in parts and fluids. Change your PS reservoir out too while you're at it.

I paid $320 in labor for engine mounts and engine bracket bolts, brought my own parts. After the job, they told me they had to drop the subframe to get them out. Didn't seem like an upselling tactic since it was after I paid, but I think there's a way to do xdrive mounts without dropping the subframe. Kind of an emergency at the time when I noticed a bracket bolt broke off + the remaining bolt was crooked when I extracted it myself and was worried the threads might be ruined.

[Mgh024]

Thank you all for the replies! I know I could do it, and I have plenty of time, so I could even plan to take my time and do it over 2-3 days. Still leaning towards and indy, the shop I take it to is phenomenal (Munich Motorsports in ct) I had the water pump, thermo, oil pan gasket, and steering shaft replaced about 2 years ago.

[PumpkinBimmer]

So i actually just replaced mine on a 2006 325xi. I pulled the front subframe bolts and replaced them with spare differential mount bolts I had laying around. They are about an inch longer so i was able to remove the middle sub bolts and loosen the fronts and the rears. I slid it out the driver side and slid the new one in the same way. I also had to lift the motor about 3 1/2 inches with a hoist.