[akbast]

I have a 2013 328i N26 without VSS and recently replaced the timing chain. In the process it seems I damaged the steering rack electronics so I'm trying to find a used rack as a replacement. Looking through realoem and dealer part sites and fcpeuro, it's a total cluster to figure out what's actually compatible. I called the dealer to get a part number and they gave me something that isn't on ANY of the parts sites that maps to a remanufactured rack.

My original rack part#: 32106863317 which I believe is a ZF rack. The two big letters are LK.

The dealer suggested replacement: 32105A3B053

Does anybody know if the replacement MUST be a ZF rack? Are the Thyssen Krupp racks compatible?

I've seen threads about FSC issues where the donor rack has to be older than the original rack but I can't figure out if that even applies to my situation. If I use ISTA+ can any rack be programmed to work with my car?

Any help is much appreciated. I really won't want to spend $2300 on a remanufactured rack if I can help it.

[akbast]

In case anyone finds this thread in the future. I ended up buying a used LK rack off Ebay, factory coding it using ProTool and it seems to work great.

[Pendy4]

Originally Posted by akbast

In case anyone finds this thread in the future. I ended up buying a used LK rack off Ebay, factory coding it using ProTool and it seems to work great.

Hi mate.
I have a current issue with my EPS, also using ProTool and going round in very frustrating circles with it!
When you originally came across the fault I'm guessing you'll have had multiple codes in engine and long/lat relating to no communication from EPS, but could you still see the EPS module in the main menu?

I've fitted another motor/module to the rack and was expecting to see EPS in the menu again and to be able to code it, but it hasn't appeared.

[akbast]

Communication with my EPS always worked ok at least enough to read codes and perform a steering start-up procedure. It seemed to be an intermittent issue that caused multiple faults though that I couldn't seem to fix.

Once I put the new rack in, ISTA+ and ProTool was immediately able to see it and correctly identify that it needed to be coded to the car.

Since you swapped to a new EPS motor and it can't see it, you may have a break in the harness communication line. It's the connector with two small wires in a black sleeve.