How do you know if you have Servotronic Steering or not?

I seem to remember reading that it was an option up to a certain year then either standard or no longer fitted?

Any body shed any light on this?

I've noticed two different part numbers for the steering box itself!

As I'm going to have almost everything else replaced up front, I may just end up having the box replaced too ouich

The servotronic steering boxes have a electrical connector on them somewhere where as the non-servotronic do not. Should be easy enough to tell, does your steering get lighter at lower speeds ?


Miles

1991 525i Sport

 

The servotronic steering boxes have a electrical connector on them somewhere where as the non-servotronic do not. Should be easy enough to tell, does your steering get lighter at lower speeds ?


Miles

1991 525i Sport

Never really noticed any difference in the steering feel.

That is ofcourse not to say that I do have Servotronic and it is perhaps not functioning properly :sad1:

 

Never really noticed any difference in the steering feel.

That is ofcourse not to say that I do have Servotronic and it is perhaps not functioning properly :sad1:

Pretty certain your car has Servotronic mate, comes as part of the Nurburgring package as well as the switchable dampers, wider rear wheels and thicker rear ARB. As far as I know all UK 3.8s with the 6 speed box have the Nurburgring option

 

Plisken has a 1995 M5 that comes with N'ring standard. I believe when this package was made standard(late '94), servotronic became an option. I thought that is how I remember reading it. Plisken, you will know if you have Servotronic when you are making your way around crowded parking lots. Steering is noticeably lighter.:wroom: If you have the build sheet it will tell def. wether or not your car is so equipped under the options section.

Good luck, Greg.

 

Plisken:

Since I'm getting ready to do the same suspension work I'm curious why you are thinking of changing your steering box? Does it rattle or do you have slop in your steering?

John Z.

 

<TABLE style="WIDTH: 100%; mso-cellspacing: 0cm; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8; PADDING-RIGHT: 0cm; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; PADDING-LEFT: 0cm; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; PADDING-TOP: 0cm; BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" vAlign=top>How is the E34 M5's steering system different from the standard E34 5 Series?
Like all E34 5 Series, the E34 M5 uses a recirculating ball steering design, but the overall ratio is reduced from 16.2:1 to 15.6:1.

Two types of power assistance were offered: An engine-speed sensitive system was fitted to all European-spec 3.6-liter M5s and on North American models built before September, 1991. A vehicle-speed sensitive system developed by ZF and called Servotronic was available on European-spec 3.8-liter models as either a stand-alone option or as part of the optional Nurburgring Package. However, Servotronic was not included with the Nurburgring Package after it became standard equipment in May of 1994, but continued to be available as an individual option. Servotronic was also fitted as standard to all North American-spec M5s built after September, 1991 (i.e. 1992 and 1993 model years).<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>

</TD></TR><TR><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8; PADDING-RIGHT: 0cm; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; PADDING-LEFT: 0cm; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; PADDING-TOP: 0cm; BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent"><?xml:namespace prefix = v ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" /><v:shapetype id=_x0000_t75 stroked="f" filled="f" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" oreferrelative="t" o:spt="75" coordsize="21600,21600"><v:stroke joinstyle="miter"></v:stroke><v:formulas><v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></v:f></v:formulas><vath o:connecttype="rect" gradientshapeok="t" o:extrusionok="f"></vath><o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></o:lock></v:shapetype><v:shape id=_x0000_i1025 style="WIDTH: 0.75pt; HEIGHT: 10.5pt" type="#_x0000_t75" alt=""><v:imagedata src="file:///C:/DOCUME~1/ADMINI~1/LOCALS~1/Temp/msoclip1/01/clip_image001.gif" o:href="http://www.bmwmregistry.com/images/spacer.gif"></v:imagedata></v:shape><o></o>

</TD></TR><TR><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8; PADDING-RIGHT: 0cm; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; PADDING-LEFT: 0cm; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; PADDING-TOP: 0cm; BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" vAlign=top>What is the Nurburgring Package?
In addition to the standard Adaptive M Suspension fitted to all 3.8-liter M5s, the Nurburgring Package could be added as an extra cost option. This consisted of ZF Servotronic (vehicle-speed sensitive) power steering, a larger rear anti-roll bar, wider 255/40ZR17 rear tires on 9x17 alloy wheels (already standard on the Touring) and a control switch for the adjustable shocks that allowed them to be locked in the firmest position. This package became standard on all M5s as of May, 1994 production, with the exception of the Servotronic steering which became a separate option at this time.


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Pasted from bmwmregistry.com hopefully shines some light on whats what in the old p/steering dept.

Cheers,
Phil.

How do you know if you have Servotronic Steering or not?

I seem to remember reading that it was an option up to a certain year then either standard or no longer fitted?

Any body shed any light on this?

I've noticed two different part numbers for the steering box itself!

As I'm going to have almost everything else replaced up front, I may just end up having the box replaced too ouich

 

The servotronic steering boxes have a electrical connector on them somewhere where as the non-servotronic do not. Should be easy enough to tell, does your steering get lighter at lower speeds ?


Miles

1991 525i Sport

I believe the connectors on the pump and not the box but I could be wrong!

My father had an early E32 equiped with Servotronic. What a disapointment! It did improve......once they updated the software, but overall it remained a disapointing system to use at higher speeds. It's was almost like a manufactured steering feel.

I will have a look under the bonnet when I get home but I'm almost certain my 6sp doesn't have it.

 

I've note really noticed any change in steering feel with speed, just curious as to which system I had though.

I really should get a build sheet ouich

Jozev: I was simply thinking that as a last resort, I may just change the steering box aswell, since almost everything else up front will have been changed.

Steering wise, it does seem a little prone to wandering, sometimes pulling to the left and sometimes to the right. I have read many times on this board that you can tighten the box at it's center position, but I believe that can lead to problems when the steering is returning from a non central position.

Once I've had the other work done, I'll evaluate how the car fels/handles and take things from there...