Shockingly enough the BMW forums are pretty split on this. I have a 95 M3 and my power steering rack is about to give up the ghost. I want to use this as an opportunity to get a little quicker steering. Some say the 1.9L z3's have a quicker ratio, yet on Rock Auto all the non m's have the same part number. Anyone have some advice for me?
Z3 and 318ti are supposed to have a quicker ratio, and I am not surprised rock auto is as reliable as morons over on bf.c. They'll probably permaban you for proving them wrong as well. 
Look into fitting a rack from a 330i e46. Iirc, the 95 m3 used a variable ratio rack, which slowed response just off centre. There are quite a few variations that fit. 1.9 z3 is definitely one of the good ones.
Are you looking for one because you're participating in motorsports competitions?
iadr wrote: Also, racks are generally designed to get faster away from center not slower. I'm not sure when that started, but would be a little surprised it would be as early as 1995. I was working for Mercedes in 2008, and only one or two models (top AMG) had it, and internally we made a big deal about it.
Cars had variable ratio racks from at least the early 90s. The teeth on the rack are a little closer near the center. The idea is that it gives you finer control for highway cruising.
In reply to GameboyRMH:
Yea, the pedestrian Ford Taurus had this in 89 or 90.......lol
You want a direct and great feel steering rack, adapt a cobalt ss/ion redline rack with or without electric assist. Good feel with electric assist, and because its a powered manual rack, impeccable feedback when the assist was turned off. We're talking better than a 911 when off type of good.
In reply to yamaha:
Hmmmmm.... Those are pretty cheap too. Do you know approximately how wide they are?
In reply to cmcgregor:
I do not know the width, the hardest part is the wiring for the motor IF you wanted power assist.
Hell, GM managed to screw the wiring up....which probably shouldn't be taken as a surprise. When I paid to have mine fixed(recall didn't apply to Saturn at that point), I had them wire in a toggle switch for power assist. I really liked turning it off for autoxing. 
iadr wrote: Street driving enthusiasts have a crisis here in Canada (& elsewhere) because OE ratios have gone nuts. Like a lightswitch and depend on the traction control to get you out. No chance of feeling loss of grip due to weight (electric assist) combined with lack of any progressiveness of slip angle in the tires being, and you are done on icy roads, and in trouble on heavily wetted ones. In short, sorry but I believe unless this is a stripped interior car used on autocross, or drift- you don't need the ratio you think you do. Also, racks are generally designed to get faster away from center not slower. I'm not sure when that started, but would be a little surprised it would be as early as 1995. I was working for Mercedes in 2008, and only one or two models (top AMG) had it, and internally we made a big deal about it.
This isn't a huge change in ratio from what is already on the car. Allegedly the 1.9 z3 has a slightly quicker ratio and is not variable, unlike the variable ratio that is in fact on my 95 m3. I am not trying to have one turn lock to lock. Just something slightly quicker that will work fine for street use and help a little bit in autox use.
In reply to Mr_Clutch42:
I mostly use it for the street but I do autox it and maybe eventually track days
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