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Battery trunk relocation options


rey949

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I am planning on relocating the battery to the trunk. Does anyone have any options out there for kits besides the Top End Performance kit? I really dont like the way their rear Brace looks with the battery in the center. I know theirs is a well built item. I just don like the looks.

Any other options out there off the shelf? Or; is the alternative a custom job?

Any suggestions/pictures would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

I'm a BMW Zombie and there's no cure!

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I've used two of the tep braces so far. I think you are custom beyond theirs. One thing I do like about the brace is I can tie my load i the trunk off to it so I don't have stuff hitting the sides/back sheet metal. Post pics of what you come up with.

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I went to Walmart and bought a set of jumper cables, battery ends and a Marine battery box. The Marine battery box came with a strap and 2 bolt on mounts to strap the battery box down.

It cost me about $50 for all the parts (I hard wired my battery to the car, no battery jumper connection in the engine bay and I didn't need a rear strut brace).

post-15112-13667631068603_thumb.jpg

Fishhead

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Motorcycle Big Brake systems

Be yourself and be free with your thoughts because those who matter don't mind and those who mind don't matter..

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Unless you want the cool look, forget the shock tower brace. Like the name says, they are shock towers, not strut towers. There is no side-load on shock towers. A brace would just add weight. The picture shows my solution to the battery mounting question. I like the space for a toolbox. Yeah I know, the battery should be on the other side of the trunk; or should it? The fuel tank is on the passenger side and the engine leans to the right. I'm not sure if there is any weight bias toward the driver’s side. I mounted the battery on the left side just to keep the cables as short as possible and keep resistance down. Oh did I mention? I really like the space for a toolbox.

post-18159-13667631077026_thumb.jpg

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No amount of skill or education will ever replace dumb luck
1971 2002 (much modified rocket),  1987 635CSI (beauty),  

2000 323i,  1996 Silverado Pickup (very useful)

Too many cars.

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The best -- the only -- way to go is underseat. (http://www.zeebuck.com/bimmers/tech/batteryrelocation/underseatbattery.html) Why put it in the truck and take up room when you have dead, empty space where it will fit? And those TEP braces suck -- the one in my e21 made the shock tower separate. Stay away from that!

If you have a touring, it goes near spare tire well (since it can't go under seat):

touringbatteries.jpg

Or you could put one under the rear seat. From my 73 CS

P1010821.jpg

Doug

Matt McGinn came up with a similar solution but with an actual steel box that hung down underneath the floor slightly. I can't find it right now, but it's pictured somewhere on his website http://www.sports-car-restoration.com

now: '72 Inka 2000 touring, '82 Alpina C1 2.3  & '92 M5T (daily driver)

before: a lot of old BMWs (some nice, some not so much), a few air-cooled 911s and even a water-cooled Cayman S

Alpina restoration blog: https://www.alpinac1.com/

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Dumb question time: How do you jump start the car with the battery under the rear seat? And isn't it a PITA to have to take the battery out to replace it/charge it on a charger?

Same as with new BMWs that have the battery under seat or in trunk: At the positive electrical block in the engine compartment. That is, if you use an e30 or similar battery cable kit. I don't have a pic of mine, but here's Zeebuck's similar custom poaitive block in his engine compartment. Personally, I prefer the e30 one...

underseatbatt87.JPG

now: '72 Inka 2000 touring, '82 Alpina C1 2.3  & '92 M5T (daily driver)

before: a lot of old BMWs (some nice, some not so much), a few air-cooled 911s and even a water-cooled Cayman S

Alpina restoration blog: https://www.alpinac1.com/

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