E30 battery relocation project

[fabianyee]

While my car was spending close to 2 months of hibernation at the exhaust shop, took the opportunity to strip off the interior to do some derusting and replace badly rusted panels. While the interior is out of the way, was thinking, might as well move the battery to the rear trunk.... So here's some pics to share..replaced panel at the passenger foot rest area, rusted due to leaky brake fluid regulator at the engine bay..

The cabling. There's already a trunking for the battery cable..

The tray template and where the battery will sit eventually..

Covered up

End result

DIY most parts of it except for the weldings of the aluminum battery tray and the bracket for the terminal...

 

[nikazwaa]

wah.. manyak bagus...

 

[Eggie86]

Very good DIY work bro. :top:

 

[evilnickwong]

You mounted the new tray to the boot floor under your strut bar?

Just curious, any reason not to put it in the stock location at the rear corner?

 

[fabianyee]

You mounted the new tray to the boot floor under your strut bar?

Just curious, any reason not to put it in the stock location at the rear corner?

For better load distribution...

 

[evilnickwong]

Ah OK, kinda guessed that too lol.
But I guess this means no more boot carpet unless you make one with a hole in it.

 

[fabianyee]

Ah OK, kinda guessed that too lol.
But I guess this means no more boot carpet unless you make one with a hole in it.

I still put the carpet in... no cut hole... just put it in with a 'L' shape resting on the battery... Now I just need to make a box with the right dimension to fill up the space between the battery and the right strut tower...

 

[Realred78]

I still put the carpet in... no cut hole... just put it in with a 'L' shape resting on the battery... Now I just need to make a box with the right dimension to fill up the space between the battery and the right strut tower...

I must say I was extremely impressed with your UDM. I had the pleasure of tailing you to Bkt Beruntung on Friday night. Very impressive. Great job :top:

 

[fabianyee]

I must say I was extremely impressed with your UDM. I had the pleasure of tailing you to Bkt Beruntung on Friday night. Very impressive. Great job :top:

thanks for the comment... just a bit here and there with some thoughts thrown into it... It's a sleeper car...

 

[astroboy]

Wow.. better make sure the battery sit and fastened tight. It will be so dangerous if any of the aluminum tray component fail during head on accident impact. U don't want a fly battery from behind travelling at 200kph

 

[fabianyee]

Wow.. better make sure the battery sit and fastened tight. It will be so dangerous if any of the aluminum tray component fail during head on accident impact. U don't want a fly battery from behind travelling at 200kph

oh yeah, let me go and put in more 3M double sided tapes on it....

 

[astroboy]

oh yeah, let me go and put in more 3M double sided tapes on it....

hehe... glad u copied the message.. but u smart. Place the battery at the passenger side.. good risk mitigation! :top:

 

[Aero]

hi Fabian

Do you need to cut a hole from the driver side firewall to make access of the cable, how much is the cable cost. where can i have it done if interested.

Thanks

 

[fabianyee]

hi Fabian

Do you need to cut a hole from the driver side firewall to make access of the cable, how much is the cable cost. where can i have it done if interested.

Thanks

There is aledi a hole there if u check... And there's a plate with a few spot welds to cover the hole... The 325i and ori 318is have battery in the rear trunk... so there's a proper route for the cable...

i bought those arc welding cables which u can get from some hardware stores... most workshop can do for u but I have high expectation so I prefer to DIY.. hehe... Cos the workshop fellas won't go thru the hassle like I had...

 

[Aero]

There is aledi a hole there if u check... And there's a plate with a few spot welds to cover the hole... The 325i and ori 318is have battery in the rear trunk... so there's a proper route for the cable...

i bought those arc welding cables which u can get from some hardware stores... most workshop can do for u but I have high expectation so I prefer to DIY.. hehe... Cos the workshop fellas won't go thru the hassle like I had...

Hi Fabian

i have thought those are the wire, i guess mine would not have the hole as i have the battery tray rebuilt,would need to check to confirm.

how about the bracket for the positive terminal any suggestion on how it was mounted, as i dont think it can be mounted on to a bracket? i would think that the negative terminal i can just bolt it to the nearest chasis point.

how much was the cable by the way.

Thanks

 

[fabianyee]

Hi Fabian

i have thought those are the wire, i guess mine would not have the hole as i have the battery tray rebuilt,would need to check to confirm.

how about the bracket for the positive terminal any suggestion on how it was mounted, as i dont think it can be mounted on to a bracket? i would think that the negative terminal i can just bolt it to the nearest chasis point.

how much was the cable by the way.

Thanks

U can oso try looking for the cables from the chopshop, which in turn, came from another BMW ie E36...

the positive terminal at the front can be mounted onto a bracket cos it's got a plastic housing... if not how? hang in the air?
Negative terminal can bolt to the chassis BUT provided your ECU is not sensitive...
Mine was sensitive to the slight lack of grounding... However, once I pulled a ground cable to the front, problem solved...

 

[Aero]

Ok noted. will need to find a proper plastic bracket then.before i can embark in this project.

 

[fabianyee]

check the front terminal found in BMW with battery in the rear, ie E36, E46, E39 etc....

 

[xsjado]

nice!!!u finished it!!!wonder when will i ever start mine...

 

[fabianyee]

nice!!!u finished it!!!wonder when will i ever start mine...

have to finish it, if not can't start the car... hahaha...