There has been discussion about installing a Battery in the trunk as a back up for cold weather or what ever.

I was at PNP a couple months ago, and a guy I was BS`n with, told me about some model BMW`s having the battery in the trunk. the cable runs from the trunk, up the right side to the eng compartment.

So Last Wed I got to looking around, and the 320i and the 520i (think that is the model) have this set up. one was a 2 door, and one was a 4 door.

The cable mounts to the firewall on the right side, (same area the 123 battery lives). remove the black plastic cover, then the 3 10mm nuts/bolts to loosen the end of the cable.

Remove the passenger kick pannel, one phillips screw, snip off a black plastic zip tie. pop off the threshold kick plate and pull off the door seal off the pinch weld. lift up the carpet, the cable and a bunch of wires run along the edge.

pry off the white plastic clips 4 or 5. gently remove the "B" piller cover, or use a prybar and rip it off as I did. hey its a BMW, who cares .
same on the rear door as the front. remove threshold etc...

lift up seat cushion, and remove 2 screws for seat back (Same as MB 123) and lift out seat. snipp off a couple zip ties. pry off the white clips. pull out some insulation in the corner. cable runs under the seat pipe frame and into trunk.

in trunk there is a plastic cover to pry off. I then pulled cable into rear seat area.

under hood, use a large flat screwdriver to push the rubber grommet into the pass compartment. then from under the dash pull it on through.
then I pulled it into the rear seat area and all done.

battery cables at PNP are $3.99 plus tax and environmet fee. so around $5.

I measured the cable, and 11 1/2 ft or so. couple of them might make a set of jumper cables.
Hope this help someone.

Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

why not do a battery relocation with it?



We moved the battery in a friends 300SD to the trunk, and theres no noticeable difference in starting power.

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-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

This is actually a real good idea! Alot all BMW's have a rear mounted battery. E32 and E34 have them under the rear seat so there a bit shorter. I may just see if our parts car can make a charitable donation!

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87' 300D, Currently undergoing an OM606 swap/build! SUPERTURBO!!!
03' 2500HD Dmax + goodies!
82' 300SD, parting out!
93' 300TE 4matic, parting out!
83' 240D Project Cheap Drive
89' 300E, parting out!
74' Datsun 510 wagon
88' RX7 10thAE, 13B track car build soon

Skippy~ As for perception: Drive what you like and can afford. Those who don't like it can supply vacuum to one of your components. LOL

If you need parts, I have some!

Sure, just think of the fantastic handling characteristics that you've achieved after spending three hours of your time.............not to mention the huge loss of available trunk space.

Great suggestion to get some quality wire.

There's a reason I don't buy wire for my projects anymore... I just keep pilfering it out of the 2000 Jetta harness I have in a box. Better quality wire then what you'd get at autozoo I think.

-Jason

__________________
1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket

Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states!
Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.

X2 especially with the cost of #2 and #4 guage wire.

Thanks

__________________


Experience : what you receive 3 seconds after you really needed it !!



86 300SDL 387,000? Motor committed suicide
81 300SD 214,000 "new" 132,000 motor
83 300SD 212,000 parts car
83 300SD 147,000

91 F700 5.9 cummins 5spd eaton 298,000
66 AMC rambler American 2dr auto 108,000
95 Chevy 3/4 ton auto 160,000
03 Toyota 4runner 180,000 wifes

I relocated the battery to the trunk on my 280e autocrosser for better balance. I used an old set of jumper cables for the wire. The wire is expensive enough to get your attention!

On a diesel the better handling characteristics would be completely un noticed, probably.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Was the battery moved to clear out the engine compartment, or to add one more battery to the system?

Adding a second battery to the system would give you guys in the frigid East a little more Oomph getting started on those cold mornings that don`t use a block heater.

Here on the west coast, usually don`t have problems starting in the cold.

This BMW cable is one huge cable in size. and for only about $5.


Charlie

__________________
there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

I just did a battery relocation to my 84 300d. Takes way more than 3 hours to do it right. I did it so that almost any battery can be used and to be different. I put the battery in a battery box in the passenger side drop down and very little trunk space is lost.
The front end sits high now. It is a well established fact that the closer one can get to a 50/50 weight bias the better it usually is for handling, but I don't plan on doing any autocross or racing events with a diesel benz.

It is a lot of work. Passenger and rear seat removal. Passenger carpet removal. Holesaw through firewall and trunk partition and grommets. I put the cable in 1/2" flex elec. conduit. Figuring out how to run it so the carpet will go back in and look o.k. is one of the biggest problems.Connect ground cable at back. etc. Lot's of work but I like the results.

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Diesel-guy

My battery stays nice and dry right where it is....it would be wet constantly if I had it in my trunk.

I think I'll keep it where it is.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

More like 4 hours....


It does not take up that much space. The battery fits perfectly into the well on the right side of the trunk. The top of the battery sits almost level with the false floor which the spare rides in.



Pretty much moved it to the trunk to open up space under the hood....

__________________
-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

It was done to move the battery out from under the hood... But you could probably add a second battery to the mix this way as well.


That would be cool to add the second battery for some extra starting power.

__________________
-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

My E30 has this, it is atleast 1/0 cable. Running that stuff is a major hassle.

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Current Diesels:
1981 240D (73K)
1982 300CD (169k)
1985 190D (169k)
1991 350SD (113k)
1991 350SD (206k)
1991 300D (228k)
1993 300SD (291k)
1993 300D 2.5T (338k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (442k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (265k)

Past Diesels:
1983 300D (228K)
1985 300D (233K)