Battery Relocating...
 

Has anyone done this lately? Is there a kit currently available or is it better to just source a set-up from a donor car?

(if this is in the swap manual, just tell me to shut up... it's on it's way!)

I'm planning on doing it, haven't yet though. If I get there before you do, I'll post pics. Haven't seen a kit, but I'm planning on taking it out of my M3 and swapping everything over. I might have to weld in a few brackets in the engine bay for the secondary air pump and battery terminal. Pretty sure Bavarian Auto recycling would sell the complete wiring for pretty cheap.

universal kits are very prevalent. drag racers do it all the time in American cars. No real "kit" available. but not hard to do yourself. I plan on getting wire out of a 3 series 4 door and there terminal, running it all the way back, cutting what i don't need off the wire and sweating a new end onto it. I would recommend putting your battery into a box for saftey....

Yeah, I figured the wiring would be simple enough. Just wondering if anyone has made a box or holder for the battery in the rear? I am not planning on dumping the spare and relocating the battery there, trying to figure the best way to box/secure it in/around the side storage bin.

I will probably use this when I do it.

http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS/555/10261/10002/-1

I was planning on using the stock 318ti box, perhaps modifying it a bit. As for the surrounding brackets in the cargo area, I'm not affraid to cut here and there to accomodate the batery/box. I've also considered making a metal box, the important thing to consider is ventilation.

I will probably do something very similar by using the stock box. IIRC, the e46 ti had it already mounted there (thought I saw pics of one of the euro members having an OEM solution).

Thanks for the input, I appreciate it!

damn, i didn't even think about the stock box hahah. That is something to consider.

i think bmw made a stock rear box for the 323ti
ill see if i can fish up some part #s

may be able to special order it

^^^ Keep us posted, Coop! Thanks...

I am going to have to PM Clex2 about his battery, I think he did it too...

EDIT:
nevermind, got one
double edit:

its saying they have a rear battery and i can get a # for the cable, but im still searching for the actual box.

ok, looks like they made it part of the floor pan also, heres the floor pan #s, our ti's dont have them :cry:

haha ill still search to see if theres a physical box though, it may be that you can use the box without the brackets. also, it looks as if they stored it under the carpet next to the tool box area.

http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/i...0e40c17ea8.jpg

#s

41 12 8 235 754
41 12 8 235 755

ok, now that i think about it, bmw wouldnt have put it in a box, they would mount it with a hold down and use a vent tube, and sadly the 323ti rear trunk pan is 323ti specific, so unless someone wants to order those 2 peices and modify their floor pan and weld them in, you have to do a custom box or something.

EDIT:
actually, the basic floor pan is the same, so if someone gets those tabs, bolts/welds them in and puts a vent tube, youd officially have an OEM rear battery.
double edit:
ok, the rear tool storage tray is different, so that would probably allow more room for the battery back there, if you want i can get a part # for the rear 323 tool tray.

Thanks for all your research on this Coop. I found an old thread (2004!) which Clex2 put a very small battery in the existing cargo box on the right side...

I am going to drop him a line and maybe go see it in person...

Got a note back from Chris (clex2) and he used a battery from these folks;

http://www.performancedistributors.com/batteries.htm

I will hopefully have a chance to meet with him next weekend and I will try to get a pic or two of his set-up.