Battery?

[karbonkid]

I have admitted the battery has given up. After constant recharging its not holding its charge any longer. Without a doubt its down to my short journeys, but is possibly due one.
It never holds and I always make a thing of manually turning off the interior lights when the doors are open for a short period of time when cleaning, wheel change or general.

I've heard that these were taken from the Mini, are there any better batteries over the OEM CSL ones, ie Performance, Life & lighter?

[shimmy]

yes better but heavier :bigcry:

just buy the replacement and CTEK batery conditioner :thumbs:

[_Nathan_]

li-ion ones are miles lighter - around £1.5-£2k though!

[shimmy]

li-ion ones are miles lighter - around £1.5-£2k though!


:hahaha::hahaha::hahaha::hahaha::hahaha: :whistle:

[Roland]

just buy the replacement and CTEK batery conditioner :thumbs:

that's what i did this year:smokin:

[L1ARR]

Here here,:whistle:

I know that you can buy a CTEK conditioner over the counter at BMW, its exactly the same apart from a lovely BMW sticker on it. Turn the charger over and it has CTEK stamped on it, I believe BMW charge £50 ish pounds. :thumbs:

Mine is just sitting in the garage on trickle at the moment, saved me spending £100 for exactly the same problem.

If you need the part number let me know.

[shimmy]

or Costco do a CTEK;)

[karbonkid]

Cheers all. I may just get an new bat when the car has come out of winter storage, but at the moment Im still driving it till I can find a winter runner. Does the car need to be constantly fed with power or can it be disconnected as Im not fussed about the current battery killing over?

[glendog74]

My battery has started to hold less and less charge due to the car loafing in the garage a lot recently... :banghead:

Getting mighty fed up of disconnecting the battery to charge it every other weekend so have just ordered a CTEK Multi XS3600 to help resurrect it!

Linky: XS3600 (http://www.barden-ukshop.com/ctek-multi-xs3600-1622-p.asp)

[shimmy]

Getting mighty fed up of disconnecting the battery to charge it every other weekend so have just ordered a CTEK Multi XS3600 to help resurrect it!

Linky: XS3600 (http://www.barden-ukshop.com/ctek-multi-xs3600-1622-p.asp)


make sure you fit the plug in adaptor to the battery straight away as it means you can refit the lining/tray above the battery and just plug it in - makes life alot easier

[NZ_M3]

The OEM supplier for BMW batteries is Exide - but buying an Exide battery is exactly the same as buying a BMW battery, they are just rebranded and marked up.

A good alternative is the Mini cooper battery - which is exactly the same as the M3 CSL battery - you save about 19lb in weight from the OEM M3 Battery and it'll crank okay provided you don't run heavy audio equipment.

Just check that the CCA has enough juice to get your car going.

The standard E46 M3 battery Exide Classic CCA730 94R-60

http://174.143.96.117/BIN/images/EXIDE/94R-60.jpg

It's actually used on a lot of other European cars (might pay to see which dealership has the cheapest price):

for e.g. Audi A4s, Chrysler 300, Dodge Challenger, Jag X-Type, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Commander, Land Rover LR2 and 3, Merc C300 and C350, Porsche Boxter, VW Gold, Jetta, Passat, Touareg

The Mini Cooper S Battery is Exide Classic CCA 600 - Part 47-60
http://174.143.96.117/BIN/images/EXIDE/47-60.jpg

Used in even more cars .. like Audi TTs, Jags, loads of Mercs, Loads of Saabs, Loads ov VWs and virtually the whole Volvo range LOL ....


Link to all battery specs and application search for Exide here: http://www.showmetheparts.com/n2ebattery/ (http://www.showmetheparts.com/n2ebattery/)#


But if you are really really weathy and have nothing else better to buy ... get this: I can't remember who makes this now, but I am sure I can find out with a bit of digging.

http://www.icars.sg/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/porsche-lithium-ion-battery.jpg

[shimmy]

ive gone for this!

7.7kgs

http://www.jegs.com/images/mini_100/100/147/147-B2317R.jpg

[_Nathan_]

I've got the same one as Shimmy and can confirm after yesterday that it will crank the car over loads of times without going flat.

Tom - are you thinking of Voltfreaks for the li-ion battery?

[NZ_M3]

I've got the same one as Shimmy and can confirm after yesterday that it will crank the car over loads of times without going flat.

Shimmy and Nathan .... Why not the Braille B106C?? Much lighter and works with our cars apparently:

B106C
6.6lbs/3.2kg
527 Pulse Cranking Amps*
10 Amp/Hr Reserve
5.8” x 3.4” x 4.2”
Left Side Positive
MSRP $219.99

http://www.braillebattery.com/index.php/batteries/b106c/

Tom - are you thinking of Voltfreaks for the li-ion battery?

No, not Voltphreaks ... although they do have some pretty cool and reasonably priced products I must say !!

I believe the Porsche Lithium-ion is made by Li-Tec of Germany ;)

[_Nathan_]

I went with the heavier one as the car is used for endurance racing and I'd rather carry a few extra kgs than it not start after refuelling!

[shimmy]

Same here

my car is a road car with heater, a/c, etc etc and better safe than sorry.

I don't know enough about the card output to push it to it's limits and Braille etc recommended this one for all car with standard electrical outputs.

[Hazy]

I'll take a pic of the battery on our race car, cranks and runs it fine, but weighs fook all and is about the size of a decent scooter battery!!!:thumbs:

[_Nathan_]

How much does your car weigh now?

[shane@mbtech]

How much does your car weigh now?


+1 yeh how much does it weigh in at now ad?

Mine is currently 1350kg with fuel, and still a road car. Not too bad:beer:

[_Nathan_]

1350 with a full tank is impressive, mine was 1340 last year and was still road legal with aircon, electric windows, all the pollen filters etc etc.

[NZ_M3]

I went with the heavier one as the car is used for endurance racing and I'd rather carry a few extra kgs than it not start after refuelling!

Same here

my car is a road car with heater, a/c, etc etc and better safe than sorry.

I don't know enough about the card output to push it to it's limits and Braille etc recommended this one for all car with standard electrical outputs.

Wise considerations ....

[shane@mbtech]

1350 with a full tank is impressive, mine was 1340 last year and was still road legal with aircon, electric windows, all the pollen filters etc etc.

How did you manage that?

Im running carbon roof, but exterior is standard except acs(pig ugly spoiler) on the boot.

[_Nathan_]

My weight is without any fuel :)

[shimmy]

I am aiming for my car to be 1350kg by Spa.......

I guess you are saying NO chance!

[glendog74]

I am aiming for my car to be 1350kg by Spa.......

I guess you are saying NO chance!

Which leg you gonna amputate Shim? :hahaha:

[shimmy]

Which leg you gonna amputate Shim? :hahaha:


both if needed :thumbs:

[AlexGTT]

Mine was 1394kg's with 1/3 tank of fuel last time it was set up. Happy with that at the moment. Nothing stripped, just the usual lighter brake and exhaust components. That's 201kg's lighter than my previous E46 M3 with about the same fuel level!!

[_Nathan_]

Shim - need to remember that the cage adds weight which you don't have to worry about :D

Mine was 1243 earlier this week but still needs some bits adding back so guess 1255 all in now.

[shimmy]

Mines just a temp thin anyway for Spa

just trying to get the whole car inc driver 100kg lighter than May last year. Might do a trial run for Snett in April and like you say no cage and no passenger:)

[_Nathan_]

Including driver my car is 100kg lighter this year too :thumbs:

No taking the cheat line at Eau Rouge this year though :gayfight:

[shimmy]

Including driver my car is 100kg lighter this year too :thumbs:

No taking the cheat line at Eau Rouge this year though :gayfight:

I was slower by a second in 2009 at both ER and B2 in 2009 compared to 2008-I knew I should have been the other side of the kerberooos

[_Nathan_]

Yep, I was miles slower through there last year due to actually following the track and not just straight lining it - in some ways it is more fun to just blast over the curb at the top and ignore the circuit :)

[Hazy]

+1 yeh how much does it weigh in at now ad?

Mine is currently 1350kg with fuel, and still a road car. Not too bad:beer:

Not got round to weighing it since having the roof etc, but it was 1340 with a brimmed tank,passenger seat and the standard heavy wheels I'm guessing (hoping) it will be in the region of 1270 to 1300kgs now, watch this space....