those of you with 24v verts,

[dmjensen]

What have you done to relocate the big ol nasty battery under the hood? Not that i dont like having short cables, i just hate having to worry about setting a wrench across that area.

Plus thats such a convinient spot to hide my stuff.

[nl328i]

I have a touring (also has the battery under the hood) and we are relocating it to the trunk using the battery cable from the donor car :)

If I am correct in my research, verts and tourings should still have an unused space for the battery in the trunk. You might want to confirm that though.

[mitchlevy7]

How is this 24v swap related?

Nl328i is correct tho. Verts have a more reinforced frame rail so running the cable might be a bitch but it shouldnt be too dificult.

[brianao34]

Yes, you can just throw the battery in the back compartment.
My tray was rusted out so I just ended up cutting it out and have seen a few other members that have done so.

...Verts have a more reinforced frame rail so running the cable might be a bitch but it shouldnt be too dificult...

The battery cable is run through the cab along the right side. Cable fits very well and I'm prety sure e30m3 verts came with the batteries in the back as well.

I used the cable from a sedan but according to RealOEM they're all the same.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/partxref....ur=&series=E30

[MrSlacker]

We left it in original place

[dmjensen]

^ see thats what i did, but what im wondering is if i should use the stock e36 power distribution box or the e30 set up..

[e30rapidic]

best pic that I have of mine unfortunately

[nl328i]

I am moving mine for two reasons:
1. I wanted to make the engine bay as clean as possible- I am using the wiring cover from a 318, which doesn't leave room for my battery.

2. With the added weight of the s50 up front, I figured any weight I can shift back, would be beneficial to keeping the car from being too nose heavy. I think I should be ok, considering the car is a touring, so there should be a bit more weight bias to the rear I would think than a coupe or sedan. More junk in the trunk.

[dmjensen]

Exactly. I dont feel like cutting up a perfectly good 318 cover if i can move the battery where it belongs.

[e30pq]

We have plenty of weight in the back when you put the top down. I like keeping my battery up front and autocross my car.

My car handles best with the top down. I have it setup to handle best with the top down.

Here is a thread with some photos of my car.

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=107147

Here is another thread with some autocross videos to prove it actually does okay compared to other cars.

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=280968

[grsmonkey]

^^NICE!

I moved mine to the trunk to make room for the wastegate.

[glucklich21]

So I used an E36 battery cable and power block since the S50 harness bolts right onto it. You'll need to drill a hole in the battery tray for the grommet. In the rear you'll have to bend the panel next to the rear shock tower to get the cable by on its way to the battery.


E30 vs E36- same length










Mesh to protect the cable from rubbing



E36 Power distribution block: