What year E30's had the battery under the hood?

[brian0128]

I notice that here in Germany, some have the batteries in the trunk and the rest have it under the hood on the passenger side against the firewall.

[808BMW]

318's and cabrios?

[CleanAzzE30z]

M10 318s I believe. I dont know much about cabrios.

Mariano

[Jand3rson]

All cabrios had the battery under the hood, for weight distribution purposes. The cabrio is weighted differently in different areas of the car, so the battery is placed up front to offset the weight, and there's a ballast block in the trunk where the battery normally goes. It weighs a TON.

[CleanAzzE30z]

yeah. I knew that. I believe it weighs 50lbs. My uncle needed to put that on his race car to conform with weight regulations.

Mariano

[Ablice]

Cabriolets and Tourings had them.

[MacBudd541]

my 323i has the battery under the hood

[Rocla]

Cabriolets and Tourings had them.

My friend had 325ix touring had battery in "trunk" all other tourings I've seen have battery on engine bay.

These euro models usually have battery in engine bay:


All 316's
All 316i's
All 318i's
All 320i's
All 323i's

I think all models could have been ordered with trunk battery.

I have no idea about diesels.

[Court M3]

my 323i has the battery under the hood

mine does also.

[doucy2]

U.S m42 318i/is have em in the trunk, U.S m10 318's have em under the hood.

[Julien]

my diesel touring had it in the trunk though my euro 318is had it up front

[devonjordan]

My m42 318iC has it in the engine bay

[Jand3rson]

My m42 318iC has it in the engine bay

We established that, see above.

[Lance Racing]

Here is that hunk of metal that is in the cabrio trunk. It is called a vibration dampener, weighs 50lbs as noted.





If you wanted to buy one (not that anyone would) the retail price from BMW NA is something like $450!

[Jand3rson]

Yup, that's it alright. The late-model rear apron I bought from Joe for my car had one of those in it, it was from a cabrio. He's using it for a doorstop at his shop now. :D