Where is my battery

[330i and like it]

I know this sounds like a really dum question but where is the battery on a 2001, 330i. Mine needs replacing but I can not find it and the owners manual has nothing.

Please Help!!!

 

[outpost22]

If it is where mine is, it is in the back right portion of the trunk, under the plastic tray.

 

[GGM]

yup, thats where it is

 

[PuShAkOv]

The one thing that confuses me more is WHY they put it there. There is a large open space under the hood (upper-left) where it can go with no problem.

Must be BMW Smart Engineering Bangle Team (BMWSEBT)

 

[dzervit]

The battery is stashed in the back to help with weight balance. Just by moving the battery to the rear it can effect the balance by up to 1%. It also provides extra grip for the rear tires.

 

[GGM]

What does everyone do with that open space under the hood???

 

[Bryan330i]

I understand it is for safety, to keep a corrosive material in a safer place in the event of a crash.

 

[MrElussive]

Battery in the rear is to attain the 50/50 weight distribution that BMW must achieve with all their cars (sort of like a personal guideline for them). The X5 also has the battery stashed in the rear for the same reason.

 

[frolf]

Elusive is right, it is for weight balance.

 

[Bryan330i]

The weight thing makes sense. BMW needs to better in their training program, 3 dealerships and 3 salespeople all told me that it was a safety issue.

 

[Big Daddy]

Understanding that the dealer said it was safety, I am wondering how so? In the event of a front end collision (with battery under hood) if the battery takes a hard hit it leaks out on the ground, or worst case it splashes up into the faces of the people in the car? In the event of a rear end collision (with battery in trunk) if the battery takes a hard hit it leaks into the trunk, or worst case it splashes on the backs of the people in the car? I would think it could be more of a safety issue in the trunk with only cardboard and a seat back between it and you. Weight balance makes more sense to me, But I am no expert.

 

[Krafty04]

The battery actually sits below the level of the trunk floor (down under, eh?) like the spare tire... right side, rear trunk section.

In case anyone ever needs or wants to assist someone in jumping their car.... their are pos and neg posts provided under the hood (facing the engine, front left... ) the positive post is even under a black protective cap.

How do I know this? the wonderful port personnel in Lisbon, Portugal loaded my car into a container, placed the car in neutral (to prevent 5 days of hard rocking fore and aft in park... ) and were not able to remove the key from the on position, so they left the key in the on position. happy happy joy joy.

krafty.

 

[Bryan330i]

I was thinking about it, the BMW salespeople could be partially correct. It was probably determined that the rear battery placement not only helps weight but also allows for lower placement in the vehicle, or any combination of factors. I was looking at the horizontal line of my car from the side and I would guess that the battery sits much lower in the back than it would in the front, relative to the seating area. I guess they could have derived a potential safety factor from this as well.[???1]

 

[bmwrocks]

Also heat is not friendly to a battery and putting in the underneath rear isolates it from the hot underhood. Or so I am told.

I saw it behind a metal barrier separated from the engine area in a G35SC. The Infiniti salesman claimed it was to help keep heat away from it. Mr.Elussive correct me if I am wrong?

 

[MyHarley]

The neatest thing about the battery being in the back is getting to jump start it from the front............

 

[Kirby]

I'm with Mr. E. When I picked up my car in Munich at the factory, they showed me where to jump the car just in case I had a problem. She specifically told me "Za BMW engineers move za battery to get 50/50 veight distribution. " Since she worked at the factory, I'm guessing that she was right.

 

[Average Jae]

battery sure is dang heavy and moving it to the back is one of hte easiest way to achieve 50/50 balance. it's pervalent in most euro cars.. at least i've seen it in bimmers and audis.

my question is if your car is only 2 years, maybe 3 years old, why do you need a battery replaced already?

 

[MrElussive]

Also heat is not friendly to a battery and putting in the underneath rear isolates it from the hot underhood. Or so I am told.

I saw it behind a metal barrier separated from the engine area in a G35SC. The Infiniti salesman claimed it was to help keep heat away from it. Mr.Elussive correct me if I am wrong?

Right now, I can't speak for my own car, but I will check it out tonight as this is an interesting topic. I can tell you that I have noticed in a lot of modern cars, the battery is usually stored in a special plastic box or at least "separated" by a divider...as you said, bmwrocks, I am guessing it is to give the engine compartment a more organized appearance/layout and mainly to isolate the battery from the engine with its intense heat.

 

[Bryan330i]

I think it is without question a weight issue but this sure says something about knowing your product. On my first visit to a local BMW dealership the salesman went over the entire car pointing out all of the features. He spent several minutes on the battery and how it is located in the back for “safety.” I did not even know BMW put it in the back until this visit.

Then, upon delivery of the car to my house from a California dealership, the driver (it was a MB dealership single-car flatbed) proceeded to go over the car with me again. Once again the battery “safety” issue was pointed out.

I can forgive the delivery guy because I think he worked for MB, but what about the BMW people? They should know their products better than this. Or perhaps it is just say anything to make a sale.

 

[xLibelle]

yeah, someone needs to better explain the safety issue. and i mean a different explination than relating weight balance and lower center of gravity to safety.

what did those guys say about it Bryan? ...or was that to point you made, that they just said it was for safety and not giving a reason.

(bmw has always put the battery in the back)