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  4. E30 Battery Cable Terminal

E30 Battery Cable Terminal

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  • AndrewA
    AndrewA
    Andrew
    wrote on last edited by
    #1

    I'm finally trying to secure my battery properly (trunk mounted battery in an 89 325i), but i've got a bit of an issue.  The battery cable that is currently on the car does not appear to have the correct terminal on it, which means that it wont work with the proper battery (group 48?) The correct one is pictured below on the left (it has a unique 90 degree drop thingy), and the one that I have is similar to the one on the right (it's just straight).  Can I buy the correct end and crimp it on (i suspect not), or do i have to buy a whole new cable?  The problem with having the straight terminal is that it can't make the tight 90 degree corners in the battery well to connect to the positive terminal of the correct battery, which means i cant use the correct battery tie down.  The alternative is that i use a completely different battery and fabricate my own battery hold down.  This seems easier to me right now, but i value your opinions.

    02E30Cableend.jpg IMG5520.JPG

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    • straight6pwrS
      straight6pwrS
      straight6pwr
      wrote on last edited by
      #2

      http://www.jegs.com/i/Braille-Auto/147/201/10002/-1?CAWELAID=1710650746&CAGPSPN=pla&CAAGID=15769068431&CATCI=pla-222628247591&catargetid=230006180037474944&cadevice=c&gclid=Cj0KEQiAuonGBRCaotXoycysvIMBEiQAcxV0nFKBA2fuG28OyXNgV1tVINd2Oo3a-jZPCWqY17o8n84aAlOc8P8HAQ

      Dan
      yajsYRL.jpg.e5f350b4dfe961d76ac8b32efce2e1a6.jpg

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      • B
        B
        B C
        wrote on last edited by
        #3

        Yay for doing things on the e30

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        • AndrewA
          AndrewA
          Andrew
          wrote on last edited by
          #4

          straight6pwr said:

          http://www.jegs.com/i/Braille-Auto/147/201/10002/-1?CAWELAID=1710650746&CAGPSPN=pla&CAAGID=15769068431&CATCI=pla-222628247591&catargetid=230006180037474944&cadevice=c&gclid=Cj0KEQiAuonGBRCaotXoycysvIMBEiQAcxV0nFKBA2fuG28OyXNgV1tVINd2Oo3a-jZPCWqY17o8n84aAlOc8P8HAQ

          Genius.  This would allow me to use the current cable like so?

          IMG5522.JPG

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          • AndrewA
            AndrewA
            Andrew
            wrote on last edited by
            #5

            Also, I found that these exist after you inspired me to search for "adapters"

            850250-sae-to-jis-conversion.jpg

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            • AndrewA
              AndrewA
              Andrew
              wrote on last edited by
              #6

              Snap said:

              Yay for doing things on the e30

              Yay indeed.  This is one of two things i need to fix at a minimum before i track it.  The other being, why does my tank leak fuel when more than half full, or when i corner hard right...  I've decided that i will have to commit seppuku if i dont track this car this year.

              seppuku-o.gif

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              • B
                B
                B C
                wrote on last edited by
                #7

                I have a scored m20 camshaft you can fall on.

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                • straight6pwrS
                  straight6pwrS
                  straight6pwr
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #8

                  Andrew said:

                  Genius.  This would allow me to use the current cable like so?

                  IMG5522.JPG

                  yup, exactly what i pictured.  be careful on those adapters, though, they may have a different post size which your cable wont clamp to.

                  Dan
                  yajsYRL.jpg.e5f350b4dfe961d76ac8b32efce2e1a6.jpg

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                  • AndrewA
                    AndrewA
                    Andrew
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #9

                    straight6pwr said:

                    yup, exactly what i pictured.  be careful on those adapters, though, they may have a different post size which your cable wont clamp to.

                    I think i'll try this combo.  JIS post looks small and tapered, but they make shims to adapt to SAE post.

                    JIS to SAE post small.png

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                    • AndrewA
                      AndrewA
                      Andrew
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #10

                      Snap said:

                      I have a scored m20 camshaft you can fall on.

                      That is very kind of you.  That would be an epic death.

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                      • straight6pwrS
                        straight6pwrS
                        straight6pwr
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #11

                        Andrew said:

                        I think i'll try this combo.  JIS post looks small and tapered, but they make shims to adapt to SAE post.

                        JIS to SAE post small.png

                        looks like that should work!

                        Dan
                        yajsYRL.jpg.e5f350b4dfe961d76ac8b32efce2e1a6.jpg

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                        • GunMetalGreyG
                          GunMetalGreyG
                          GunMetalGrey
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #12

                          This thread confuses me. Why do you need to change the end on the stock battery cable? 
                          Or is it not stock.

                          ...

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                          • straight6pwrS
                            straight6pwrS
                            straight6pwr
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #13

                            to me, it looks like someone in the past modified the end of the original cable, either because it was damaged/corroded or they used the wrong type of battery.

                            Dan
                            yajsYRL.jpg.e5f350b4dfe961d76ac8b32efce2e1a6.jpg

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                            • GunMetalGreyG
                              GunMetalGreyG
                              GunMetalGrey
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #14

                              Is this the picture of what is actually on your car?
                              IMG5522.JPG

                              If so I hate previous owners of that vehicle

                              ...

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                              • AndrewA
                                AndrewA
                                Andrew
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #15

                                GunMetalGrey said:

                                This thread confuses me. Why do you need to change the end on the stock battery cable? 
                                Or is it not stock. 

                                Yes, the end on the cable is NOT stock, which is the source of all my issues.

                                Using the SAE to JIS adapter, i'm able to make a stock size battery fit.  I couldn't orient the adapter the way i wanted, but this orientation doesn't put the cable under much strain.  And now it's held down with the OEM clamp.  It's better now.  Hopefully good enough for a tech inspector.

                                IMG5628small.jpg

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                                • B
                                  B
                                  B C
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #16

                                  Stuff a 20 under the cable pre-inspection and you will be fine

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                                  • B
                                    B
                                    Boris3
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #17

                                    If just a tech inspection for autox or a track day as long as the battery doesn't move with the stock clamp setup when the inspector checks it you'll be fine. I ran mine the same way for years.

                                    1990 325i racecar (ITS, former Spec E30); 2004 330i ZHP

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                                    • KaiserRollsK
                                      KaiserRollsK
                                      KaiserRolls
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #18

                                      I've been to a few auto crosses were they didn't even open my trunk...

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                                      • straight6pwrS
                                        straight6pwrS
                                        straight6pwr
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #19

                                        if you aren't completely happy, those post extenders i original shared are like $5 at advanced auto parts, saw them when I stopped in the other day.

                                        Dan
                                        yajsYRL.jpg.e5f350b4dfe961d76ac8b32efce2e1a6.jpg

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                                        0

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