How Are You Mounting Your Battery?

[barvarianbox_83]

My 2002 came without a battery tiedown. Is there a company out there that makes one that works well for this application. I have a 73 2002. Any input would help.

[golf73]

stock battery hold down is still available from BMW

61211353680 $10.28

[stevebo77]

If you're not looking for an exact stock look, I used a store brand replacement from carquest for all of $8. It includes the top bracket and the two hook posts for either side that hold down with wingnuts. Works like a charm.

[eastsidebimmer]

(nt)

[TTyMiller]

Bungy cord. Just kidding. I have one of those i bought and never used but I would have to find it. Tii lux usually has them on ebay for 10 - 15 bucks.

[ought2]

I have one identical to this one from my '73 for $10 + shipping. This photo was from one that recently sold on the forum. Credit to the poster.

[ClayW]

Haha.......glad I wasn't alone on that one.

[jgerock]

The O.E. style lever clamp may not work, depending on where the receiver hole is located in your battery tray AND what size battery you are using.

Before buying any parts, look at your battery. Can you see the exposed flat portion of the tray? If so, can you locate a small hole either at the rear (toward the Master Cylinder) or on the engine side (toward the alternator)? The side-mount tray with O.E. hold-down is seen in Fernando's Inka 2002ti restoration blog.

Larger batteries will cover the entire tray so you cannot use the O.E. style hold-down. My old Interstate MT-42 was so big, the PO used a series of hose clamps to wrap around the battery and tray.

I replaced it with a much smaller Interstate 26R which now exposes the mounting hole in my tray. I purchased the O.E. hold-down assembly, but it was too far away from the battery, so I used a plastic wire connector block (from my VW) to take up the gap. The RealOEM parts diagram shows a plastic block that could be used for a spacer, but I bought (2) of them and they didn't fit my car.

If you have a tii, a larger battery (than the 26R) may cause the O.E. hold-down rod to interfere with the air cleaner - possibly enough so you cannot turn the lever.

Picture taken before I used a plastic "shim". The battery moved around on the tray.

[stevebo77]

...the PO used a series of hose clamps to wrap around the battery and tray.

Now that is something I'd like to chuckle at while looking at a pic. That's quite the image in my head.

[jgerock]

You can barely make out the hose clamp between the (2) caps. This picture is from about 2003.