Voltphreaks Lithium Battery

[mermar]

Originally Posted by FogCityM3

For those keeping the car a while, a regular BMW battery will go out every 3 yrs and cost you $300 each time, while with this, for an extra $400-$500 you'll have something that saves weight and will last 2x-3x as long. The higher end German tuning houses that actually race their cars or have time tests (i.e. SportAuto Tuner GP) on well known tracks replace the regular batteries with lightweight ones as part of weight savings programs and you can't argue with some of the results when several weight saving strategies are used in combination.

Battery and exhaust - any other weight saving strategies that are a bit sleeper? Not interested in CF trunk.

[Hujan]

Originally Posted by mermar

Battery and exhaust - any other weight saving strategies that are a bit sleeper? Not interested in CF trunk.

Other than exhaust and battery, wheels and brakes are areas of potential weight savings that also have significant performance benefits. The downside is cost.

Also, you can shed ~10 lbs. from the trunk by ditching the inflation equipment and manual from the trunk. The rear head rests are another 3 lbs. if you want to get really hardcore.

[M33too]

Some people mention the Deltran batteries. I actually don't recommend them, because they don't have any management circuitry. If you discharge the battery below say 6 volts, there's a good change it's permanently damaged, or even ruined.


Also, if there is an issue, they can still catch on fire if the battery is damaged and an attempt is made to use them. Overcharging also can cause a fire. The Voltphreaks batteries have protection against all these things (it shuts the battery off if there's something wrong or something that can cause damage occurs, like overcharging or over-discharging).


I think the non-full BMS (battery management system, with overdisharge and*over-charge protection) batteries are still new, so there's not many of them out there in use, but as more and more are in use, there will be more and more failures.


I'm aware of several failures with different brands (not deltran, but deltran is new) that have failed or worse, sometimes caught fire, that don't have the full BMS. If going with a lithium battery, I recommend you get one with a full BMS!

[schnell325]

This is a great thread

[Sered]

Don't ever get in a wreck with that. If the battery is punctured, it will burn your car to the ground. Sitting right next to the gas tank too.

[M33too]

Originally Posted by Sered

Don't ever get in a wreck with that. If the battery is punctured, it will burn your car to the ground. Sitting right next to the gas tank too.

Its securely mounted. I'm not too worried about it. If I wreck that bad I hope the car does burn to the ground (without me in it).

[schnell325]

Indeed!!!

[MilehighM3]

Originally Posted by Sered

Don't ever get in a wreck with that. If the battery is punctured, it will burn your car to the ground. Sitting right next to the gas tank too.

Says who? Maybe with the introduction of water it would catch fire. Lithium ion batteries don't just catch fire because they are punctured.

[s85e90]

Originally Posted by MilehighM3

Says who? Maybe with the introduction of water it would catch fire. Lithium ion batteries don't just catch fire because they are punctured.

I think they may actually. There's some people who demonstrated this by hitting cell phone batteries with a hammer. Pretty sure they explode violently.

[italyix]

Originally Posted by Sered

Don't ever get in a wreck with that. If the battery is punctured, it will burn your car to the ground. Sitting right next to the gas tank too.

Not sure if you have ever seen one up close or held it, but they are encased in a thick plastic shell. You would need to get into a serious wreck to even put a crack in this thing.

[rantarM3]

Originally Posted by italyix

Program battery to 40agm which is the lowest value accepted by our cars.

With regards to bracketry, mine looks like a bent piece of metal.

What do you use to code the car to the battery? It seems the bmw logger software only registers but does not code.

[italyix]

Originally Posted by rantarM3

What do you use to code the car to the battery? It seems the bmw logger software only registers but does not code.

I had a shop do it but there's a diy in the e90 coding section.

[Swiftym3]

Very interesting information here, thanks to all who contributed.

I am all about some weight savings, I already have the challenge CF trunk and have been looking into lightweight batteries for a while now. Although losing 55lbs would be great, I'm thinking about going a little less hardcore with a 20-25lb battery until there is a complete proven safe kit. Does anyone have a recommendation or brand preference for a regular yet "mini/lightweight" battery option?

[4corners]

OEM Bosch battery at 122000 miles - $199 plus installation. Fractions of a penny per mile.

[pbonsalb]

Originally Posted by Swiftym3

Very interesting information here, thanks to all who contributed.

I am all about some weight savings, I already have the challenge CF trunk and have been looking into lightweight batteries for a while now. Although losing 55lbs would be great, I'm thinking about going a little less hardcore with a 20-25lb battery until there is a complete proven safe kit. Does anyone have a recommendation or brand preference for a regular yet "mini/lightweight" battery option?

You could try an early miata battery at 25-27 lbs. Or a Mini battery at 34 lbs. might last a year or 2 in 4 season use, longer if used less.

[M33too]

Have a had the battery for a few weeks now. When I don't drive the car for a few days at a time I do have my battery tender plugged in ( just in case). One of these days I'll let it sit to see how long it will go before hitting low voltage cut off.

Short term impressions? I love it.

[1MOREMOD]

Originally Posted by Swiftym3

Very interesting information here, thanks to all who contributed.

I am all about some weight savings, I already have the challenge CF trunk and have been looking into lightweight batteries for a while now. Although losing 55lbs would be great, I'm thinking about going a little less hardcore with a 20-25lb battery until there is a complete proven safe kit. Does anyone have a recommendation or brand preference for a regular yet "mini/lightweight" battery option?

I have a braille 17lb battery in my e46. Not really suitable for street car though.

[Groundpilot]

Originally Posted by binh513

Have a had the battery for a few weeks now. When I don't drive the car for a few days at a time I do have my battery tender plugged in ( just in case). One of these days I'll let it sit to see how long it will go before hitting low voltage cut off.

Short term impressions? I love it.

Thanks for the feedback. Lets see how is it going to hold up through this winter. Please report back. I will probably get this battery in may or april.

[TheSnail]

Well, I kinda wish I didn't see this thread as I would of had more money in my bank account. However, I wouldn't of seen the deal on the NOS battery. I was looking for one with the most capacity, so this is it. Get them while they last

www.voltphreaks.com/ssl/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=1_32&products_id=117

[V1.47fan]

How come when i autocross with my 180lb friend in the passenger seat, i run faster times?

[TheSnail]

Originally Posted by V1.47fan

How come when i autocross with my 180lb friend in the passenger seat, i run faster times?

Peer pressure? Same reason I do 120mph wheelies on the bike when the go-pro is recording.

[M33too]

Originally Posted by TheSnail

Well, I kinda wish I didn't see this thread as I would of had more money in my bank account. However, I wouldn't of seen the deal on the NOS battery. I was looking for one with the most capacity, so this is it. Get them while they last

www.voltphreaks.com/ssl/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=1_32&products_id=117

Thats a good deal