318is -- battery in the front?

Mon Feb 22, 2010 3:34 am

In the UK, were 318is cars all equipped with the battery in the front? It seems that all the pictures I see of M42 cars have the battery under the bonnet. Also, do UK cars have any tar/sound deadening in the trunk? For the US market all 318is cars had the battery in the trunk with no trunk tar. (except 318iC)

I'm leaving 6 cylinder cars out of this for the sake of brevity.

Cheers,
Stu

Mon Feb 22, 2010 8:18 am

AFAIK all UK spec cars have the battery in the front.
Sound deadening tar also not something I have seen. The moulded carpet sections that line the trunk can be pulled out to reveal the inner faces of the bodywork.

Mon Feb 22, 2010 3:01 pm

DHFiS wrote:AFAIK all UK spec cars have the battery in the front.
Sound deadening tar also not something I have seen. The moulded carpet sections that line the trunk can be pulled out to reveal the inner faces of the bodywork.

I though all E30's had batteries under the bonnet, apart from 325i's which have it in the boot. Not too sure about cabbies and tourings though.

Mon Feb 22, 2010 3:12 pm

All tourings have battery under bonnet.

All 4 cylinder saloons battery under bonnet.

Mon Feb 22, 2010 6:13 pm

Nay wrote:
DHFiS wrote:AFAIK all UK spec cars have the battery in the front.
Sound deadening tar also not something I have seen. The moulded carpet sections that line the trunk can be pulled out to reveal the inner faces of the bodywork.

I though all E30's had batteries under the bonnet, apart from 325i's which have it in the boot. Not too sure about cabbies and tourings though.

I meant all UK spec 318iSs have the battery in the front

Mon Feb 22, 2010 6:22 pm

Just for confusion, the odd battery has made its way under the bonnet on a couple of 325's - although probably an owner mod for whatever reason I would think...

Mon Feb 22, 2010 6:52 pm

shimsheemer wrote:Just for confusion, the odd battery has made its way under the bonnet on a couple of 325's - although probably an owner mod for whatever reason I would think...

May be the SE versions as opposed to the Sports variant

Mon Feb 22, 2010 6:59 pm

BadDave wrote:
shimsheemer wrote:Just for confusion, the odd battery has made its way under the bonnet on a couple of 325's - although probably an owner mod for whatever reason I would think...
May be the SE versions as opposed to the Sports variant

SE's had them in the boot as well.

Sport was/is only a 325 with options ticked and a visit to tupperware

Mon Feb 22, 2010 7:23 pm

It's a perfect weight thing. If you have a 318is with Air con, then the battery get's located to the boot.

Mon Feb 22, 2010 10:11 pm

so i assume that means a lot of 320s had the battery in the boot as well then?

Mon Feb 22, 2010 11:13 pm

I have seen a Sport with the battery in the front, but as I said, it may well have been moved. As to why I wouldn't know. I had always believed that the battery was sent to the boot as a weight thing to help restore the 50/50 effort with a small block six up front.

Sports may have their issues with what's under the kit but for me they look the best. All E30's are great, and I truly appreciate the chromies, but for me the Sport gets the nod.

Anyhow, my confidence/ability deficit requires a decent diff!