whats in here?

Post Tue May 24, 2005 5:48 pm

found this under the carpet in the boot but i have no idea what it is

elliot

Post Tue May 24, 2005 5:49 pm

Battery would sit on that...

And the other thing is an air vent?

Post Tue May 24, 2005 5:59 pm

It's a big lump of lead!!

Some people say it's for weight distribution, but I doubt it. If it is, then you'll be better off without, as you sit on the other side from that intended...

The other answer is that it's for resonance / vibration reduction. Take it out & see how it drives! I'd be interested for one...

Post Tue May 24, 2005 8:15 pm

hmmm, not what i was expecting. will give it a go sometime.

elliot

Post Tue May 24, 2005 8:27 pm

It's definitely where the battery would sit if it were in the boot. It's the special bracket for it...

Normally don't come like that though... if the battery's not there.

Post Tue May 24, 2005 8:32 pm

Geeman wrote:It's definitely where the battery would sit if it were in the boot. It's the special bracket for it...

Normally don't come like that though... if the battery's not there.

Didn't your convertible have one? Thought they all did...

Post Tue May 24, 2005 10:47 pm

To be honest, I never looked.

I just assumed that the convertibles were the same as the saloons...

Post Tue May 24, 2005 10:51 pm

As far as I understand it, its a convertible-specific thing... to do with the loss of stiffness etc - changes the frequency of resonance so you don't get loads of annoying vibration...

Tempted to see how much difference it makes - out of general interest and cos it weighs LOADS!

Post Tue May 24, 2005 11:15 pm

Dave touring - 'The other thing' is the sunroof drain outlet on saloons. Often the cause of flooded boots if blocked or the pipe is pulled out of the catcher. (from experience!!) So completely useless on a convertible but it probably has drains from somewhere else.

Post Tue May 24, 2005 11:16 pm

Dave touring - 'The other thing' is the sunroof drain outlet on saloons. Often the cause of flooded boots if blocked or the pipe is pulled out of the catcher. (from experience!!) So completely useless on a convertible but it probably has drains from somewhere else.

Post Tue May 24, 2005 11:30 pm

The "other thing" also features one way air flaps, to relieve pressure when you slam the boot, and as an air outlet, in saloons and tourings at least, for air blown in through the heater fan.

Post Tue May 24, 2005 11:33 pm

no its deffo a battery tray also battery vent and the piping is the wiring to the petrol flap release car must have central locking ??

Post Tue May 24, 2005 11:42 pm

no no , its a little mouse flap so they have a nice warm place when its raining , aahhh

sorry i'm just havin a larf

Post Tue May 24, 2005 11:48 pm

it's not the battery tray - as the man said it's a big lump of lead on special 'feet' to absorb vibes; undo the bolts and lift it out and you will see the feet

the other thing is a boot breather (it's on both sides of the car) and as has been said is also used to exit anything from the sunroof drainage pipes... if you have a sunroof... which softtops tend to lack, but water does come in from the 'flap' seal and is not exited in any clever way and so sits in the bottom of the boot wells - has anyone with a cab done anything clever here?

Post Tue May 24, 2005 11:49 pm

alpinachris2 wrote:no its deffo a battery tray also battery vent and the piping is the wiring to the petrol flap release car must have central locking ??

Ok, well if it's definately just a battery tray, then it's a rather complex lead one that weighs about 20 kilos.

His car is a convertible; it doesn't have the battery in the boot, it has a big schmeggin bit of lead there instead!

Post Tue May 24, 2005 11:58 pm

johnono wrote:no no , its a little mouse flap so they have a nice warm place when its raining , aahhh

It won't be very warm there - mine should hide under the nice heated seats I reckon!

orangecurry wrote: it's not the battery tray - as the man said it's a big lump of lead on special 'feet' to absorb vibes; undo the bolts and lift it out and you will see the feet

Apparently even the e36 & e46 cabs have em... Have you tried driving it without?

Post Wed May 25, 2005 12:05 am

orangecurry wrote:it's not the battery tray - as the man said it's a big lump of lead on special 'feet' to absorb vibes; undo the bolts and lift it out and you will see the feet

the other thing is a boot breather (it's on both sides of the car) and as has been said is also used to exit anything from the sunroof drainage pipes... if you have a sunroof... which softtops tend to lack, but water does come in from the 'flap' seal and is not exited in any clever way and so sits in the bottom of the boot wells - has anyone with a cab done anything clever here?

well i thought that the breather flaps were my boot water problem so i used some glaziers clear sillicon to block em up. as ive found this isnt the case ive removed the sillicon and let em flap free

elliot

Post Wed May 25, 2005 5:44 am

Took my bit of lead out once and didn't make an ounce (ha ha) of difference, thought it may be a counter weight but its on the same side for lhd and rhd cars so that doesn't make sense, must be something to do with the six cylinder i reckon as my sport has its battery there (and weights a similar weight around 20kg)`and i think the 320's have them there but cant remember, but i am sure the 4 cylinders have the battery in the front. i put the lead bit back in, as no doubt some eighties german has thought long and hard about it being there!

mrlee