DIY: Voltphreaks Lithium Battery installation into M3 E92

italyix wrote

So I just bought the VPH-900 as well, Tony at voltphreaks was nice enough to include the SAE connectors and jr. tender in for free. Battery should be here in a few weeks, then it will get installed along with the other goodies I have planned for this summer.

Stock battery 60lb, VPH 900 >10lb. This along with the CF roof I have planned should shave a good 100lb off the car (have moonroof unfortunately).

Tony and actually Braille as well said the car can sit for up to two weeks and have no problems. What sold me on the voltphreaks unit was the automatic shutoff it has built in and the ability to turn the battery off I plan not to drive the car for a while. No need to disconnect the negative terminal.

If I may ask, what swing you to the VPH900 over the VPR-S40? Thanks.

e92zero wrote  

italyix wrote

So I just bought the VPH-900 as well, Tony at voltphreaks was nice enough to include the SAE connectors and jr. tender in for free. Battery should be here in a few weeks, then it will get installed along with the other goodies I have planned for this summer.

Stock battery 60lb, VPH 900 >10lb. This along with the CF roof I have planned should shave a good 100lb off the car (have moonroof unfortunately).

Tony and actually Braille as well said the car can sit for up to two weeks and have no problems. What sold me on the voltphreaks unit was the automatic shutoff it has built in and the ability to turn the battery off I plan not to drive the car for a while. No need to disconnect the negative terminal.

If I may ask, what swing you to the VPH900 over the VPR-S40? Thanks.

Strictly price. To mitigate the 1/3 capacity of the stock battery, I've looked into a portable solar trickle charger to out on the dash of the car when parked. They are $20 and put out 1.5W which should be just if barely enough to offset the parasitic loss during the day.

^thanks for the reply. Please keep us updated on how the battery perform. I might eventually go this route when it's time to replace my battery. Still on the oem battery at 77k miles, 4 yrs running. I am assuming installation doesn't require resetting of the battery registry?

e92zero wrote

^thanks for the reply. Please keep us updated on how the battery perform. I might eventually go this route when it's time to replace my battery. Still on the oem battery at 77k miles, 4 yrs running. I am assuming installation doesn't require resetting of the battery registry?

From what I am reading in the forum here, the battery will require registration under the 40 AGM charge rate. The OP took this route and appears to be running strong a year later. I will install at end of August then will do a review, along with other things.

oh I see. But if these Li batteries have an internal circuitry to handle the charging/discharging, wouldn't it be the best to register it under the 40 AGM charge rate and then disable the registry/adaptation that our car computer does by default? Is it possible or I am over-thinking it? I couldn't find any info on it.

Just curious - anyone looked into the new Ballistic performance batteries?

https://www.pegasusautoracing.com/group.asp?GroupID=BALLISTICAR

Seems a lot more reasonable for even more weight savings.

kitw wrote

Just curious - anyone looked into the new Ballistic performance batteries?

https://www.pegasusautoracing.com/group.asp?GroupID=BALLISTICAR

Seems a lot more reasonable for even more weight savings.

Seems like it, but the reserve amps is only 20, good for a few days sitting and not running on a street car. For race purposes, this does seem to be a cheaper option to the VP one. Good find Kit!

Here is my installation of the VPH900. I fashioned a baseplate the fit into the OEM battery guides and bolts to the floor as well. The base is about 3mm thick and the and screws are countersunk flush underneath. I added heat shrink tubing to the top of the battery strap for extra protection. The battery is totally secure and is going nowhere. Unlike Velcro and string this will pass any tech inspection at the track

I read OP's installation and was wondering, I would never install a battery with zip ties, Velcro and a cord!!!! Sorry OP not a good installation at all, looks crappy and not professional. I agree maybe it's a good idea to have a newer technology battery, but please upgrade that installation. Look the one above.

20kg is a lot of weight saving, but you lose so much battery capacity.
you went from 85AH to 33AH
thats a huge difference

yes okay if you just have a track car then good work. but hopeless for a daily driver. i would be scared to leave the radio on for half an hour while cleaning your car or something

brownb_2 wrote

20kg is a lot of weight saving, but you lose so much battery capacity.
you went from 85AH to 33AH
thats a huge difference

yes okay if you just have a track car then good work. but hopeless for a daily driver. i would be scared to leave the radio on for half an hour while cleaning your car or something

I daily mine and have had zero issues thus far. And yes, shedding 53lbs is ALOT of weight.

THE TECH wrote

Not worth the hassle unless it's a track only car. Otherwise, your car will dead without a trickle charger. If weight was a real concern, you wouldn't have purchased an E93.

does the CCA matters...? in his case his OEM bat has 800CCA and he installed 1200CCA?
also if you swap out battery with the same AH, do I still have to register it?

italyix wrote

I daily mine and have had zero issues thus far. And yes, shedding 53lbs is ALOT of weight.

true it is a lot of weight.

but for like 4 times the price is it worth it?

you could save as much weight by not filling your tank all the way up haha

brownb_2 wrote

true it is a lot of weight.

but for like 4 times the price is it worth it?

you could save as much weight by not filling your tank all the way up haha

I did it in conjunction with the CF roof, Volks wheels, BBK and coilovers among the other things weighing less than OEM.

I would say for a DD don't bother, the wight savings are not worth it. For a dual purpose weekend warrior, yes.

I also just bought the Akra Evo (used) and this should net me an additional 50 lbs off the car, putting me below 3500 lbs total without driver. When I got the car corner balanced the weight was 3540 with a 1/4 tank of gas. The weight off can be felt, its like driving the car on an empty tank.

The last weight mod I need to do it seats, then I am done. Further weight savings can be had by stripping the car, but I like the interior too much plus I use the rear seats.

italyix wrote

I did it in conjunction with the CF roof, Volks wheels, BBK and coilovers among the other things weighing less than OEM.

I would say for a DD don't bother, the wight savings are not worth it. For a dual purpose weekend warrior, yes.

I also just bought the Akra Evo (used) and this should net me an additional 50 lbs off the car, putting me below 3500 lbs total without driver. When I got the car corner balanced the weight was 3540 with a 1/4 tank of gas. The weight off can be felt, its like driving the car on an empty tank.

The last weight mod I need to do it seats, then I am done. Further weight savings can be had by stripping the car, but I like the interior too much plus I use the rear seats.

agreed

Awesome.

I'm doing cf roof next week, and my next weight project will be a LiOn battery. Should push me under 3150 lbs with full interior still .

Still deciding on brand-- so many choices these days!

Obioban wrote  

Awesome.

I'm doing cf roof next week, and my next weight project will be a LiOn battery. Should push me under 3150 lbs with full interior still .

Still deciding on brand-- so many choices these days!

LiFe battery, LiPo is older tech and not as good for automotive. Just thought I'd clear that in case you were looking for batteries in the future.

On choices, I only had two to choose from, Braille and Voltphreaks. What sold on Voltphreaks was 1. The performance to weight and 2. The fact that it had an on board charge management systems and auto shutoff.

It was also cheaper and has more capacity that Braille.

Sorry to bump this thread up but question for the people that installed it. Did you guys have to reregister the battery a different way then normal?

Anyone? Lol

There's a thread where a poster affirmed that he registered the battery with a different rating than the stock battery (90 ah agm - stock v. 40 ah agm - voltp battery, I believe).

335_MI6 wrote

Sorry to bump this thread up but question for the people that installed it. Did you guys have to reregister the battery a different way then normal?

rantarM3 wrote

There's a thread where a poster affirmed that he registered the battery with a different rating than the stock battery (90 ah agm - stock v. 40 ah agm - voltp battery, I believe).

I have one but haven't installed it yet. But I do know that you need to have to registered at the lowest setting, which I believe is 40 or 45 agm.

Bumping this old thread
What do you guys think about this kit?
Will it work for Voltphreaks VPH 900 battery?

http://www.rennline.com/Lightweight-Battery-Mount-Kit-PC680/productinfo/EL36V3.37/
http://www.rennline.com/Rennline-Battery-Mount-Kit-Odyssey-680-or-VPR-P6-Porsche/productinfo/EL30.37/