What lightweight battery are you using?

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by mermar

Thanks Tom. Does the z4m battery need a modification to mount?

Sorry, missed this. Z4M and MINI/CSL battery mount with no modifications.

Originally Posted by mermar

Tom - any other weight saving tips for us?

Race shells, remove backseat, carpeting/sound deadening, wiring thinning, the list goes on. Depends on if you still want it as a street vehicle or dedicated track car.

[redpriest]

Originally Posted by nholmes

That sale price ends soon IIRC. It's normally twice that price.

Ugh a sale! I won't be able to resist, except for the fact I'm not sure I want to Guinea pig myself just yet on it.

[nholmes]

Originally Posted by cenix

I'm curious to see how the Pegasus LiFePO4 BMS battery works out over time. Will your car be a daily driver or for track only? When I change my battery out it will either be this one or the standard Z4M/Mini battery replacement.

I ran the Shorai LiFePO4 in my previous Subaru STI, and it was only 5 lbs. which was a huge amount of weight savings over the stock battery. The weight savings was noticeable because the battery sits in the very front portion of the car (horrible setup). It was solid and never had any issues, but that car is not as battery intensive as the M3's.

Track only car. I've had other batteries that I had to keep on a trickle charger that still died due to heat and over charging. I'm sure the BMW wouldn't have this issue though, since the battery is in the trunk and software handles charging.

I was looking at the Shorai, but I don't think any of their offerings had enough pulse amps to reliably turn over the V8 in the M3.

[dogbone]

FYI, I called Pegasus. They said the sale runs out when they run out of stock. They said they only had 1 left……From what I gather, they may not be carrying the Ballistic brand in the future.

Even though they still had 1 left, they were really in love with the Antigravity series of batteries and were suggesting I go that direction instead…..

I called Antigravity. The Antigravity battery that would supposedly be appropriate for our cars is the 24 cell version. That battery is 5 pounds and $395 on Amazon. hehe the three reviews on Amazon from 2014 are disastrous…..who knows…..I think I'll just stick with my MiniCooper battery for the moment. Losing 20 pounds would be nice, but…..a reliable battery is better.

[nholmes]

Wow. Good to know. I hadn't heard of Antigravity before. At $400 and 5lbs that's not bad.

I would be curious to know if there are any downsides to that battery (besides the Amazon reviews, of course)

[dogbone]

Originally Posted by nholmes

Wow. Good to know. I hadn't heard of Antigravity before. At $400 and 5lbs that's not bad.

I would be curious to know if there are any downsides to that battery (besides the Amazon reviews, of course)

Apparently, if the battery is dead, you cannot jump start the car with an Antigravity battery in there. It'll pop.

I don't know how the Antigravity would do on a Daily Driving basis. I don't need it for that, but someone else might need to do some more homework on that.

You also need a Lithium Ion-specific battery tender.

Other than that, I couldn't seem to find anything objectionable about it.

Antigravity claimed that I could leave the battery without any trickle charge for a month in my trailer and it would be fine---as long as the car wasn't using power from the battery while it was sitting there. My car has no radio, no internal lights, no heater-A/C, no windows, no door locks. But I do still need the electronics to pop the stock trunk mechanism. And I left the Comfort Access working so I don't have to put the key in the key slot to start it…..I wonder how much the Wireless key module drains things…..

[redpriest]

Originally Posted by dogbone

FYI, I called Pegasus. They said the sale runs out when they run out of stock. They said they only had 1 left……From what I gather, they may not be carrying the Ballistic brand in the future.

Even though they still had 1 left, they were really in love with the Antigravity series of batteries and were suggesting I go that direction instead…..

I called Antigravity. The Antigravity battery that would supposedly be appropriate for our cars is the 24 cell version. That battery is 5 pounds and $395 on Amazon. hehe the three reviews on Amazon from 2014 are disastrous…..who knows…..I think I'll just stick with my MiniCooper battery for the moment. Losing 20 pounds would be nice, but…..a reliable battery is better.

You weren't kidding:

"This was on my car for not even a month. While the car was at idle, it started smoking and burning. After getting if off the vehicle it exploded. See the blog here:

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show....php?t=2642847
"

"Was garbage didn't store power well and was riding and smelled plastic meltin was the battery leaking already would not recommend these batteries to no one"

"3 weeks after the battery was installed on the M/C it went below criticle voltage and it was to late to try and get it back. These people need to get on the ball damn quick and design a battery cut out switch."

[nholmes]

That's what I like about this Ballistic battery, it has a BMS so you can't roast it and it doesn't need a specialty charger...

[italyix]

Originally Posted by nholmes

That's what I like about this Ballistic battery, it has a BMS so you can't roast it and it doesn't need a specialty charger...

My Voltphreaks also has BMS on board and I have yet to have a problem with the battery. I guess I did get what I paid for. Car starts right up with zero hesitation even when it has sat for weeks without engine turning over. Granted I shut the battery off with the handy dandy button on the battery, instead of unplugging cables

Worth every penny for the 53lb savings I got...yeah you read that right

[nholmes]

I was looking at the Voltphreaks offerings, the cost is the only thing that made me hesitate. I'll update this thread as I go with the battery.

If it goes tits up or whatever, you guys will be the first to know.

[Hujan]

Originally Posted by italyix

My Voltphreaks also has BMS on board and I have yet to have a problem with the battery. I guess I did get what I paid for. Car starts right up with zero hesitation even when it has sat for weeks without engine turning over. Granted I shut the battery off with the handy dandy button on the battery, instead of unplugging cables

Worth every penny for the 53lb savings I got...yeah you read that right

What did you end up doing for a bracket? Got a VPH 900 for mine just sitting b/c no bracket.

[italyix]

Originally Posted by Hujan

What did you end up doing for a bracket? Got a VPH 900 for mine just sitting b/c no bracket.

Ended up bending a piece of aluminum as a strap on top of the battery.

[italyix]

Like this

[dogbone]

I called Ballistic Performance to ask about their battery. When you go to their site, there's nothing about car batteries---only motorcycle.

It turns out these were custom made for Pegasus. Apparently Pegasus ordered a car version of the battery just for themselves. But that order seems to basically be bought out now. And from my phone conversation with Pegasus, it didn't sound like anymore have been or will be ordered. (Like I said before, the sales person seemed more keen on selling an Antigravity…..) And Ballistic seems to have no interest in making a car battery for themselves. So, as of yesterday, there was only 1 left. The battery itself---especially at the 50% off---seems pretty cool. I guess my hesitation on buying the last one of a custom run is, what happens if there are any issues…..The Ballistic guy did mention that their battery should last a very long time.

Anyway, I figured I would share what I found out.

[nholmes]

Interesting, thank you for sharing. I had no idea this was a one-off production run, but that would explain why I couldn't find these anywhere else for less.



I guess I'll just have to take the risk and see how it goes. I guess if I have a problem, I can send it to Ballistic directly for service.

[Hujan]

Originally Posted by italyix

Like this

Thanks for sharing!

What keeps it from sliding side to side?

Also, was that hole for the bolt already there or did you have to drill it?

[italyix]

Originally Posted by Hujan

Thanks for sharing!

What keeps it from sliding side to side?

Also, was that hole for the bolt already there or did you have to drill it?

Not sure as the shop installed it. The battery is 7lb, once anchored down it down not move at all.