Battery Trunk Problem

[E1ric]

Hello Everyone,

This is my first post on this forum and unfortunately, it is not a happy post. Sorry if this is the wrong spot to post this. I own a 2002 BMW Z3 2.5i. Love the car! Anyway, I was doing some deep cleaning and was getting ready to replace the bushings on my seats finally. disconnected the battery, and low and behold when I took the battery out I found quite the dilemma. I would love some input.

My temporary fix to this issue is that I created a circular stack of cardboard and wrapped it in tin foil and then put a towel on top of the cardboard which is now what the battery sits on. The battery is not leaking so I am guessing it is from an older battery. The rest of my trunk has 0 leaks and my car, in general, is in very good condition for its age. I am thinking that to fix this more permanently I will have to have 2 pieces of metal custom cut and then welded underneath the car and down inside this hole where the battery sits.

I touched where the few holes that already developed are and it is paper thin on the edges and it is definitely starting to go. Glad I caught it when I did.

Thoughts? Fixes? Opinions?

 

[hard top]

First, welcome on the forum @E1ric

Bloody hell, that looks cooked ....

Have a word with one of our resident junk yard dogs @spurs fan in a coupe.
Not long ago he cut that section out of one of his cars and sold it to a fellow member who had it welded into his car.

 

[Low Rider]

Welcome

 

[Rudyrov]

My guess is that you have tto cut all that out and replace it with new clean sheetmetal, hopefully formed by a profesional.
BMW may have parts (?) https://parts.bmwnorthwest.com/p/BMW__Z3/Battery-box/43803885/51712268653.html.

 

[t-tony]

That would work Rudy but as HT suggested a visit to a breakers yard and ask them to cut the section out of a scrapper would be a better option.

Tony.

ps. Welcome on the forum @E1ric

 

[FRANKIE]

Hello Everyone,

This is my first post on this forum and unfortunately, it is not a happy post. Sorry if this is the wrong spot to post this. I own a 2002 BMW Z3 2.5i. Love the car! Anyway, I was doing some deep cleaning and was getting ready to replace the bushings on my seats finally. disconnected the battery, and low and behold when I took the battery out I found quite the dilemma. I would love some input.

My temporary fix to this issue is that I created a circular stack of cardboard and wrapped it in tin foil and then put a towel on top of the cardboard which is now what the battery sits on. The battery is not leaking so I am guessing it is from an older battery. The rest of my trunk has 0 leaks and my car, in general, is in very good condition for its age. I am thinking that to fix this more permanently I will have to have 2 pieces of metal custom cut and then welded underneath the car and down inside this hole where the battery sits.

I touched where the few holes that already developed are and it is paper thin on the edges and it is definitely starting to go. Glad I caught it when I did.

Thoughts? Fixes? Opinions? View attachment 71749

Welcome to the forum from the other side of the Pond...................Frankie.

 

[hard top]

from the other side of the Pond

Err, he is on your side of the pond.

 

[GazHyde]

Welcome

 

[Jjim]

Looks like a battery acid spill / battery leak with the level of corrosion and discolouring.

I had a similar problem in my Silver Zed.

I got a @spurs fan in a coupe to cut me a section from Z3 he was breaking. I then got a local welder to cut the rotten part out and weld in the good piece. He then painted it with some tough paint. Did a really good job.

Bit from Spurs Fan


Bit welded in and painted


Afraid for some reason I never took a picture of my corroded section.

He made the cut and join just after the lip as the battery tray goes down where the battery is located. He did a great job and you can hardly see the join.

 

[FRANKIE]

Err, he is on your side of the pond.

Force of habit. Now I gotta find out where...........................Thanks.........I see you're still sharp as ever...................

 

[FRANKIE]

Hello Everyone,

This is my first post on this forum and unfortunately, it is not a happy post. Sorry if this is the wrong spot to post this. I own a 2002 BMW Z3 2.5i. Love the car! Anyway, I was doing some deep cleaning and was getting ready to replace the bushings on my seats finally. disconnected the battery, and low and behold when I took the battery out I found quite the dilemma. I would love some input.

My temporary fix to this issue is that I created a circular stack of cardboard and wrapped it in tin foil and then put a towel on top of the cardboard which is now what the battery sits on. The battery is not leaking so I am guessing it is from an older battery. The rest of my trunk has 0 leaks and my car, in general, is in very good condition for its age. I am thinking that to fix this more permanently I will have to have 2 pieces of metal custom cut and then welded underneath the car and down inside this hole where the battery sits.

I touched where the few holes that already developed are and it is paper thin on the edges and it is definitely starting to go. Glad I caught it when I did.

Thoughts? Fixes? Opinions? View attachment 71749

Anywhere near Jersey?............Frankie

 

[E1ric]

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone, and for the post

Looks like a battery acid spill / battery leak with the level of corrosion and discolouring.

I had a similar problem in my Silver Zed.

I got a @spurs fan in a coupe to cut me a section from Z3 he was breaking. I then got a local welder to cut the rotten part out and weld in the good piece. He then painted it with some tough paint. Did a really good job.

Bit from Spurs Fan
View attachment 71771

Bit welded in and painted
View attachment 71772

Afraid for some reason I never took a picture of my corroded section.

He made the cut and join just after the lip as the battery tray goes down where the battery is located. He did a great job and you can hardly see the join.

I reached out to Spurs and looks like we may try and ship the part out to me. I live in Port Townsend, WA (just moved from PA). I was doing some deep cleaning and getting ready to do the seat bushings when I found out what happened to this spot. It's quite bad. I was able to fashion together a temp fix by wrapping some thick cardboard in tinfoil and put a towel over the tinfoil which should act as a moderate barrier from the elements and whatnot. If someone can supply me with photos of what it is SUPPOSE to look like that would be great. What I mean by that is, my battery is currently just kind of sitting without much of a support system? Seems odd, like it sits in that hole but nothing on any of the sides of it to keep it still? Or is it suppose to be that way?

Lastly, @Jjim How much did that cost to get fixed up and welded etc? Perhaps you can PM me the pricing so I know how much I am going to have to spend.

 

[Jjim]

In my picture of the part welded into my Zed, at the bottom of the photo there is a rectangular bracket that has several holes.

The battery is put in and then a battery bracket is used to hold it in place

 

[E1ric]

ahh, I see. Yeah mine doesnt have that. My battery covers that (maybe I have the wrong size battery?). But I know its not my current battery thats leaking because the spill wasnt fresh by any means. Oh well, Either way, I am gonna get it fixed up.

 

[hard top]

(maybe I have the wrong size battery?)

This is what I had in mine .... https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bosch-60-Ah-Car-Battery-Z3-E36/dp/B01G76O6F0

• Dimensions: 242 - 175 - 190 mm (L x H x D)

 

[E1ric]

Here is another photo of the damage and the battery installed. As you can see its a big one and the wiring looks difference compared to some others I saw.