Unofficialbmw.com

walshja · Joined: 03 Apr 2001 Posts: 1139 Location: guilford, ct, usa

on the E30 board, someone is taking VIN #'s, and reporting back the BMW report on the car.

I have a question on 1 of my options:
818 MAIN BATTERY SWITCH

what is a main battery switch?

thanks, joe

Vehicle information

VIN long WBABJ5322RJC80978

Type code BJ53

Type 325I (USA)

Dev. series E36 (C)

Line 3

Body type CABRIO

Steering LL

Door count 2

Engine M50

Cubical capacity 2.50

Power 141

Transmision HECK

Gearbox MECH

Colour HELLROT (314)

Upholstery ANTHRAZIT KOMFORT (0514)

Prod. date 1994-06-20

Order options
No. Description
214 AUTOMATIC STABILITY CONTROL+TRACTION

240 LEATHER STEERING WHEEL

243 AIRBAG FOR FRONT PASSENGER

314 HEATED WINDSCREEN WASHER NOZZLES

388 SOFTTOP BLACK

398 SOFTTOP OPERATION, ELECTRO-HYDRAULIC

458 SEAT ADJUSTMENT, ELECTRIC. F DRIVER/PASS

473 ARMREST, FRONT

494 SEAT HEATING F DRIVER/FRONT PASSENGER

530 AIR CONDITIONING

540 CRUISE CONTROL

554 ON-BOARD COMPUTER

676 HIFI LOUDSPEAKER SYSTEM

694 PREPARATION FOR CD CHANGER

818 MAIN BATTERY SWITCH

900 APPR. VEH.IMMOBILIZAT. ACC. TO AZT/TUEV

925 SHIPPING PROTECTION PACKAGE
_________________
joe

1994 325iC, 195k miles
http://home.comcast.net/~walshja/index.html <--- check it out

PJK

Hi Joe,

I think the main battery switch is just that. Some of them even lock to give even more preceived theft protection. I can't imagine one on a BMW for that purpose since you would have to reenter your radio code after turning the battery off. The only use I can think of is to quickly disconnect your battery in an unpleasant electrical event. Look for a large switch near the battery or jump start terminal.

Phil

walshja · Joined: 03 Apr 2001 Posts: 1139 Location: guilford, ct, usa

ahhhh

well, I went down to look for the switch, and I don't have one, at least that I can find.

so I went to the TIS system, and found a blurb saying all battery switches must be removed before delivering the car to the buyer.

so I am thinking the switch was installed at the factory for some reason, then removed when selling the car.

seems weird to me . . .

I will try and get the exact verbiage from the TIS and post.
_________________
joe

1994 325iC, 195k miles
http://home.comcast.net/~walshja/index.html <--- check it out

mpeatc5 · Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2007 11:39 am Post subject:

dumb question but, did you try asking mutandis what that battery switch means and where it might be ?

hope you don't mind me jumping on your question here, but i don't know what "961 special engine" means. mutandis researched and said that the engineers like to change / modify engines during production. but, no clue what that change / modification is. anybody have a clue ?

Vehicle information

VIN long WBABK8339XEY91424

Type code BK83

Type 328I (USA)

Dev. series E36 (C)

Line 3

Body type CABRIO

Steering LL

Door count 2

Engine M52

Cubical capacity 2.80

Power 142

Transmision HECK

Gearbox AUT

Colour FARNGRUEN METALLIC (386)

Upholstery LEDER SOFT/BEIGE (P8SN)

Prod. date 1998-12-22

Order options
No. Description
243 AIRBAG FOR FRONT PASSENGER

260 SIDE AIRBAG DRIVER/FRT PASSENGER

297 LT/ALY WHEELS/STREAMLINE

314 HEATED WINDSCREEN WASHER NOZZLES

341 BUMPERS COMPLETELY IN BODY COLOUR

388 SOFTTOP BLACK

395 ROLL-BAR PROTECTION SYSTEM

399 SOFTTOP OPERATION, FULLY AUTOMATIC

458 SEAT ADJUSTMENT, ELECTRIC. F DRIVER/PASS

473 ARMREST, FRONT

494 SEAT HEATING F DRIVER/FRONT PASSENGER

498 HEADRESTS IN REAR, MECHANIC. ADJUSTABLE

534 AUTOMATIC AIR CONDITIONING

540 CRUISE CONTROL

554 ON-BOARD COMPUTER

676 HIFI LOUDSPEAKER SYSTEM

692 CD CHANGER I-BUS PREPARATION

738 WOOD TRIM

818 MAIN BATTERY SWITCH

925 SHIPPING PROTECTION PACKAGE

Series options
No. Description
214 AUTOMATIC STABILITY CONTROL+TRACTION

240 LEATHER STEERING WHEEL

354 GREEN STRIPE WINDSCREEN

411 WINDOW LIFTS, ELECTRIC

441 SMOKERS PACKAGE

520 FOGLIGHTS

542 CHECK CONTROL

687 RADIO PREPARATION

850 ADD FUEL TANK FILLING FOR EXPORT

853 LANGUAGE VERSION ENGLISH

961 SPECIAL ENGINE

992 NUMBER PLATE ATTACHEMENT MANAGEMENT
_________________
1999 328iC 102k miles

walshja · Joined: 03 Apr 2001 Posts: 1139 Location: guilford, ct, usa

I didn't pose the question to him, but you have the same option as well !!

everyone should visit the E30 board, and get the report on your own car, its kinda neat.

and I want a special engine !!! my mom always said I was special, so I think I deserve it !!!

joe
_________________
joe

1994 325iC, 195k miles
http://home.comcast.net/~walshja/index.html <--- check it out

kurt_92_318i · Joined: 30 Nov 2004 Posts: 142 Location: Calhoun, Ga. USA

I think the switch was installed in the factory so the battery could be easily disconnected during the sea voyage, then removed at the dealer prior to delivery. It is just a knife switch in the trunk at the battery terminal.

I saw a few cars over the years that still had them but very few.

Kurt

walshja · Joined: 03 Apr 2001 Posts: 1139 Location: guilford, ct, usa

hey Kurt, I think that's exactly what it is.

while browsing my TIS there was a blurb saying exactly what you described, it also said that the dealer must remove the switch before delivering the car to the customer.

seems like an expensive option as opposed to simply disconnecting the battery for the trip . . .

joe
_________________
joe

1994 325iC, 195k miles
http://home.comcast.net/~walshja/index.html <--- check it out

DJB · Joined: 19 Jan 2007 Posts: 293

A new car needs to be driven short distances several times during delivery -- onto and off of the ship and around storage lots. Using a battery switch takes far less time than reconnecting and disconnect battery cables, and in-port time is very expensive for a ship.

Disconnecting the battery is necessary since the car will discharge a new battery in less than a month. Dealing with a ship load of cars with dead batteries is even slower than reconnecting battery cables.

PJK · Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 4:14 am Post subject:

This is a good explanation of why the switch is installed. What I don't get is: What is the downside? The labor to remove the switch has got to be more than the switch is worth.

Phil

DJB · Joined: 19 Jan 2007 Posts: 293

The downside is easy to understand: people don't expect a battery switch. If it gets switched off ("what does this do?"), they won't check it before calling for a tow truck.