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m78
Joined: 14 Nov 2001
Posts: 2807
Location: In the great midwest
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 Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2012 9:25 am Post subject: Can a battery make any significant difference in performance |
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I have had the car for 11 years now, and replaced the battery three times. Twice with diehards which have been fine, but this time I bought the BMW battery (which actually, was slightly cheaper) and the performance of the car has improved overall. Not just better starting, but overall driveability has improved. Better acceleration, and no knocking at all.
The BMW battery is rated at 65 ah. Can't find a spec for the diehard, but it was a type 48 and it did not seem to have the power that the BMW battery has.
Remains to be seen over time, if these improvements stand up.
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Lachssilber Metallic 203 1988 325i sedan with 200,xxx miles
Top Speed 220 km/h
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Bimmerboy1989
Joined: 19 Aug 2003
Posts: 476
Location: Houston, Texas
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| Posted: Sat Feb 25, 2012 9:51 pm Post subject: |
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| Once a vehicle is running the battery does not play too much of a role. The alternator takes over at that point. |
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idanity
Joined: 21 May 2005
Posts: 3097
Location: N.W.U.S.A.
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| Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2012 1:02 am Post subject: |
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and the only change was the battery ?
didn't remove any extra weight or get premium gas or do a tuneup ?
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m78
Joined: 14 Nov 2001
Posts: 2807
Location: In the great midwest
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| Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2012 9:37 am Post subject: |
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No other changes, no other parts replacements.
As unlikely as it sounds, this is possibly the best improvement I've made on this car (performance wise) since I chipped it 6 or 7 years ago.
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Lachssilber Metallic 203 1988 325i sedan with 200,xxx miles
Top Speed 220 km/h
(OO=00=OO) |
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m78
Joined: 14 Nov 2001
Posts: 2807
Location: In the great midwest
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| Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2012 9:18 am Post subject: |
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| Bimmerboy1989 wrote: | | Once a vehicle is running the battery does not play too much of a role. The alternator takes over at that point. |
I know it sounds unlikely.
Perhaps it's ability to better support the other electrical devices in the car (lights, computer etc) allows the engine to run just that much better.
or maybe this BMW battery is a better match with the alternator in my car?
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Lachssilber Metallic 203 1988 325i sedan with 200,xxx miles
Top Speed 220 km/h
(OO=00=OO) |
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dale
Joined: 22 Aug 1999
Posts: 3087
Location: Seattle, WA USA
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| Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 2:56 am Post subject: |
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Maybe with the battery out, your DME learned parameters were reset to factory defaults, and with that change the car felt light it had better performance.
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 sold in 2016
87 325 5spd eta |
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m78
Joined: 14 Nov 2001
Posts: 2807
Location: In the great midwest
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| Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 7:39 pm Post subject: |
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found this in searching for battery info...
| Quote: | | Misfire under load accompanied by low overall spike heights during the snap-kV test would tell you the available voltage from the coil is low. The most likely cause , in this case, would be a faulty ignition coil. But low battery voltage might be a factor too. Be sure to check the battery and charging voltage. |
http://www.aa1car.com/library/misfire.htm
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Lachssilber Metallic 203 1988 325i sedan with 200,xxx miles
Top Speed 220 km/h
(OO=00=OO) |
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Cephas
Joined: 02 Mar 2003
Posts: 767
Location: Chicago
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| Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2012 11:17 pm Post subject: |
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| dale wrote: | | Maybe with the battery out, your DME learned parameters were reset to factory defaults, and with that change the car felt light it had better performance. |
Seems to be the most likely answer. A battery with a dead cell wouldn't start a car. It would also fry an alternator, so I doubt that the battery was so low that it caused the lack of performance...
What did the connectors look like?
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-Peter-
My first - Sold:
1986 325 (5 Speed)
"The Dirty E30"
My Dream - Bought April 2012
1989 325iS 103K Miles
BBS RX
H&R Cup Kit
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m78
Joined: 14 Nov 2001
Posts: 2807
Location: In the great midwest
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| Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2012 9:36 am Post subject: |
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The connectors were completely clean and still are.
Would the DME original settings apply if the DME has an upgraded chip?
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Lachssilber Metallic 203 1988 325i sedan with 200,xxx miles
Top Speed 220 km/h
(OO=00=OO) |
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cjhsa
Joined: 10 Jun 2004
Posts: 325
Location: West Michigan
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| Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 1:28 pm Post subject: |
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When I had the original BMW battery in my car, I only managed to drain it once. I left it parked, overnight, in front of my apartment building in the tow away zone with the flashers going. When I went down the next morning and realized my car wasn't in the carport, I found it still flashing away, but it wouldn't start.
No other battery I ever put in it came close to lasting that long, not even an Interstate.
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1984 325e 5-speed coupe
Lapis blau
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beejay
Joined: 18 Nov 2002
Posts: 1158
Location: Eastern, Pa
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| Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 8:35 pm Post subject: |
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| m78 wrote: | The connectors were completely clean and still are.
Would the DME original settings apply if the DME has an upgraded chip?
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yes, it will still reset to default.
I have had my battery out, or disconnected quite a few times for one reason or another. Car always runs a bit lumpy and crappy for the first few miles. Usually a trip to work.(10 mi) gets it sorted out. I usually make sure I give it a good run at different speeds, throttle openings etc. and a couple of wide open shifts to red line etc.
And I have a JC chip in
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Bob
92 325ic gone 
14 BRZ ltd
05 Tundra SR5 TRD
01 VFR800fi - 03 DR650S - 83 CB1100F - 82 CB900F - 69 CB750 |
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