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  2. Instructions

Odyssey PC680 Battery Cradle Installation

Quick step-by-step instruction gallery for assembling an Odyssey battery cradle and then installing that + an Odyssey PC680 battery into a 2001 BMW E46 330Ci.
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This dual purpose street/race car was left sitting for 4+ weeks and it drained the wet cell battery. After 24 hours of charging it wouldn't take more than 2 volts, so it had failed (likely a dead cell). We purchased a 14 pound Odyssey PC680 "AGM" style battery to replace it. This will knock 35-40+ pounds out of this race car, handles vibration better than a wet cell battery, and can still be used for daily driver use. We need a way to secure this much smaller battery to the car, however...
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This dual purpose street/race car was left sitting for 4+ weeks and it drained the wet cell battery. After 24 hours of charging it wouldn't take more than 2 volts, so it had failed (likely a dead cell). We purchased a 14 pound Odyssey PC680 "AGM" style battery to replace it. This will knock 35-40+ pounds out of this race car, handles vibration better than a wet cell battery, and can still be used for daily driver use. We need a way to secure this much smaller battery to the car, however...

  • This dual purpose street/race car was left sitting for 4+ weeks and it drained the wet cell battery. After 24 hours of charging it wouldn't take more than 2 volts, so it had failed (likely a dead cell). We purchased a 14 pound Odyssey PC680 "AGM" style battery to replace it. This will knock 35-40+ pounds out of this race car, handles vibration better than a wet cell battery, and can still be used for daily driver use. We need a way to secure this much smaller battery to the car, however...
  • The Odyssey company makes these easy to assemble aluminum bracket kits sized to fit their popular battery sizes. We picked up this 680 sized bracket for about $125. The bracket kit comes in pieces. Step one is to apply the anti-rattle foam pads as shown.
  • This bracket kit shown is made for an Odyssey PC680. It helps to have the battery on hand when assembling the bracket kit, to make sure it is adjusted to the battery's case size.
  • Pre-assemble the bracketry around the battery with the hardware loosely. Tighten all of the nuts and bolts last.
  • Most Odyssey and other brand's AGM "small race car" batteries are really motorcycle batteries. To work with automotive battery terminals, the optional SAE adapter terminals have to be bolted to the battery posts. The SAE terminal kit comes with two M6 Socket Head Cap Screws to bolt them to the battery.<br /> <br /> NOTE: The positive post is larger in diameter than the negative post.
  • This BMW E46 330Ci comes with a 45-55 pound wet cell battery. The original equipment battery is larger than this aftermarket wet cell replacement, which is closer to 45 pounds as shown. This BMW bracket bolts to the chassis and has a height adjustable top plate to secure the battery.
  • Remove the ground terminal first, then the positive lead. Next, remove the top bracket (it will not be re-used).
  • Remove the stock battery from the trunk. This wet cell battery is shown sitting next to the 14 pound PC680 for comparison. The AGM style Odyssey is more appropriate for high vibration/racing use, and you can get away with a smaller / lighter package and still use it for daily driving for several years.
  • Line up the smaller PC680 battery and bracket between the two OEM battery leads. We marked the date of installation (month/year) with a Sharpie on top. Once the bracket is fitted, screw in some self tapping screws into the lower battery bracket plate - to hold the bracket in place. There are several holes in the Odyssey bracket for this.
  • Attach the positive lead, then the ground lead, and tighten to secure them to the SAE posts. Appox install time = 30 minutes
  • If you don't drive your street or race car for weeks at a time it helps to keep an AGM battery style trickle charger on the terminals. Wet cell batteries have the same issue - don't let it sit for months without use.
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