I'm planning to do a battery relocate on my mini 04 R53 to get a straight exhaust and there's a few batteries that I'm considering. Which one would be best?

The first is an Optima 12V Red Top 34R (regular battery) $176
CA: 1000
CCA: 800
Length: 10"
Height: 7.8"
Width: 6.8"
Weight: 41lbs

Second is an Optima 6V (racing maybe?) $120-140
CA: 980
CCA: 800
Length: 10"
Height: 7.8"
Width: 3.5"
Weight: 19lbs

Third is an Odyssey PC680MJT 12V $158
CA:680
CCA:220
Length: 7.27"
Height: 6.6"
Width: 3.1"
Weight: 15.4lbs

Fourth is an Odyssey PC925MJT $201 (Strongly considering)
CA:925
CCA: ?
Length: 6.64"
Height: 5.8"
Width: 7"
Weight: 26lbs

I've read a review where the Odyssey 680 powered an evo for about 3 years, but I'd like to you some second opinions. The Odyssey 925 is pretty much on the top of my list.

Just as an FYI, I tend to roll my windows down and retract my sunroof on nice days and often play music in my car.

Thanks

 

Optima have turned to crap IMO so I would pass on that. Some alternative batteries are the Odyssey or Braille.

 

I have the Odyssey, got it with the Rennline mount. Have had it for about 5 months. It works great and is a good deal lighter.

 

Some really lightweight racing batteries are not recommended for daily or winter use. They can still work but may need some help with a maintenance charger etc. So it depends on what you want to do with it.

I like the lightweight 15 lb Braille for track.

 

Which odyssey do you have? the 925/mj/mjt?

 

Still not sure why a "racing battery" is a great alternative to a "heavy" battery.

 

I have only put it into a track car. For weight reduction. Generally about 20-30 lbs less. Which is pretty good diet for me.

 

I'd just want more room in the trunk since it'd be sticking out. Although I don't use my trunk very often, some "extra" space would be nice.

 

I have a PC925T.

 

Thanks jkapinos! Do you think the pc925mjt would fit? The dimensions are slightly different. Also, have you ever had to jump start or use a disconnect? I know smaller batteries can drain.

Many thanks.

 

I have a Gen2 so i'm not sure about the fit. But if i'm not using my car for more the one week I hook it up to a charger. I use a CTEK.

 

One tip.......
The second optima battery you listed is a 6 volt battery....hence the 6v.....you would need to wire TWO of these together to start your car....some old vw bugs and classic cars have 6 volt electric systems....

http://www.optimabatteries.com/us/en...Fc-Z4AodyUsALA

 

I'd stay away from ''racing'' batteries for a daily driver. I was thinking about it since I removed the battery box for my exhaust, but having a low reserve sucks for sitting in a parking with radio on (or like me, radio on while washing the car). I've gone for a red top when my oem battery died. For me it was a matter of daily driving without having to worry about it.

 

Bringing this thread back to life...I'm almost ready to pull the trigger on my battery relocation.

A question for odyssey owners: How often do you have to charge it?

My worry is that one day I'll be late for work or about to leave work and find that my battery is dead.

And a question for optima redtop owners: Do you even have to charge it at all?

I haven't heard of too many optima owners charging their batteries. Just that they're either great and last 5 years or they suck and last 6 months

 

Bringing this thread back to life...I'm almost ready to pull the trigger on my battery relocation.

A question for odyssey owners: How often do you have to charge it?

My worry is that one day I'll be late for work or about to leave work and find that my battery is dead.

And a question for optima redtop owners: Do you even have to charge it at all?

I haven't heard of too many optima owners charging their batteries. Just that they're either great and last 5 years or they suck and last 6 months

 

I have no problems with my odyssey. I just installed an Integral Audio system. While setting up my amp, I've run the system a lot while not having my car running. No problem, the battery has about 12.9 volts not running and 14.1 to 14.2 while running.

 

You should NEVER have to charge a battery in a car unless it is dead due to user error....aka, leaving the lights on, etc.....
A battery with a bigger reserve gives you more time to catch your error before the car must be jumped/charged before it can be started....with a high capictity battery...you might be able to leave your lights on or radio on while washing your car for a LONG TIME.(look at the amp hour rating of a battery)...racing battery...perhaps a few minutes at best...same if the alternator fails.....you might get a drive home, maybe a few hours with big battery. No lights, but minutes then to the side of the road with a tiny battery.
IMO, it is simpler for the driver (in most cases) to go on diet....less risks too!! Same to be said for junk in the trunk....and if you ALREADY have an amp...the battery helps provide peak power for loud thumps (that is why folks add batt caps....aka capacitors)..... By then it is a mobile stereo.... Not a race car...worry about weight with a 25 lb amp and 10 lbs of dynamat with a 10 lb sub with 15lbs of junk in the trunk.....
But if you need to save POINT TWO SECONDS off a lap time..... And already have invested in tires, suspension, and training......

 

I installed a Red Top about a year ago. Works great.
I have always had good luck with Optima batteries in my trucks that take a beating.
I have had problems with Die Hards.

 

So if I even need to keep it on a tender/ charge it, it would be if I leave the car sitting in my driveway for a week or more? Other than that, it should be like a "normal" battery? Please correct me if I'm wrong!

 

A modern car uses SOME power all the time...
things like the radio "listening" for the signal for your keys for keyless entry...
So let a car sit long enough...a battery will die from the slow drain...
I have let my car sit for up to TWO months once when I was away on a business trip...car cranked a little slow..still started...during the winter...have a red-top optima.
If a battery is weak and has so little excess capacity you cannot let a car sit for a week...OUCH!! A battery slowly looses capacity as it ages....or it fails suddenly...
Start with a battery with a TINY capacity that can only barely start the car...expect a VERY short life...maybe 1-2 years vs 5-7 years....
One more tip..if you go for a drive at night...bring flares/reflectors...if you brake down...your emergency flashers will not run for long while waiting for help....
Like I said, tiny racing batteries are good for the car that a track car...but the trade-offs are HUGE for a daily driven car....
Think about it this way...a Big battery BARELY works to start your car....but a race battery might be using 70%+ of it capacity to start....second crank maybe on a cold day...ever go up into the mountains on vacation to SKI/Snowboard?
You decide....for 99% of folks here, they would never notice if their car was 20 lbs lighter....
as for switching to lighter to keep flat floor with a straight exhaust...as opposed to just bolting in the side of the trunk...you decide!

 

Well, I'm planning on putting a straight exhaust on my car, which requires a battery relocation. Relocating the battery would require lifting the battery up into the trunk, which is dangerous due to the gasses and acid that could potentially leak from a normal battery.

This is the reason for me going with an AGM battery like Odyssey or Optima. They are completely sealed and harmless to me and my body.