Results 1 to 23 of 23

Thread: Rusty battery tray

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2018
    Location
    Sweden
    Posts
    176
    My Cars
    1996 850CI

    Rusty battery tray

    Hi!

    New to the forum and just bought a -96 850 that I'm restoring.

    The driver side battery tray is completely rusted through. It looks like the battery tray itself is a separate piece but welded to the body? Haven't been able to find anything online, is it available as spare part or used in other models?

    Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Sunny Cali,
    Posts
    8,730
    My Cars
    6.5 second 69 Camaro
    Actually i've seen worse, Try to sand it down and if it works out, Clean it and prime it with a acid resistant primer, They have No Nonsense spray sealer paints or similar you can use to, Get a can and spray a couple of coats, a hour in between coats, I installed Optima batteries and battery trays with no issues ever.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2019
    Location
    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
    Posts
    1
    My Cars
    1972 2002tii

    right battery tray is available...

    Quote Originally Posted by buildit View Post
    Hi!

    New to the forum and just bought a -96 850 that I'm restoring.

    The driver side battery tray is completely rusted through. It looks like the battery tray itself is a separate piece but welded to the body? Haven't been able to find anything online, is it available as spare part or used in other models?

    Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
    Perhaps this will help!

    Page from our website.

    http://bimmer.com/bmw/showparts.do?m...90&hg=41&fg=25

    Item Nr 3 ($34.81). Must be welded in, but is readily available. BMW has 80 of them remaining. If this is a direction you wish to go, simply e mail me for more details. classicbmwparts@gmail.com I'm happy to help!


    Paul Wegweiser
    Lead Classic Specialist
    Maximillian Importing Company
    1-800-950-2002
    www.bimmer.com

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    San Antonio
    Posts
    711
    My Cars
    850,76 2002 &530,84 633
    I was able to clean up the tray in my car and repaint it. Wasn't as bad as yours though.
    IMG_20171010_153557718 (1).jpg

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2018
    Location
    Sweden
    Posts
    176
    My Cars
    1996 850CI
    Quote Originally Posted by Wegweiser View Post
    Perhaps this will help!

    Page from our website.

    http://bimmer.com/bmw/showparts.do?m...90&hg=41&fg=25

    Item Nr 3 ($34.81). Must be welded in, but is readily available. BMW has 80 of them remaining. If this is a direction you wish to go, simply e mail me for more details. classicbmwparts@gmail.com I'm happy to help!


    Paul Wegweiser
    Lead Classic Specialist
    Maximillian Importing Company
    1-800-950-2002
    www.bimmer.com
    Thank you!

    I'm based in Sweden so shipping might be a bit much unless you have a European affiliate?

    Good to know that it is welded because the panel underneath is rusted as well so the tray will have to come out.

    Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Santa Barbara
    Posts
    3,459
    My Cars
    91 Dinan860 & 91 850 6sp
    less than $30 in Norway... Schmeidmann is your spot
    www.schmiedmann.com/en/catn-ol?q=41128108482
    '91 Dinan 860 Stage III (new 6L engine)
    '91 Dinan 850 TT stage III (brand new engine) 21st Century Tech meets 18th Century Dinan...
    '91 850i 6sp (mint) (sold)
    '90 Dinan 750iL TT stage III (Guido - The Beast)
    '94 850 CSi The Detroit Auto Show car (restored to factory perfect) (sold)
    '96 850Ci, The George Carlin car
    ''73 3.0 csi, '08 535i, '03 X5 4.6is
    ...and a few other non BMW cars

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2018
    Location
    Sweden
    Posts
    176
    My Cars
    1996 850CI
    Quote Originally Posted by cartoonz View Post
    less than $30 in Norway... Schmeidmann is your spot
    www.schmiedmann.com/en/catn-ol?q=41128108482
    Brilliant! Thank you!

    Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Finland
    Posts
    202
    My Cars
    bmw 850i M-tech
    Only right way to fix these issues is to remove the entire battery tray. It is spot welded and has to be drilled off. There is ALWAYS rust under the tray and if you don't remove it you wont be able to do it right. You only get the visible rust off but the problem stays. Actually, by looking at those pictures, there is a good change that you might need to replace some sheet metal also under the tray. Mine looked like yours and after removing the tray the sheet metal underneath was gone.

    after that, only use sealed agm batteries.
    Last edited by mikae31; 03-25-2019 at 11:28 AM.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Nov 2018
    Location
    Sweden
    Posts
    176
    My Cars
    1996 850CI
    Quote Originally Posted by mikae31 View Post
    Only right way to fix these issues is to remove the entire battery tray. It is spot welded and has to be drilled off. There is ALWAYS rust under the tray and if you don't remove it you wont be able to do it right. You only get the visible rust off but the problem stays. Actually, by looking at those pictures, there is a good change that you might need to replace some sheet metal also under the tray. Mine looked like yours and after removing the tray the sheet metal underneath was gone.

    after that, only use sealed agm batteries.
    Totally agree.

    Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Oct 2016
    Location
    Shoreview MN
    Posts
    975
    My Cars
    Had a 1991 BMW 850
    Are these the same Left and Right?

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Santa Barbara
    Posts
    3,459
    My Cars
    91 Dinan860 & 91 850 6sp
    Quote Originally Posted by rjjablo View Post
    Are these the same Left and Right?
    yes
    '91 Dinan 860 Stage III (new 6L engine)
    '91 Dinan 850 TT stage III (brand new engine) 21st Century Tech meets 18th Century Dinan...
    '91 850i 6sp (mint) (sold)
    '90 Dinan 750iL TT stage III (Guido - The Beast)
    '94 850 CSi The Detroit Auto Show car (restored to factory perfect) (sold)
    '96 850Ci, The George Carlin car
    ''73 3.0 csi, '08 535i, '03 X5 4.6is
    ...and a few other non BMW cars

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Texas
    Posts
    1,880
    My Cars
    91-Dinan 850TT
    Here's a fancy option once you get the bottom replaced.
    TTbatt1.jpegTTbatt2.jpeg

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Nov 2018
    Location
    Sweden
    Posts
    176
    My Cars
    1996 850CI
    I had a similar idea.

    Bought along with the batteries?

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Texas
    Posts
    1,880
    My Cars
    91-Dinan 850TT
    Quote Originally Posted by buildit View Post
    I had a similar idea.

    Bought along with the batteries?

    No, I need to look back and see where I got those mounts. That was many moons ago!

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Indianapolis, IN
    Posts
    2,361
    My Cars
    93 850Ci, 09 Caddy SRX
    Quote Originally Posted by TTTXGreg View Post
    Here's a fancy option once you get the bottom replaced.
    TTbatt1.jpegTTbatt2.jpeg

    Did you retain both batteries or go to single?
    1993 850Ci.....18 years & 165,000 miles and counting!

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    San Jose CA
    Posts
    676
    My Cars
    1991 850i S70 6 speed
    Toomanyparts and I did this on my S70 car, which was not as severe as yours. This is what we used, please note both him and I are super anal, so we ended up taking everything carpet and trim out of the trunk and refinished the whole trunk.

    Ok this is what we used:
    Sand and clean obviously first
    Vacum
    repeat 1-20 times above
    Artlicious - Foam Paint Brush Value Pack (Two Inch - 20 Pack)
    POR-15 40101 Cleaner Degreaser - 1 gallon, put in a spray bottles
    POR-15 40201 Metal Prep - 1 gal, put in spray can and leave on for a bit. The direction is on the bottle. This removes the rust, does wonders.
    POR-15 45008 Gloss black Rust Preventive Paint - Pint, use brushed below to apply
    Artlicious - Foam Paint Brush Value Pack (Two Inch - 20 Pack)
    if you car is black you are good, but I got my cars color code and and ordered a Can Spray from Babarian and painted over it.
    I did this again recently for my 850ci1993 6 speed, BUT added a primer coat after Pro-15 Gloss black rust preventive paint, then Painted it (calypso red).

    This could be an all day or 3 days even if you want to do the whole trunk. Battery tray, all day even.

    Good luck.
    Alex Molavi

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Santa Barbara
    Posts
    3,459
    My Cars
    91 Dinan860 & 91 850 6sp
    Quote Originally Posted by mikae31 View Post
    Only right way to fix these issues is to remove the entire battery tray. It is spot welded and has to be drilled off. There is ALWAYS rust under the tray and if you don't remove it you wont be able to do it right. You only get the visible rust off but the problem stays...
    Agree with this 100%
    Also, if you are replacing the tray, be sure to install the proper nutsert into the other hole so you can use H8/Group49 size batteries
    '91 Dinan 860 Stage III (new 6L engine)
    '91 Dinan 850 TT stage III (brand new engine) 21st Century Tech meets 18th Century Dinan...
    '91 850i 6sp (mint) (sold)
    '90 Dinan 750iL TT stage III (Guido - The Beast)
    '94 850 CSi The Detroit Auto Show car (restored to factory perfect) (sold)
    '96 850Ci, The George Carlin car
    ''73 3.0 csi, '08 535i, '03 X5 4.6is
    ...and a few other non BMW cars

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    Mundelein, IL
    Posts
    837
    My Cars
    840Ci/6 528iT Europa TCS
    I believe the Por 15 product is made by the Eastwood Company. They have all kinds of products for painting over rust and then stopping the rust from progressing. They have a store an hour away and they have some of the neatest products and tools for car care, repair, and restoration. eastwood.com.

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    San Jose CA
    Posts
    676
    My Cars
    1991 850i S70 6 speed
    Might be, I bought off of amazon. Cool project.

    I think treating the rust then going over it be the best option. Some might argue that paint is a anti rust protection. In my opinion since the rust has started it needs to be treated first.

    His tray is pretty bad shape so putting a new one in might make more sense.

    alex


    Quote Originally Posted by rjbaren View Post
    I believe the Por 15 product is made by the Eastwood Company. They have all kinds of products for painting over rust and then stopping the rust from progressing. They have a store an hour away and they have some of the neatest products and tools for car care, repair, and restoration. eastwood.com.

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Texas
    Posts
    1,880
    My Cars
    91-Dinan 850TT
    Quote Originally Posted by TedBobo View Post
    Did you retain both batteries or go to single?
    Both- Some folks don't like the Optimas but I have had great service from mine several years.
    Last edited by TTTXGreg; 04-08-2019 at 09:13 AM.

  21. #21
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Sunny Cali,
    Posts
    8,730
    My Cars
    6.5 second 69 Camaro
    Me too on all my cars.

  22. #22
    Join Date
    Mar 2022
    Location
    Seaforth NSW Australia
    Posts
    2
    My Cars
    1991 850i
    Hi - saw this thread - I realise it was several years ago but I have the same issue with one of my battery trays - I need to get it off as am worried about what its like underneath. In reading what info is available I know that the tray is spot welded but can't quite work out how many & where they are as there's rust covering some of the "dips" which is where I have tried to drill.
    Any assistance would be very much appreciated - thank you Regards Rick

  23. #23
    Join Date
    Mar 2022
    Location
    Seaforth NSW Australia
    Posts
    2
    My Cars
    1991 850i
    Hi - saw this thread - I realise it was several years ago but I have the same issue with one of my battery trays - I need to get it off as am worried about what its like underneath. In reading what info is available I know that the tray is spot welded but can't quite work out how many & where they are as there's rust covering some of the "dips" which is where I have tried to drill.
    Any assistance would be very much appreciated - thank you Regards Rick

Similar Threads

  1. FS: Custom E46 Battery Tray for Lightweight Batteries
    By G.T. in forum BMW Parts For Sale
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 10-09-2004, 09:40 PM
  2. AAH! Rust in the battery tray!
    By Gofast in forum General BMW and Automotive Discussion sponsored by Intercity Lines
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 08-17-2004, 09:55 PM
  3. Where can I get a 635csi battery tray and mounting bracket?
    By vinnymac in forum 1976 - 1989 (E24)
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 08-08-2004, 07:12 PM
  4. Custom Battery Tray for OPTIMA Battery
    By RussM3 in forum Track, Auto-X & Drag Racing sponsored by Bimmerparts.com
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 11-17-2003, 07:06 AM
  5. Matt... Battery tray ships tomorrow
    By TheNeek in forum 1975 - 1983 (E21)
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 05-29-2003, 03:25 AM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •