Mystery Battery Bolt!

Ted · 6th January 2009, 05:26

Searched and did not find an answer to this dilemma. I was installing a new Optima Red Top and when I was tightening the bolt on the negative it decided to snap in half. Both the POS and NEG bolts are identical.

I went to the dealership thinking it would be an in-and-out experience...

no such luck. The parts guy pulled up the diagram of the battery bolt and the picture of his bolt looked nothing like my bolt. I was going to order it anyway and just see if it would work somehow but he said IT'S DISCONTINUED!

So I went over to my trusty service advisor, who knows me by first name

and showed him the bolt. He said he's never seen it before. He took it to the back and asked a few techs if they had any like it but they did not. I asked what if they were the ones changing my battery and the bolt broke on them, what would they do? He said they would probably order a new battery cable.

So I went back to parts to get ready to laugh at the cost of the battery cable versus my original plan to spend 50 cents on a simple bolt...

but I didn't even have that misfortune. The battery cable was "unclickable". In other words, I was screwed. There was nothing they could possibly do for me was the chorus.

So I went to Lowes and Home Depot. No such bolt.

I went to Advance Auto Parts and NAPA. No such bolt.

Am I supposed to trash my car now or what? Does anybody else have the same bolt on their car and who knows where it may be found?

Thanks! Please see pic.

everycredit · 6th January 2009, 06:24

Well, in the Seattle area, we have a company called "Tacoma Screw". Bring in what's left of it and they'll find it or make it. They'll try to match alloy as well, since this is part of the electrical system, it might be important. Perhaps there's something like that around your place?

Other than that, I don't think I can help you.

rassi · 6th January 2009, 09:21

Recently replaced my battery and don't remember seeing a similar bolt. However, would it not be fairly simple to DIY something that would get you on you way? Could you post a picture of the battery and the connections to the poles?

sfm5 · 6th January 2009, 10:02

I feel your pain. Mine snapped as I was tightening it. I was unable to locate the OEM part as well, but made do with a Worm Drive Hose Clamp over the ends of the battery lead. This tightened it enough so that no amperage is lost (I've had problems starting the car in cold when the leads weren't fully tight).

Picture:

Ted · 6th January 2009, 16:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by sfm5

I feel your pain. Mine snapped as I was tightening it. I was unable to locate the OEM part as well, but made do with a Worm Drive Hose Clamp over the ends of the battery lead. This tightened it enough so that no amperage is lost (I've had problems starting the car in cold when the leads weren't fully tight).

Picture:

Yes , I saw this piece in a store and also thought it would be my best bet if I couldn't find the oem piece. Thanks for letting me know it works!

But don't you think it's ridiculous that BMW decided to put some unique never-before-seen terminal clamping system on their M5 battery and then discontinue every part associated with it

I think that's insane! Why not put normal parts on a car like everyone else and save customers the headache.

Any more suggestions would be welcome...

DouglasABaker · 6th January 2009, 16:53

Don't do anything silly - cut the whole thing off and put on something like this. If that doesn't work for you, then go to Autozone and get one there - then you know where to get parts the next time you overtighten a bolt.

As a note, battery terminals and the attachments are made of lead. They are soft and do not need to be tightened very hard to grab. Get it finger tight plus maybe another 1/2 turn or so and you should be good.

d-

Ted · 6th January 2009, 17:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by DouglasABaker

Don't do anything silly - cut the whole thing off and put on something like this. If that doesn't work for you, then go to Autozone and get one there - then you know where to get parts the next time you overtighten a bolt.

As a note, battery terminals and the attachments are made of lead. They are soft and do not need to be tightened very hard to grab. Get it finger tight plus maybe another 1/2 turn or so and you should be good.

d-

I thought about that but with all the electronics hooked up to the positive terminal (for the alarm?) and my lack of knowledge I'll end up with a new hairdo before I get my car fixed

I am hoping to avoid having to cut anything... it looks really expensive and I haven't even saved up for my clutch/rear main seal/guibo project yet.

DouglasABaker · 6th January 2009, 17:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ted

I thought about that but with all the electronics hooked up to the positive terminal (for the alarm?) and my lack of knowledge I'll end up with a new hairdo before I get my car fixed

I am hoping to avoid having to cut anything... it looks really expensive and I haven't even saved up for my clutch/rear main seal/guibo project yet.

You are talking about the bolt that connects the power wire to the battery right?

It isn't a big deal, and it certainly isn't expensive. Disconnect the negative battery lead first (there, now there is no chance of shorting anything), and then cut the positive lead with a hacksaw. Put the new one on and clamp it down. $10 and about 30 minutes.

If you don't like that route, then go to autozone and pick up a whole new wire with ends already attached.

Don't overcomplicate this - it is a pretty simple issue to resolve and is no more than 1% of the cost of a clutch / rear main / guibo project.

d-

Madduc · 6th January 2009, 18:32

Argh....I know I have seen those before. Just can't remember where. Check at a marine store(West Marine) or a good electrician supply.

Ted · 6th January 2009, 22:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by DouglasABaker

You are talking about the bolt that connects the power wire to the battery right?

It isn't a big deal, and it certainly isn't expensive. Disconnect the negative battery lead first (there, now there is no chance of shorting anything), and then cut the positive lead with a hacksaw. Put the new one on and clamp it down. $10 and about 30 minutes.

If you don't like that route, then go to autozone and pick up a whole new wire with ends already attached.

Don't overcomplicate this - it is a pretty simple issue to resolve and is no more than 1% of the cost of a clutch / rear main / guibo project.

d-

You should say "Don't over complicate this" to the dumb ***** at BMW who decided to re-invent the battery terminal.

Battery in the trunk = smart
Battery terminal that can't be worked on or replaced = stupid

See, I have no idea what you are talking about. Cut the POS where? Cut the NEG where? See that big piece of black electronic gizmo that attaches directly to the POS terminal in the pic? I don't know exactly what it is but I'm guessing it's part of the alarm. I'm also guessing it cost's a quarter of my paycheck to replace it (after a months of research to figure out where to buy it from)...so no hacksaw please.

I really just want to know where to get the OEM bolts from.