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      01-24-2012, 07:16 PM   #1
3798j
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Hard-wire a Battery Maintainer

What I wanted was to be able to plug a CTEK3300 to the Z4 without going under the hood or going into the interior (for the cigarette lighter outlet).
In the middle of the firewall is the positive terminal for jump-starting the engine and further to the left, there’s a threaded ground stud. By attaching the pig-tail here, I would have the plug exiting just to the left of the drivers windshield wiper (at the base of the windshield).
Unfortunately the supplied CTEK hard-wire hookup was too short (about 22”) on the positive wire to allow this placement. The solution was to splice an additional length of wire with an M8 round connector on the end.
Pulling the plastic cover away from the positive jump-start terminal you'll find there is plenty of room to attach the CTEK’s positive wire. Blue Locktite was used to insure the nuts would stay fastened. The negative wire’s round connector is size M6 while that threaded ground stud is M8. Using a round file the opening was easily enlarged.
The installation took about an hour. I took some photos and I'll post them next.
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      01-24-2012, 07:20 PM   #2
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      01-24-2012, 07:22 PM   #3
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      01-25-2012, 02:12 AM   #4
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Nice and clean install.
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      01-25-2012, 12:35 PM   #5
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wouldnt it be easier to go directly to the battery in the trunk? Thats how I did mine
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      01-25-2012, 05:23 PM   #6
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Very clean install...I particularly like the connection outside the cowl like you did so you don't need to open the hood or trunk to connect up .
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      01-26-2012, 12:24 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shakib View Post
wouldnt it be easier to go directly to the battery in the trunk? Thats how I did mine
No. It's a pain in the a$$ to remove and re-install the battery cover.
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      01-26-2012, 02:29 PM   #8
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My wire fits in in between the battery cover, its pretty thin. doesn't stick out
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      01-26-2012, 03:05 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by XMetal View Post
No. It's a pain in the a$$ to remove and re-install the battery cover.
+100. Muthalover just doesn't wanna go back onto its mounting bolts
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      01-26-2012, 04:51 PM   #10
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If you don't mind an interior installation, can also get a pretty clean install if you use the Comfort Indicator Panel http://smartercharger.com/accessorie...ndicator-panel

Here's the installation on my coupe.
All I have to do is leave the passenger window cracked ever so slightly to let the cord pass through to the hatch. Plus you can see the status of the battery at a glance when you walk past the car.

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      01-26-2012, 05:28 PM   #11
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^^ that is awesome!
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