360 AGM Battery Size 34R Fitment Question

Interstate has an AGM that fits.

 

Measure the distance from the floor of the battery compartment to the bottom of the horizontal bar. On my Modena it is 9". If your CS is the same, the 8" high Sears battery should go in. It will be a tight fit, so you have to be extremely careful when sliding it in. It's a very bad design. Best thing to do is to keep the protective terminal caps on the battery until the battery is in place.

If the caps are gone, you can wrap the terminals with black electrical tape, or drape a shop towel across the horizontal bar. Aldous Voicey recommends protecting the terminals with "your daughter's fruit cups" during installation.

Make sure you kill the battery switch and remove the negative terminal cable first and install it last.

If the J-hooks are too short, O'Reilley's sells these in various lenghts for a few bucks.

 

... change out those crappy battery connectors while you're at it.

 

I replaced my Optima Red top in my 360 last February. You are right, it looks like the new ones are ALL are slightly taller and I had to try three 34R size batteries: Duralast, another Optima Red top, and the Diehard Gold pictured above.
The slight height increase means that it will be difficult to secure the battery with the original J-style hold-down bolt. I had to get a new one measuring 7 inches in length as the original is shorter (you just need to replace 1, not both, and I replaced the one close to the red terminal).
Once the battery (Diehard Gold) is firmly secured, there is less concern about the horizontal metal bar coming into contact with the battery terminals.
Good luck. Not an expert here but the aforementioned was my experience.

 

I think I am seeing your issue. The problem is not so much the height of the battery, it is the position of the terminals on the very front edge of the battery case, right under the horizontal bar.

I have a YellowTop which is 7.75" tall and although the tops of the terminals are almost 1" below the horizontal bar, the L-shaped cable connectors protrude just over the top edge of the horizontal bar. But because the terminals are about 2" away from the front edge to ward the centerline of the case, the protruding connectors are well away from the horizontal bar.

If you wanted to use the battery you bought, you may try to install it turned around so that the terminals are on the side toward the front of the car. There should be enough slack in the cabling to reroute the positive and negative terminals. My cabling is actually rerouted that way, the positive connector is toward the driver side of the car.

Or you could get something like the YellowTop, with reverse posts to accommodate your existing cabling orientation. That one definitely fits.
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Oddly, Tractor supply carries the correct battery as well. Who'd have thunk it?

 

Suggest you give Odyssey PC925 a looksee. Smaller and lighter, good cold starting amps. Very happy with mine (third year).

 

Just had to replace the battery in my 2000 360 Modena. After much research (including the physical dims of the battery in Aldous's article), the size that we need is here in the USA is BCI Group 48 or European DIN H6/L3.

I picked up this Champion AGM 48/H6/L3 Battery (760 CCA) at my local PepBoys for $189 + 20% discount (if you order via their website). Perfect fitment and clearance, no troubles with with the tie-down bar.

PepBoys website will tell you to use a BCI Group: 24F if you use their configurator which is totally WRONG! Instead input 2009 BMW M3 and this correct size battery will show up.
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Interesting...the East Penn Group 48 AGM, Champion AGM, Duracell Platinum 48 AGM and Sears DieHard Advanced Gold all have identical dimensions and case design...must all be manufactured by East Penn.

 

I almost bought the same battery, until I noticed the issue. My car had an interstate and I was always freaked out about how close the terminals were to the bar. I even put some autozone plastic covers on them. After that, I got this. No height issues whatsoever, I just had to modify the hold-down.

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In the original resolution picture, it clearly says Distributed by Johnson Controls and the small white label says Made in Germany. Is that East Penn?

 

I just got Interstate MT7-48/h6 AGM battery for my 430
perfect fit. and 48 month free replacement warranty.

 

Yes, Johnson Controls is owned by East Penn. Johnson Controls was (is still?) the oem supplier of starting batteries for BMW.

 

just adding to this thread too - DO NOT buy the 34R-PC1500 - it will NOT fit - it is too tall AND too deep. The cross bar that the foot well pad connects to runs right over top of the terminal posts and it is WAY TO TALL to be safe.... don't do it ----

 

Yes, good to have confirmation. Some group 34R will not fit the 360/430 and it has been posted previously that the Group 48 is a better choice as it is a bit shorter.

 

yeah - i saw a few threads and bit the bullet - SHAME SHAME SHAME on me for NOT going to the Odyssey website - they CLEARLY state the correct model - TOTALLY on me - but wanted to bounce this so others can learn from my mistake ---

ALWAYS double check - I violate my own rule! LOL


Model #: 48-720

 

I have the 34r-pc1500T and it’s tight, but it does fit. I changed my terminal clamps to aftermarket ones with plastic covers so there are no dangers of shorting to the bar. The pc925 DID NOT work well, as it deep discharged after only a few days off the tender. Odyssey states this battery is way too small for our application.

the website must have changed if it’s stating the 48 group, I specifically remember talking to them AND checking the website and both stated the 34 was the correct model.

 

I also just installed a new Odyssey 34R-PC1500T during a service in my 360 spider and it fit without any modification or concern at all.

 

Mind posting a picture? I’m wondering if there is more than one size...

 

Here you go, if you're having trouble, check to make sure the harness isnt keeping the battery from sitting correctly. Image Unavailable, Please Login

Sent from my SM-G950U using FerrariChat.com mobile app

 

interesting. YouRs seem to fit in further then mine - and I’m all the way to the back of the bottom battery slot.
I think getting the terminal cover may be the ticket. I’m going to see if I can find one and also will take the bar with a layer of Electrical tape on the positive end to reduce the possibility of contact.

Will work on it and post pics tomorrow.

 

You could also try covering the bar with black plastic split loom like car stereo shops use? Or pipe insulation foam?