BMW M cars need a smart diet
As I sought to find ways to reduce the weight of my E92 M3 without compromising its street driving characteristics, it became evident a new lithium ion battery was in order. It is one of the best bang for your buck modification for weight reduction to most BMW M cars.
| Chassis | OEM Battery Weight |
| E9X M3 | 60 lbs |
| E46 M3 | 48 lbs |
| E6X M5 & M6 | 62 lbs |
| E36 M3 | 48 lbs |
| E39 M5 | 62 lbs |
The common concerns of Lithium Ion Batteries
Lithium Ion batteries can easily match a standard AGM battery cranking power, but will often have less capacity over time leading to discharge errors. This is a major component to it's 4x to 5x lighter weight.
A critical reason for discharges was the lack of proper battery monitoring: manufacturers offer external monitoring and does not track total battery capacity remaining or temperatures.
A new generation of Lithium-Ion batteries with Bluetooth Monitoring
Lithiumax engineered 2x batteries with BMW M owners in mind, the 2nd generation RESTART10 and the RACE10+ with carbon fiber casing.
Lithiumax integrated Bluetooth monitoring within the battery in for ease of usage, additional data tracking and weight & packaging benefits. It can easily be managed from a dedicated Lithiumax App by scanning the QR code on top of the battery.
RESTART10 Gen2
Reliable and lightweight power for street driven M cars
Lithiumax has designed a battery with an industry leading power-to-weight ratio: the RESTART10 Gen 2 offers 1500CCA of peak power and a 100Ah PbEq capacity at 8 kgs / 17.6 lbs.
The Lithiumax RESTART10 Gen 2 Bluetooth has a Restart feature that will cut the battery power at a safe level if it is inadvertently drained. It can then be restarted in order to start the engine from the Bluetooth Lithiumax App or a button on top of the battery.
RACE10+ Carbon Fiber
Ultra lightweight power for Clubsport M cars
It weights 4.2 kg / 9.3 lbs and is capable of delivering 1000CA (Cranking Amps) and 70Ah PbEq capacity with Bluetooth Monitoring. The casing is laminated with carbon fiber for better aesthetics.
Specs |
Restart10 Gen2 |
Race10+ |
| Weight | 8.0 kg / 17.6 lbs | 4.2kg / 9.3 lbs |
| Dimensions | H6 Group 278(w)x175(d)x175(h)mm |
(H)175 x (W)165 x (D)125mm |
| Bluetooth Monitoring | Yes. | Yes. |
| Remote Restart Function | Yes. | No. |
| Installation | Plug and Play. Coding required. |
Base plate mounting kit and coding required. |
| BMW IBS Compatible | Yes. | Yes. |
| Peak Power (CCA) | 1500 Amps | 1000 Amps |
| Cranking Power (CA) | 1800 Amps | TBD |
| Winter Cracking Power | 1000CCA at -20degC | 900CCA @ -20degC |
| Capacity | 100Ah PbEq | 70Ah PbEq |
| Temperature Range | -20degC to 85degC | -20degC to 85degC |
| Warranty | 3 Years | 3 Years |
Power from Down Under
I started chatting with Vic @ Lithiumax after wrongfully thinking Lithiumax was a German made product, having been referred for German connections and seen many of their batteries sported by Ring tools and other BMW M enthusiasts in and around the Nurburgring.
Turns out Lithumax is from down under in Australia.
I had the unique opportunity to visit the Motorsport and car enthusiast scene of Sydney back in 2016. They have access to incredibly rare JDM market cars such as R32, R33 and R34 GTR in various, unique configurations such as V-Spec IIs, NUR specs, etc.
It was truly an incredible experience: they love their cars and they are serious about Motorsport.
Read more about my trip to Australia here.
Read more about Lithiumax here