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Hi all,

We think the battery has given up on the Cooper. I've had it off the car all day and on charge in the workshop, for the duration of the Goodwood live stream, and now well into the evening and it's just not taking / holding charge according to our CTEK charger..

So I think a new one's needed. We're pretty certain the car has been converted to run negative earth as this is how it was configured in the car and it runs Lumenition electronic ignition, I also rang the mechanic who used to look after the car and he was pretty certain it now ran neg earth too. I'm not sure if this has a bearing on the battery to use, I've read somewhere that conventional lead-acid are best, does it matter if this is a sealed unit or the old type? Also I'm a bit bamboozled by sizes, the one fitted is (I think) 015 looking at the codes, but also see that certain sites say 038 or 063?

Some guidance / recommendations on what's best would be great! Cheers! Ed.

Mine is an 063 size. My thought is the bigger the better, and it fills up the tray nicely

You can get them with the terminals either way depending on pos/neg earth and also if you want to bring the terminals away from a RH aside fuel tank

I use a D15 battery designed for use in my Peugeot 207 diesel.. 600 CCA is more than enough for a Mini. Fits the battery box perfectly and terminals correct for a positive earth car.

Personally I wouldnt fit a sealed battery.

Andrew recommends a diesel battery and I would concur with that has they give more grunt for size.

handy guide here https://www.puretyre.co.uk/car-battery- ... ion-chart/

These get some good reviews https://eu.odysseybattery.com/battery-range/ for road and racing batteries…..

Andrew1967 wrote: ↑Sun Sep 19, 2021 5:47 am I use a D85 battery designed for use in my Peugeot 207 diesel.. 600 CCA is more than enough for a Mini. Fits the battery box perfectly and terminals correct for a positive earth car

Another vote for Seidel battery on a Cooper..loads of kick!

I use Yellow Top Optima Gel Battery's in my minis.
The oldest is now 12 years old and still works perfect.

I have an Odyssey battery (34-790 or 34R-790 for reversed terminals) and it fits great in the tray.

Thanks all for the help and replies, much appreciated.

Picked up a battery of the correct size today, and 'Tweedy's' back to bursting energetically into life again! A beautiful day here too, so a reward with a couple of drives out in the evening sunshine, perfection!

https://www.instagram.com/tweedy998/

Dragging up an old thread here. I always thought the 075 was the biggest battery you can fit in a standard Mini battery box?
Andrew1967 mentions a 'D85' which I have never heard of and wondered if this would be even better?
Thanks

rolesyboy wrote: ↑Wed Jan 15, 2025 7:17 pm Dragging up an old thread here. I always thought the 075 was the biggest battery you can fit in a standard Mini battery box?
Andrew1967 mentions a 'D85' which I have never heard of and wondered if this would be even better?
Thanks

Mark, my previous mistake .. it is this one

https://www.tayna.co.uk/car-batteries/varta/d15/

This was a direct replacement for the OE battery in my 207 diesel, same dimensions, battery post orientation. The original one fitted perfectly in the battery box of the Mini. I'll try and get a photo of it in situ on Friday.

Cheers Andrew. I was stumped by that code. Thanks for clarifying.

Cheers Andrew. I was stumped by that code. Thanks for clarifying.

Andrew1967 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 15, 2025 7:39 pm

rolesyboy wrote: ↑Wed Jan 15, 2025 7:17 pm Dragging up an old thread here. I always thought the 075 was the biggest battery you can fit in a standard Mini battery box?
Andrew1967 mentions a 'D85' which I have never heard of and wondered if this would be even better?
Thanks

Mark, my previous mistake .. it is this one

https://www.tayna.co.uk/car-batteries/varta/d15/

This was a direct replacement for the OE battery in my 207 diesel, same dimensions, battery post orientation. The original one fitted perfectly in the battery box of the Mini. I'll try and get a photo of it in situ on Friday.

I got the same one. Great fit and spins the old motor over perfectly.