S15 Battery relocation guide (inc. engine bay charge point) using R33 Skyline rear battery tray

[ianpgonzaga]

Using Audi/VW (VAG) components for the battery relocation allows me to retain proper charging terminals in the engine bay, which is a huge convenience.

In the video, I walk through the actual cable and terminal hardware, how the (super thick!) cable is routed, and where it’s mounted. I originally planned one location but ended up using an R33 Skyline rear battery tray instead — video on that to come. Most wreckers would probably cut this cabling and scrap it, but for battery relocation it’s actually perfect. When sourcing one, try to get the setup as complete as possible so you don’t need to buy or extend long lengths of additional cable. These setups are readily available in many VAG models with rear-mounted batteries from around 2006 onwards, so happy hunting.

Once the battery is relocated to the rear of the S15, it makes sense to take advantage of the freed-up space and install an FMIC. Fortunately (or unfortunately, as you’ll see in the video), a cut had already been made by a previous owner, which allowed the HKS S-Type front-mount kit to go in relatively smoothly. Some additional bumper trimming was still required, and that process is covered in the video.

Overall, this is a slightly different approach to S15 battery relocation that offers both convenience and security; especially the ability to connect a trickle charger without needing to leave the boot open.

 

[ianpgonzaga]

As a follow-up to the above, I wanted to find a neat and secure way to mount the battery in its new rear location, now that the cables and terminals have been relocated. While there are plenty of aftermarket options available, none really offer the OEM+ finish that Nissan already engineered — and that factory-correct look was what I was chasing.

After reading the SXOC forum thread “Battery relocation with Skyline tray guide”, I picked up an R33 Skyline rear battery tray from Skyline Spares (literally the last one they had in stock ). I was genuinely surprised by how large and solid it is. The construction is very robust and, as shown in the video, it fits perfectly under the rear speaker parcel shelf. This provides a discreet, factory-style mounting position while still retaining excellent boot space.

Hope this helps anyone considering a similar setup. As always, happy to answer questions.