Ultimate Nissan 350z Battery Guide

Whether you’re experiencing battery issues on your 350Z or just looking to upgrade, we’re comparing the ultimate replacement batteries for your Z in this guide.

350z battery

Odyssey PC545
Odyssey PC680
Odyssey PC1200
Optima D51R Yellow Top
Optima D35 Yellow Top
Optima 35 Red Top
XS Power S1200
Braille B2015
Braille B3121

In a hurry? Here are our 350Z battery winners

Budget Choice	Drifted Choice	Premium Choice

Odyssey PC680 Extreme Series 350Z Battery	Optima 8073-167 D51R Yellow Top 350Z Battery	XS Power S1200 350Z Battery
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥	🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥	🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now

When it comes to replacing your Z’s battery, the OEM battery option which came with your car from the factory is no longer available.

If you head to the dealer to source a replacement, they’ll instead offer you a ‘pattern’ alternative.

Not only is this option is overpriced and overweight compared to some of the aftermarket batteries on offer, but it also offers inferior performance.

For that reason, when it comes to replacing your Z’s battery, we always recommend looking at what the third-party specialists have to offer.

It’s now over 15 years since 350Z’s first started featuring in showrooms across the globe, and your Z’s battery has likely already been replaced at some point.

If not, it’s time to buy a lottery ticket, as not many batteries last this long! However, if this is the case, then it’s time to get it checked since it’s likely to be on its last legs by now.

One of motoring’s biggest headaches is coming back to your car after an enjoyable day out to realize that your car doesn’t unlock from the fob.

At this point, it’s probably not going to take you long to realize that you’ve become the latest victim of the dreaded battery failure.

Although you might be thinking, “But, my battery’s working fine, why would I replace it?”.

Batteries are the ultimate ‘it’s working until it’s not’ part of routine car maintenance and something that frequently gets overlooked.

OEM Nissan 350Z Battery Specs

Almost all Nissan’s 350Z’s left the factory with the same battery, which was made by Panasonic/Yuasa.

The dimensions were 9.1”/230mm (L), 6.9”/175mm (W), 8.9”/225mm (H).

We weren’t kidding when we said they were heavy, either, and the stock offering tops the scales at a whopping 36lbs.

Sure, it does an excellent job with lasting, but it’s far weightier than it needs to be, which provides the perfect opportunity to not only potentially improve the performance but also carry out some weight-saving in the process.

Why Is My 350Z Battery Draining?

If you’re getting less than around 2-3 years battery life from your replacement, it may be time to investigate whether there’s an issue that’s causing the battery drain.

We’ve heard of some batteries dying after just a few weeks, even with frequent driving. If this is the case, we’d be concerned that you may have a faulty battery.

However, if you’ve had it checked or replaced under warranty, and it’s continuing to drain, then it’s time to look at the potential causes.

Aftermarket alarms and head units are often the leading cause of this problem, but the OEM alarms are sometimes known to cause an issue.

Our first two checks, besides obvious things, like ensuring you’ve remembered to turn the lights off, would be the following:

Aftermarket head unit/sound system - Have you recently had a new stereo installed? If so, this will be the most likely issue, and it would appear that the electrics are malfunctioning somehow.
Alarm - Even if you’ve not activated your 350Z alarm, it can still cause battery drain. We recommend disconnecting the alarm and seeing if that solves the problem.

If this is the case, we recommend getting yourself a car battery maintainer for a short-term resolution.

However, it’s going to be worth investigating the issue, as you’ll inevitably want to arm your alarm away from home where you can’t leave the car on charge sometimes.

On a problem-free 350Z, we would still expect to see at least a couple of weeks of battery life from a frequently-driven car before any issues arise with a healthy battery and electronics.

Should I Buy A Used 350Z Battery?

We’re surprised how many owners consider this, and the simple answer is no.

New batteries come with a warranty, and they also have a limited lifespan, so unless you know when the original owner fitted it and you have the original receipt for an exchange, we definitely wouldn’t consider a used battery.

How To Replace A 350Z Battery

For those of you looking for a how-to guide when it comes to swapping out your battery, we recommend this guide from AnthonyJ350 on YouTube, as he walks you through the process:

Lightweight 350Z Batteries

In our guide, we’ll be checking out OEM-equivalent batteries, but we’ll also look at lightweight options for those planning to drift their 350Z or use it for other motorsport purposes.

These can also be an excellent option for those considering relocating your battery to the rear of the car, a popular mod for those who have carried out forced induction upgrades.

When installing a supercharger or turbocharger kit in your Z, you’ll be adding additional weight to the front.

With a lightweight battery, you’ll have the perfect opportunity to replace the heavy OEM unit with a lightweight option before relocating it to the boot.

It’s worth bearing in mind that the lighter you go with your battery, the less power it’s capable of producing.

Therefore, if you’re also running additional electrical equipment, it may be worth having a professional check exactly how much current the car is using.

Smaller batteries will also hold less charge, meaning that the battery will run out far quicker. So if you have, or are planning, a full-spec race car build, you’ll want to consider a battery maintainer when the car goes into storage between events.

Additional Considerations

For those who perhaps live in colder climates or have especially cold winters where you continue to run your Z, you’re going to need one of our options with higher cold cranking amps (CCA’s).

Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) Batteries

We’ll be featuring AGM batteries quite a lot in this guide.

They’re an ideal replacement since AGM technology provides increased safety, performance, and service life over alternative battery types.

SpiralCell Batteries

These are an excellent alternative for a lightweight option that’s still capable of providing equal, if not superior, performance.

Requiring less maintenance and capable of handling even the roughest winters, these may present the ideal opportunity for those in colder climates requiring a strong starter battery.

The Ultimate Nissan 350Z Batteries

Now that we’ve covered everything you need to know about finding the perfect battery for your Z let’s look at the best available alternatives on the market.

Odyssey PC545 Extreme Series 350Z Battery

Voltage: 12 Volts
Capacity (C20): 12 Ah
CCA (Cold Cranking Amps): 150 A
Length: 178 mm
Width: 86 mm
Height: 131 mm
Weight: 11.4 Lbs
Battery type: AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat)
Warranty length: 2 Year Warranty (Check with reseller)
Value for money: ?????
Purchase link: Odyssey PC545 Extreme Series 350Z battery

Our comment: First up is this fantastic offering from Odyssey, which shaves an impressive 25lbs from the OEM battery.

Now, you may be thinking, “Damn, this thing is tiny and weighs next to nothing; consider it sold!”

However, there are a few things worth thinking about before going with this battery.

If you’re running a drift/race car that’s likely to spend a lot of time in storage on a battery maintainer or even disconnected, this could well be the ultimate choice.

It also presents a fantastic choice for those of you looking to relocate the battery to your trunk with minimal weight.

However, if you’re looking for a battery for your daily driver, we wouldn’t be recommending this battery for your needs.

A lightweight, cheap as hell battery, but with a capacity of just 12 Ah, and the lowest CCA in our guide at just 150A, it’s the ultimate drift/race car weight-saving choice but a no-no for your daily driver.

Due to this battery’s size, you’ll need to consider an aftermarket or custom bracket for it to fit securely.

Odyssey PC680 Extreme Series 350Z Battery

Voltage: 12 Volts
Capacity (C20): 16 Ah
CCA (Cold Cranking Amps): 170 A
Length: 178 mm
Width: 78 mm
Height: 168 mm
Weight: 16 Lbs
Battery type: AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat)
Warranty length: 2 Year Warranty (Check with reseller)
Value for money: ?????
Purchase link: Odyssey PC680 Extreme Series 350Z Battery

Our comment: For those looking for a bit more of a compromise between capacity and weight, the PC680 is ideal for daily use on a Z without aftermarket electronic upgrades.

At just 16lbs, this is a little heavier than the PC545. In return, you’ll get 16 Ah of capacity and 170 cold-cranking amps.

We have heard from several 350Z owners that have successfully run this battery long-term in their minimal, stripped out weekend-drift car daily drivers that would highly recommend it.

However, suppose you’ve got battery-sucking appliances in your Z, such as an aftermarket stereo, additional electronics, or an aftermarket alarm, we’d be opting for a more substantial alternative.

Due to this battery’s size, you’ll need to consider an aftermarket or custom bracket for it to fit securely.

Odyssey PC1200 350Z Battery

Voltage: 12 Volts
Capacity (C20): 42 Ah
CCA (Cold Cranking Amps): 540 A
Length: 200 mm
Width: 169 mm
Height: 172 mm
Weight: 38.2 Lbs
Battery type: AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat)
Warranty length: 2 Year Warranty (Check with reseller)
Value for money: ????
Purchase link: Odyssey PC1200 350Z Battery

Our comment: Odyssey’s Extreme Series has an excellent reputation among car enthusiasts worldwide, and their PC1200 is the ideal replacement for those merely looking for an upgrade to the 350Z’s OEM battery.

Although it weighs slightly more than the stock battery, it provides excellent performance along with a two-year warranty.

If you’re looking for a new battery for your daily-driven 350Z, we’d highly recommend considering the PC1200.

Optima 8073-167 D51R Yellow Top 350Z Battery

Voltage: 12 Volts
Capacity (C20): 38 Ah
CCA (Cold Cranking Amps): 450 A
Length: 237 mm
Width: 129 mm
Height: 227 mm
Weight: 26 Lbs
Battery type: SpiralCell AGM Technology
Warranty length: 3 Year Warranty (Check with reseller)
Value for money: ?????
Purchase link: Optima 8073-167 D51R Yellow Top 350Z Battery

Our comment: If you’ve been talking to 350Z owners about their battery recommendations, we do not doubt that ‘Yellow Top’ would’ve entered the equation.

Optima’s legendary D51R Yellow Top is a fantastic choice if you’re looking to save around 10lbs over the OEM battery weight without any real compromises in performance.

Although the D51R will be an ideal choice for most daily driven 350Z’s, if you’re running battery-draining electronics, such as an upgraded sound system, our next offering will be the better choice for you.

Excellent, lightweight performance combined with a three-year warranty makes it easy to see why this is such a popular choice amongst 350Z owners.

Optima 8040-218 D35 Yellow Top 350Z Battery

Voltage: 12 Volts
Capacity (C20): 48 Ah
CCA (Cold Cranking Amps): 620 A
Length: 238 mm
Width: 171 mm
Height: 297 mm
Weight: 36.4 Lbs
Battery type: SpiralCell AGM Technology
Warranty length: 3 Year Warranty (Check with reseller)
Value for money: ?????
Purchase link: Optima 8040-218 D35 YellowTop 350Z Battery

Our comment: When people speak about the ideal Yellow Top for an OEM replacement, especially for those running high-powered electronics, the D35 will be the ideal option.

The D35 provides a near-equal weight to the OEM battery, but the performance is drastically improved.

If you’re thinking about getting serious with in-car entertainment, or an aftermarket screen, then the D35 will be a perfect choice.

With fantastic long-term performance, combined with a three-year warranty and 620 A cold-cranking amps, it’s easy to see why it’s so popular.

Optima Batteries 8020-164 35 RedTop 350Z Battery

Voltage: 12 Volts
Capacity (C20): 44 Ah
CCA (Cold Cranking Amps): 720 A
Length: 238 mm
Width: 171 mm
Height: 297 mm
Weight: 31.7 Lbs
Battery type: SpiralCell AGM Technology
Warranty length: 3 Year Warranty (Check with reseller)
Value for money: ?????
Purchase link: Optima Batteries 8020-164 35 RedTop 350Z Battery

Our comment: Those who live in colder climates need an incredibly strong battery for cold-starts to look no further.

Optima’s premium quality speaks for itself, but should you have any issues, you’ll get their standard three-year warranty to give you peace of mind.

With a mind-blowing 720 cold-cranking amps, this is by far the best option for cold starts, and a bonus is that it weighs in at nearly 5lbs less than the OEM battery.

If ‘Red Top’ batteries have been recommended to you, then this is the one that you’ll want to go for in your Z33.

XS Power S1200 350Z Battery

Voltage: 12 Volts
Capacity (C20): 55 Ah
CCA (Cold Cranking Amps): 651 A
Length: 198 mm
Width: 170 mm
Height: 166 mm
Weight: 35.3 Lbs
Battery type: AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat)
Warranty length: 3 Year Warranty (Check with reseller)
Value for money: ?????
Purchase link: XS Power S1200 350Z battery

Our comment: XS Power has earned itself one of the best reputations in the battery game in recent years, and this OEM replacement is another popular option for 350Z owners.

With combines the highest capacity in our guide at 55 Ah, with the second-highest cold-cranking amps, which arguably makes it the best all-arounder.

At 35.3lbs, it’s a similar weight to the stock offering, but with significantly improved performance.

We’ve heard nothing but praise for XS Power, and this is an excellent alternative that also features a three-year warranty.

Braille B2015 350Z Battery

Voltage: 12 Volts
Capacity (C20): 21 Ah
CCA (Cold Cranking Amps): 425 A
Length: 173 mm
Width: 86 mm
Height: 155 mm
Weight: 15 Lbs
Battery type: AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat)
Warranty length: 1 Year Warranty (Check with reseller)
Value for money: ????
Purchase link: Discontinued

Our comment: The second-lightest battery comes from Braille, weighing in at just 15lbs, yet providing far superior power and cold-cranking amps to its 16lb Odyssey rival, the PC680.

Although this seems like the perfect choice, it does only come with a one-year warranty yet a significantly higher price, which may potentially put some owners off, and also why it’s narrowly missed out on achieving top marks.

Braille has a fantastic reputation in the automotive scene, but their management team has managed to upset 350Z owners on an enthusiast forum.

The altercation seems to have left a bitter taste in the mouth of 350Z owners, which has led them to boycott the Braille brand somewhat.

We’ve not let this tarnish their otherwise fantastic reputation, but it is worth considering.

Braille B3121 350Z Battery

Voltage: 12 Volts
Capacity (C20): 31 Ah
CCA (Cold Cranking Amps): 550 A
Length: 168 mm
Width: 132 mm
Height: 173 mm
Weight: 21 Lbs
Battery type: AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat)
Warranty length: 2 Year Pro-Rated Warranty (Check with reseller)
Value for money: ?????
Purchase link: Discontinued

Our comment: The Braille B3121 is one of the best lightweight choices on the market for 350Z owners.

We’d say its main competitor is the Optima D51R, but it weighs in at an impressive 5lbs less than its rival.

When the two battle it out head-to-head, the D51R provides a 38 Ah capacity compared to the 31 Ah of the B3121. However, the B3121 provides 550 cold-cranking amps compared to the 450 CCA’s of the D51R.

Both of these batteries are excellent, and either one would make a fantastic choice for your Z33.

It may fall to the three-year warranty of the Optima. Due to being a Pro-Rated battery, the B3121 has been provided with Braille’s improved two-year warranty over the smaller B2015.

Braille has a fantastic reputation in the automotive scene, but their management team has managed to upset 350Z owners on an enthusiast forum.

The altercation seems to have left a bitter taste in the mouth of 350Z owners, which has led them to boycott the Braille brand somewhat.

We’ve not let this tarnish their otherwise fantastic reputation, but it is worth considering.

Our Nissan 350Z Battery Winners

Now you have seen our selection of 350Z batteries, let’s look at which are our winning products:

Our Drifted Choice goes to the Optima D51R Yellow Top

When it comes to the perfect all-rounder, look no further than the Optima D51R Yellow Top.

Our 350z Battery Winner is the Optima D51R Yellow Top

350Z owners have been singing the Optima Yellow Top batteries’ praises since the initial release, and it’s easy to see why.

With a 38 Ah capacity combined with 450 cold-cranking amps and a weight-saving of 10lbs over the stock 350Z option, we feel this provides the perfect straight-swap for those looking to save weight without any concerns.

Optima D51R Yellow Top

Our Premium 350Z Battery Choice

Bringing the highest capacity in the guide at 55 Ah, combined with 651 cold-cranking amps, this is arguably the best battery in the guide.

Our Premium Choice is the XS Power S1200

It narrowly missed out on the Drifted Choice award due to weight, with the D51R coming in around 10lbs lighter, where the S1200 weighs similarly to the OEM option.

If you’re not bothered about weight and looking for the ultimate battery performance, combined with XS Power’s highly-regarded reputation and a 3-year warranty, this is the perfect option.

XS Power S1200

Our Budget 350Z Battery Choice

Our Budget Choice might sound controversial since the PC680 isn’t going to be the ideal option for those with a lot of ICE on your daily driven 350Z.

Our Budget Choice is the Odyssey PC680 Extreme Series

However, when it comes to providing a lightweight battery, even for your daily-driven drift car, the lightweight PC680 provides the best overall value for weight, performance, and price point.

For that reason, we’ve chosen the PC680 as the ideal compromise for weight saving at a bargain price while also maintaining optimal performance.

We’d recommend looking at the larger-capacity alternatives for an everyday stock Z. or one with ICE upgrades.

Odyssey PC680 Extreme Series

Thank you for reading our Nissan 350Z Battery guide

Whether you’re looking to replace the OEM battery with a superior alternative of similar weight or opting for the significant weight-saving benefits that come with our lightweight choices, we feel we’ve provided something for everyone in this guide.

Photography credits

We would like to thank the following sources for the use of their images:

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Written by Joe Terrell Drifted.com founder, motoring journalist and all-round car enthusiast. Read more about Joe and the Drifted team on our about us page.