# Just Bought a GEM. Need Advice **URL:** \ **Category:** GEM Forum\ **Created:** [June 29, 2020, 4:52pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/just-bought-a-gem-need-advice/19207 "2020-06-29T16:52:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Surferdude](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.electricforum.com/surferdude/32/6841_2.png) [@Surferdude](https://community.electricforum.com/u/Surferdude)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2020, 4:52pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/just-bought-a-gem-need-advice/19207/1 "2020-06-29T16:52:13Z")
Hey everyone! Found an opportunity to buy a GEM last week, so I’ve been lurking on the forum for about a week or so while considering. Decided to pull the trigger and picked up this 2008 E4 with stock 7HP motor. Thing is pretty cherry. I want to unlock its full potential. I ordered the MM from @Inwo already Next I believe i need to replace the batteries. The current batteries are the OEM 8G31 and haven’t been replaced for 4 or 5 years. The car is charging to full charge, but drops to limp mode after traveling a couple miles. Seems like a symptom of spent batteries? Lithium seems like the best option. I want to be able to use the car sooner than later, so maybe I should consider another set of gels before that endeavor? I also want to avoid introducing new problems before flushing out the old ones? A friend of mine can get a decent price on a set of Leoch batteries. Any advice would be appreciated. other upgrades seem like bigger tires? lower gear ratio? Thanks in advance. ![IMG-5535](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/electricforum/original/2X/e/e51d8b1a4338c792d8bc8707f7bc42455f0ad358.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![LithiumGods](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.electricforum.com/lithiumgods/32/672_2.png) [@LithiumGods](https://community.electricforum.com/u/LithiumGods)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2020, 5:15pm UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/just-bought-a-gem-need-advice/19207/2 "2020-06-29T17:15:31Z")
I sell the extended range lithium pack for Gems . A lithium upgrades gives most people all the range they can use and a lot more performance . Your GE 7hp will Love the upgrade . The conversion is not hard . The hardest part is mounting the battery ---
**Author:** ![Monkeyron](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.electricforum.com/monkeyron/32/6634_2.png) [@Monkeyron](https://community.electricforum.com/u/Monkeyron)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2020, 2:31am UTC](https://community.electricforum.com/t/just-bought-a-gem-need-advice/19207/3 "2020-07-01T02:31:44Z")
After charging, get a load tester from Harbor freight and test each battery one at a time. Sometimes it maybe just be 1 or 2 bad batteries until you decide on Mike’s lithium batteries. New 8G31 Deka is about $240 ea