Boost guage under climate control???

[thez99]

Ok, I am sure most people would just tell me to go with the P3 vent guage, but ahead of time I am telling everyone I do not want that one, its out of my view, in an awkward area not one I would like a guage to be in. So I would like to have it fabricated somewhere around the center console. I know I have seen those triple gauge pods for the ashtray piece but I think those were for the earlier model 1 series as mine does not have the door..that and I will only have 1 gauge.

I would like to use an AEM or similar boost gauge that matches the lighting on the rest of the gauges in the car. Has ANYONE seen or read or done any kind of fabricating of a boost gauge housing for underneath the climate control din slot on the center console? Its a little low but I figure the housing could set the gauge towards the drivers seat a bit, maybe even tilted up a bit as well.

I want this to look fairly stock, I did this exact thing on my GTI (pic below) and it looked good to me. Id like to do something similar here, Im not so much worried about the wiring as Im sure my mod shop would be able to handle that, im more worried about manufacturing the gauge housing and keeping it looking fairly stock. Suggestions?

[nordique14]

the closest you will find is something that fits into the ashtray/cubby hole area. Something like this:

http://leatherz.com/Merchant5/mercha...y_Code=all_E82

But that would be just as out of the line of sight as the P3 gauge. So would anything below the climate control.

ECS makes a center vent pod for the 335 but I do not think they make one for the 135.

http://www.ecstuning.com/News/BMW_33...Gauges_Mounts/

[thez99]

Yea i mentioned Ive seen the tri-pod gauge thing for the ashtray as well as the one for the 335 that def wouldnt fit the 135. Its a shame cuz if they made one like the ECS pod for 335 that would fit the right center vent for my 135, thats exactly what id want. I dont even really use that right center vent anyhow.

[Kamal]

I'm pretty sure the LeatherZ will work just fine. I think the P3 gauge is in a good location, and that putting something under the climate control would be significantly more out of sight. If you do decide to go that route, I think you should at least use 2 gauges... just one would look out of place.

Also, have you considered just getting a gauge pod and mounting it on the dash somewhere? If you have some fabrication skills, you might be able to use a pod and blend it into the dash somehow. I think that would be sick.

[BahamaBart]

and you think you'll get a better view than 3P Cars location? I have the 3P cars and admit its not in line of sight but thats what the boost recall is for.

[timhatimay]

If you want visibility of the gauge probably the steering column mount is the best. You can choose to mount either one or two.

http://www.europeanautosource.com/pr...f3f8c488c486f1

There is also the option of a pillar mount. I think the original P3 gauge was a small mount near the bottom of the pillar. This would have excellent visibility, but probably impossible to find now.

I've seen someone on here that cut one of the slots below radio/climate and mounted a gauge in there. From what I remember it was clean. This is assuming you don't have heated seats or any buttons on the panel. IMO, this is much farther distance from your normal driving view, so it is even farther out view than the P3 Vent. This seems like it would be much harder to monitor while driving WOT or anything more than a glance really. Also, it is much less likely to look OEM, because if you are cutting and putting in pieces of plastic and such, it is not going to look factory. FWIW, the P3 vent is a bit out of view and you have to look down with your eyes to see it, but I have no problem monitoring it as I drive. The V2 also has a record function, so you can watch the last 15 seconds of driving for whatever parameter you want. People always ask if this is a factory gauge or BMW OEM, so it looks very clean. Seems like you are really against it though, so you're probably going to have to build something yourself as opposed to a PnP solution.

At least one improvement may be to talk to Leatherz to buy the gauge, because he has a cover for the gauges to match the interior light to the BMW, so it should match better.

Tim

[thez99]

The thing i hate about the P3 one is it doesnt even look like a gauge, its just some red or orange blips..thats not a real gauge at all. Cant REALLY tell exactly what your boosts are just with how many little blips there are on the screen

I dunno, might just not be able to do it with what I really want, the ones on the steering wheel would be in my way. Honestly I just wish someone would make one that fits in that right center vent, would be perfect. They did it for the 3 series why not the 1er

[BahamaBart]

The 3P cars is subtle and totally OEM in fit and feel. The boost recall is great. The location is a compromise. I had approached 3P Cars about the center but he picked the left vent from an install perspective. I was hoping for a center boost and a matching A/F.
Contact him and buy one unmounted in the vent and ask for extra long cables, roll up your sleeves and retrofit.

PS there are more than blips there is a digital vac/boot readout.

[mineo77]

P3 is great, love mine. Dont think having a gauge mounted low would be good idea. Gauge pod is an option or I have seen folks etch their rear view mirror and put digital boost etc to display on mirror.

[thez99]

Can you get one of those steering wheel pod mount things with just one pod? Like just the right side one and the rest of the piece is smooth? Cuz that may be possible, then atleast it wouldnt be blocking to much view of my other gauges.

[mineo77]

wont be completely smooth, but yes you can take a pod out if you dont have anything there to use.

[thez99]

Ive sent an email to ECS asking if theres any way they could fab a vent pod for me like the ones they have for the 335i, its a long shot but they might be able to do something for me. For me thats really the only ideal spot in this car for a gauge. The p3 is too LEFT for me and I dont like that its not a dial gauge. The steering wheel ones look like they belong in a civic R and they would def block other gauge view which = no good. The one in the ashtray needs 3 which I dont need and yes honestly its a little too low.

Hope I get some results, otherwise I guess thats a no for a boost gauge for now

[Kamal]

Originally Posted by timhatimay

There is also the option of a pillar mount. I think the original P3 gauge was a small mount near the bottom of the pillar. This would have excellent visibility, but probably impossible to find now.

The reason the a-pillar mounts don't exist is because of the side curtain air bags that deploy from the a-pillar. Putting some gauges on the pillar and getting into an airbag-deploying accident would definitely turn that boost gauge into a nasty little projectile!

thez99... I have to agree with you on the steering column mounts... functional, but look out of place on a daily driven BMW. Why not just get a single gauge pod and mount it somewhere on the dash?

[BahamaBart]

[QUOTE=Kamal;9953338]The reason the a-pillar mounts don't exist is because of the side curtain air bags that deploy from the a-pillar. Putting some gauges on the pillar and getting into an airbag-deploying accident would definitely turn that boost gauge into a nasty little projectile!
QUOTE]

Actually most of the pillar/airbag set-ups have a restraing strap that allows the a pillar to pop off but only enough to let the airbags deploy. We have twin pods on our EVO and it looks great BUT thats on an EVO. I think the main reason, we haven't seen anything like this for the Bimmer (besides the RICER comments) is how to duplicate the finish that Bimmer has on its pillars.

A single low mounted pod would be idea.

[BahamaBart]

misread post

[thez99]

BUMP for suggestions..

Ive tried contacting someone from ECS twice now about this with no response...

[SSIMPS]

I use indash boost gauge, but I do have the concealed display for my Valentine One mounted in the blank plastic area below the climate control. Any respected car audio shop can custom mount a gauge in there. I had mine done at Lombards in Goleta, CA

[thez99]

Originally Posted by 330iSB

I use indash boost gauge, but I do have the concealed display for my Valentine One mounted in the blank plastic area below the climate control. Any respected car audio shop can custom mount a gauge in there. I had mine done at Lombards in Goleta, CA

Pictures of both?

Btw i just spoke with ECS's "online help"..kind of a letdown. Basically he said its "something that is coming, but they have no idea when or how long" So yea, that could be 3-4 years from now..

I mean this model 1series has been around for 3+ years now, why the hell not?? They have the piece for the 3 series, that's exactly what I want in my 1er. Obviously they cant just make me one, they have them "specifically made" so..

oy..

[135forthewin]

Andrew@Lutzperformance did a custom gauge in the location you're talking about for "OldBooster," who I believe is still the fastest N54 out there right now. If you can find an old thread you'll see he cut a whole in that piece and it looks clean, or just shoot him a PM and he can probably hook you up.

[thez99]

Originally Posted by 135forthewin

Andrew@Lutzperformance did a custom gauge in the location you're talking about for "OldBooster," who I believe is still the fastest N54 out there right now. If you can find an old thread you'll see he cut a whole in that piece and it looks clean, or just shoot him a PM and he can probably hook you up.

Which piece are you speaking of, the area below climate control or the right center vent? Cuz really I would much rather have it be in that vent area.