[ironic]

I wasn't supposed to post anything up until after the unit was installed but I couldn't keep from taking a peak at the kit - I guess I am a true car nut haha

Anyways, onto a preliminary look at the unit before it goes into the car...



I'm sure many of you know Rix from his previous pillar gauge and now his online shop. But it is remarkable how his products and service have grown over the last very few months. He went from a small time salesman to full time vendor and is now one of the leading innovators for the 335i platform. His newest rendition of a boost gauge is the definitive boost gauge to get for our cars. Its fit and finish is genuinely worthy of becoming part of anyone's interior. The LEDs match the OEM lighting and the whole unit is unobtrusive. And the quality of the unit doesn't apply only to its appearance. All the peripherals have been well manufactured as well.

The kit comes with two bundles of wires with OEM plug and play connectors, the circuit board for the gauge itself, the gauge fascia, and a nice high quality reference card. If I'm not mistaken the whole unit is still put together by hand by Rix himself, but every part of the kit is high quality. The wiring harnesses look better than the harnesses I received with my BMW Performance Steering Wheel.



They're neatly assembled with plastic connectors and bundled with a few pieces of felt tape - the same stuff you find on BMW's wiring throughout the car.



The circuit board and its associated electronics look as if they've been professionally soldered onto the board. If you disassembled your computer right now and took a look at the circuit boards you wouldn't be able to tell which one was done by a multimillion company and which one was put together by Rix.





Even the reference card that comes with the kit has been printed on high quality Koday Photo Paper. Now, I don't know if Rix is just a little OCD or if he just really wants to put together a high quality kit, but regardless it's always a nice feeling knowing that a product you've bought has been put together and designed to be the best it can be.



In fact the reference card wasn't the only clue to the great lengths Rix has gone to for this kit. Each individual harness, vacuum connector,...,piece has been individually sealed. The fascia, although less artistically packaged arrived well protected with film over its lenses to prevent marring.



I can't wait to get this installed in the car and throw out my current Autometer gauge But that'll happen later in the week, for now I'll continue to drool over the packaging

On a serious note, I'd highly recommend this mod to anyone interested in putting together a quality car. I've been focusing on cosmetics for the last year or so and really overlooked all the details that make a BMW such a great car - the attention to detail and its driving focus. Sure angel eyes and a bodykit are nice in their own right, but let's be honest: you're not going to be enjoying them while driving. So treat your other senses to something that will make the car a better driver's car, especially for the little money it'll cost you.

Alex

[Amir87]

Nice!

Rick is a standup guy and great vender!

[Kbueno]

Thanks for sharing...can't wait for mine!

[BES335xi]

Nice...go install it now , & write another review with pic's on the car n tell us how it works...

[XPO186]

+1 Rick is a great guy to deal w/and even helped me out w/the install (I currently have the original gauge pod kit)

I can't wait to upgrade....

[RiXst3r]

Thanks for the "pre-review"
I am continuing to refine the packaging to make it not only functional, but also make the packaging more appealing to the eye as well

Its kinda neat to see an official "un-boxing" of a product I have been working on for so long... bring a tear to my eye... LOL

Also, I need to give credit to a few people that have helped me greatly with the development and process of getting this gauge out. First I need to thank Neil at VEI systems. Neil has been a huge part of the manufactoring process for the electronics. I was able to show him an idea, a few drawings, and he was able to turn it into a real circuit. We worked together for MONTHS designing and programming the features of this gauge. As many of you know, VEI systems is know for the highest quality, most accurate digital boost guage technology... so when they agreed to let me use their boost technology in my gauge, exclusively, I was very excited

Next I need to thank Andy. Andy works for RiXeffects assembing the harness, tubing kits, and shipping the units. He has a dozen years expirience with soldering, assembly and package handling... If I could choose the type of people I would like to be surrounded by, it would be 20 Andy's... His attention to detail, dedication, and all around positive attitude has made this process so smooth, I honestly don't know how I could do it without him.

I also want to thank my family for allowing me to spend so much time on this thing... for the last month or so I have been up til about 3am every night assembling, molding foam, writing install instructions, editing install video, and replying to about 50-60 PM's and e-mails that I get every day!(between this and BMS products) My wife also let me completely destroy our kitchen in the process, so lets just say she is a real trooper

Just had to give my shout outs...

-Rick

[David1]

Wait till you get it in! It really is a top notch product!

[ironic]

thanks! can't wait for fri to install this thing as well as clean up a few things on the car

[skim7x]

need viddddssssss

[phattbam]

Nice. didn't know you got this boost gauge as well. I've been considering it but I dunno how boost gauges work nor do I know why I would need one. lemme know how it is installed, maybe we can meet up and see it work in motion

[Malek@MRF]

Originally Posted by RiXst3r

Thanks for the "pre-review"
I am continuing to refine the packaging to make it not only functional, but also make the packaging more appealing to the eye as well

Its kinda neat to see an official "un-boxing" of a product I have been working on for so long... bring a tear to my eye... LOL

Also, I need to give credit to a few people that have helped me greatly with the development and process of getting this gauge out. First I need to thank Neil at VEI systems. Neil has been a huge part of the manufactoring process for the electronics. I was able to show him an idea, a few drawings, and he was able to turn it into a real circuit. We worked together for MONTHS designing and programming the features of this gauge. As many of you know, VEI systems is know for the highest quality, most accurate digital boost guage technology... so when they agreed to let me use their boost technology in my gauge, exclusively, I was very excited

Next I need to thank Andy. Andy works for RiXeffects assembing the harness, tubing kits, and shipping the units. He has a dozen years expirience with soldering, assembly and package handling... If I could choose the type of people I would like to be surrounded by, it would be 20 Andy's... His attention to detail, dedication, and all around positive attitude has made this process so smooth, I honestly don't know how I could do it without him.

I also want to thank my family for allowing me to spend so much time on this thing... for the last month or so I have been up til about 3am every night assembling, molding foam, writing install instructions, editing install video, and replying to about 50-60 PM's and e-mails that I get every day!(between this and BMS products) My wife also let me completely destroy our kitchen in the process, so lets just say she is a real trooper

Just had to give my shout outs...

-Rick

I applaud you bro. Not many people care that much anymore about products they sell. I'm glad to see you do!

[ironic]

Originally Posted by phattbam

Nice. didn't know you got this boost gauge as well. I've been considering it but I dunno how boost gauges work nor do I know why I would need one. lemme know how it is installed, maybe we can meet up and see it work in motion

Definitely, I'll have it on the car for saturday. You should look into a gauge if you're upping the performance of the 335i. whoops it's actually next sat: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=172388

[phattbam]

well, I think I'm good with the performance. I have the intake, exhaust and software. I just like how clean the gauge looks.

[ironic]

wht i mean is all those mods you just listed will change the amount of boost your car is running - you need some sort of system to monitor that boost and make sure its at a safe level - also to just make sure everything is running smoothly

[phattbam]

Yeah. I should look into that next. Thanks Alex