[Professor///M]

Originally Posted by HyperM3

Great idea and thats what I wanted to do. However, its a leased car and secondly I couldnt find ONE spare trim piece, Id have to buy the whole kit. Not worth it.

Really?!

It's a full kit?! That blows. I figured it's a trim piece kit.

hmm... I think you should make a custom mount then, make it a small custom box, maybe round or triangled off, and mount to the dash after you wrap in black leather.


That home depot grille is really an eyesore, especially for what you get out of it.

[BoostedBMW]

Hyper, hey, I just got my boost gauge in the mail today and now i'm looking for some kind of mesh to replace the vent with. I went to home depot and they had no clue what I was talking about. I even gave them the sku # from your pic and they said that they din't have it. What section of home depot did you find that in? Thanks. I have been trying to think of other options for mounting a gauge, but I suck at using fiberglass, we can't use the A-pillar, and I want to be able to see my display on the instrument cluster so i'm all out of ideas.

[HyperM3]

Originally Posted by BoostedBMW

I went to home depot and they had no clue what I was talking about. I even gave them the sku # from your pic and they said that they din't have it. What section of home depot did you find that in?

Go in, make a left and go all the way back. I found it at the end of an isle where the insulation stuff is. They had all different styles but this was the only one mesh-like. The others were fake wood, diamond plate metal, marble look. If we meet up someday I can give you half of what I got, its more than enough to make a mistake a few times.

[BoostedBMW]

Originally Posted by HyperM3

Go in, make a left and go all the way back. I found it at the end of an isle where the insulation stuff is. They had all different styles but this was the only one mesh-like. The others were fake wood, diamond plate metal, marble look. If we meet up someday I can give you half of what I got, its more than enough to make a mistake a few times.

Thanks for the info bro. I went up and down every damn isle and all I could find was a regular aluminum mesh without a black finish. After an hour of dremeling and getting the mesh to fit the air vent perfect it turns out that my boost gauge (52mm, just about as small as gauges come) doesn't fit through the aluminum trim. Now its back to the drawing board, I really have no clue what i'm going to do now.

[E90330iS]

I'll give you credit for being creative man, only if the gauge was somewhere else.. like the ashtray or something.

[HyperM3]

Originally Posted by E90330iS

I'll give you credit for being creative man, only if the gauge was somewhere else.. like the ashtray or something.

Ive heard this several times. However, A) I already have my concealed V1 display in my ashtray, and B) The last place I want to be checking my boost gauge at WOT is down by the ashtray. Not smart to keep your eyes off the road that long. One might not think theres a difference but I can see my gauge out of my periferal vision. Looking down at the ashtray you need to remove your eyes completely from the road.

[BoostedBMW]

^ I agree with that.

I ended up ordering a carbon fiber autometer gauge cup so I can mount the boost gauge in the left corner of the dash. I wanted something to look more stock, but my only other option at this point is to take a hole saw to the dash, and I really don't want to do that.

[DrewKo]

I think it looks great personally...the mesh doesn't bother me. I mean, you can always use something else if you want, but I am not bothered by it and I think the location is very nice. One miscrosecond glance and your eyes are right back on the road.

[NikAmi]

I would think that a piece of fiberglass or lexan plastic sprayed to a glossy black with slits drilled into it would look awesome.

[Alpine]

Nice job Hyper. Very creative.

[Spool]

Bump, will be using this in a few days...


This one is an Electrical gauge correct? I'm wondering which one is more accurate, Mechanical or Electrical...electrical would save me the hassle of running the tube through the firewall and into the car...hmmmm

[HyperM3]

Originally Posted by Spool

Bump, will be using this in a few days...


This one is an Electrical gauge correct? I'm wondering which one is more accurate, Mechanical or Electrical...electrical would save me the hassle of running the tube through the firewall and into the car...hmmmm

Electrical is correct. I personally would go with electrical from now on after having both. I feel the electrical has a smaller room for error in terms of crimping lines and issues having to run the vac line all the way back to the gauge.

[Spool]

Do you know how to connect an air/fuel gauge as well? that's what i'm getting, Boost and Air/Fuel gauge....EGT, Oil pressure to come later

[HyperM3]

Originally Posted by Spool

Do you know how to connect an air/fuel gauge as well? that's what i'm getting, Boost and Air/Fuel gauge....EGT, Oil pressure to come later

When I installed my A/F gauge I used a dedicated wideband 02 sensor and tapped into a bung I welded into my exhaust. If you want to use the stock sensor you can and just tap into those lines which could be easier but less accurate.

[mkPOTO]

i know this is a old thread but what kind of gauge is it?

[focuztyle]

Great write up! Looks pretty cool and props!