[Asclepius]

Tools/Materials you will need: Pencil, paper, measuring tape, sand paper, sharp utility knife, 3M adhesive spray, 3M adhesive double sided tape, Jigsaw, Drill, 2.5" hole saw, clamps, 1/4" wood, 1/4" closed density foam and vinyl.

(Sorry bout the crappy photos or lack there of. I didn't plan on doing a DIY)

1) Remove the shift boot using your hand and carefully pulling up on the edge of the boot.
2) Move the gear shift into 2nd gear to make it easer to remove the center console trim cover.
3) Open the console storage compartment lid.
4) Pull up with a steady firm grip on the rear part of the shift boot opening to remove center console cover.
5) Disconnect the lighter plug and idrive connection
6) Remove the 4 T-20 torx screws that hold the ashtray assembly.
7) With the ashtray out of the way you can now trace the opening onto a piece of paper to use as a stencil. You will also need to draw another line outside of the one you just traced about 1/8" away.
8) You will need a piece of wood 1/4" thick (wood type doesn't really matter, but I used maple) and a pice of 1/4" thick "closed density foam" (I used closed density foam because it is firm.) Take the paper stencil you made and use the larger diameter to cut a piece out of the 1/4" wood and then cut the stencil down to the smaller diameter and used that to cut a piece out of the 1/4" foam.
9) Now you have to figure out where you want your gauge placement to be. Once you have decided, trace two 2.5" circles on the wood where you will be making your cuts for the gauges. The opening was a little too small becaue I couldn't find a hole saw that was bigger yet small enough to allow a snug fir for the gauges to fit perfectly flush. I sanded down the edges of the cut out untill it was large enough for a snug fitment yet didnt allow the guages to fall through.
10) Next you can center the foam onto the wood and trace the two holes u cut out onto it and cut them out using the utility knife.
11) Spray adhesive on the surfice of the wood and the foam and let it dry for about a minute so it can become tacky before you place one on top of the other. It works better this way, trust me.
12) Cut out a piece of vynil about an inch bigger than your wood cut out.
13) Spray adhesive onto the the foam side and back of the vynil surfice and let it dry for a minute.
14) Place the wood/foam piece onto the back of the vinyl so that the foam is face down and the two surfaces with adhesive are touching and wrap the vinyl around the edges.
15) Cut the excess vinly after it has dried
16) Cut "pie slices" out where the guages will end up but dont cut right to the edge. Stop about 2-3mm from the edge.
17) At this point your guage is pretty much complete. Test the fitment to see if your gauge fits since there is now vinyl around the opening. If it is too tight, sand down the opening a little. My gauges arent fixed to the pod at all, it just sits very very snugly in the cut out.
18) All you have to do now is adhere it to the centre console. I chose to used 3M double sided tape. Cut strips of the tape an 1/8" wide and place them on the perimeter of the ashtray opening then attach your gauge pod and use clamps to hold it firmly in place.
19) Have an ice cold beer and smile as your creation is complete!

[seej333]

looks really good!!! any pics installed in the vehicle yet?

[Soni]

nice write up John!!

[Asclepius]

Originally Posted by seej333

looks really good!!! any pics installed in the vehicle yet?

Unfortunatelly, I probably won't be getting the gauges installed till spring seeing as how my car in storage over the winter, but I'll deffinately post pics after the install.

[08EUROE90]

where did you get that vinyl?

[jpsum]

great DIY, but I think it looks kind of weird.

[Asclepius]

Originally Posted by 08EUROE90

where did you get that vinyl?

I got it from fabricland. It was left over from a poker table I made.

I made another pod that is sitting on an angle. Pictures have been added.

[fredy]

Great!!!!

[Wolf 335]

Good job. Loose the chrome rings if keeping the wood trim.

[purp_le28]

Nice! Looks good.

[Spun Crankhub]

beautiful!

[knight-rider]

You my friend are a genius!

[sfin]

Excellent!

[wacked]

Where is the info on the gauges, and how you connected them up?

Thanks

[Asclepius]

Originally Posted by wacked

Where is the info on the gauges, and how you connected them up?

Thanks

This is only a DIY for the pod

[wacked]

Originally Posted by Asclepius

This is only a DIY for the pod

I understand, so you can't give any info about the gauges? Do you have a post about those? Thanks

[Asclepius]

Originally Posted by wacked

I understand, so you can't give any info about the gauges? Do you have a post about those? Thanks

I wish I could... I had a local shop handle the install.

[mtrlShaun]

those look clean.