Aux. Gauges

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I am looking to add additional gauges...oil press, volt, etc. and wondered what the general consensus was for location. My car has air [ice cold] and radio so I don't think mounting low in the center stack is possible, although I would like to put them there if anyone knows how to go about it. Otherwise, is replacing the front speaker panel the best location? Is there someone who makes a gauge pod similar to the '02 Turbo?

Any and all guidance is much appreciated.

BMW_Center Stack.jpg
 
I have mine in the speaker grill like some Alpinas had back in the day. Water temp, oil pressure, and volts. I got mine from a fellow member but believe you can still get the template from Parker Performance, it is metal with a crackle finish and is nice oem looking. Reversible. I prefer over the pods for this reason - no drilling. VDO Series 1 gauges have chrome rings and white needles like the dash gauges.

http://www.parkerperformance.com/

Part # M000112

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I installed volt & oilp in the dash clock bezel. I think you could add 1 or 2 more gauges in the same housing.
Does require non-clock gauge size housing.
Had work done on gauges by N Hollywood Speedo
clean looks oem
 
Stevehose..that looks great. I think I'll head in that direction.

Running Motronic 1.3 w/Dinan chip. I want to keep it looking "period" so won't go digital route. I think the classic white on black gauge face looks great...plus they're easier to read.
 
I saw a coupe recently that had gauges like Steve's but they were recessed in the speaker hole and the original speaker grill would still fit and cover the gauges.
So when driving you could remove the grill and gauges were visible. Go to a show and put the grill in and know one knows you have gauges.
Best of both worlds.
 
I'd love to see pics of that because that is what I set out to do but there is very little room back there and I couldn't pull it off. Maybe he modified the speaker grill to fit which I wasn't willing to do.

m5bb said:
I saw a coupe recently that had gauges like Steve's but they were recessed in the speaker hole and the original speaker grill would still fit and cover the gauges.
So when driving you could remove the grill and gauges were visible. Go to a show and put the grill in and know one knows you have gauges.
Best of both worlds.
Click to expand...
 
Stevehose said:
I'd love to see pics of that because that is what I set out to do but there is very little room back there and I couldn't pull it off. Maybe he modified the speaker grill to fit which I wasn't willing to do.
Click to expand...
I'll get some pics and info when i can. It's a local car.
 
aearch said:
MARKOS I THOUGHT YOU DID THE FACE[PLATE ALREADY IN THE 3D PRINTER
Click to expand...

I did, but I didn't model a version with gauge holes. It's only an hour of modeling time. I have one iteration left in my contract, but I'm going to use it to tighten up the existing design.
 
Layne said:
There's a decent amount of room in that location, but blocking off part of the intake to the AC fan is going to cost you airflow.
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Layne - can you explain when the intake block off would be?

My car is assembled right now, but my recollection is that there are two solid covers that surround the fan blade immediately behind the face plate in the area I want to install gauges. I don't see how air could be drawn through those. My car has intake openings on the sides, but I won't be messing with those.
 
Ohmess said:
Layne - can you explain when the intake block off would be?

My car is assembled right now, but my recollection is that there are two solid covers that surround the fan blade immediately behind the face plate in the area I want to install gauges. I don't see how air could be drawn through those. My car has intake openings on the sides, but I won't be messing with those.
Click to expand...

Here is my understanding looking at the fans, which I have ready access to. The fan housing consists of two cylinders, with cylindrical fans in each housing. The motor sits between the two and drives both fans simultaneously. The cylindrical housing is open on both ends, but noticeably more open on the outer (console sidez) edges. Each of the two fans is about 4" wide. Each fan is divided in two by a circular steel block off plate. The outer edges (console sides) are the AC exhaust and the inner edges are the intake. This is why the AC face plate has fins on it.

Do you drive your coupe in the winter? If not You could remove the heater grill and place as many as four gauges. The vent is 2 1/8th tall by over 10" wide. That is just big enough to fit a 2 1/16th VDO gauge hole.
 
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Stevehose said:
Heat either comes from floor vents or windshield defrost vents or both.
Click to expand...

So what does the big grill on the Non AC cars do? Is that the cabin intake? My ignorance is really shining in this thread! The difference between looking at parts and Internet research versus driving the car...
 
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