Are any of you guys using the guage pod that Bav Auto or BMP sell for the top of the dash? I'm debating on how I should mount it and want some ideas as to what you guys may have done.

I also remember some discussion about using an aluminum dual core radiator from a chevy not too long ago and was wondering if anyone had tried this and was using it? If so, how well does it fit?

bob breed is the only person i know who has put that chevy racing radiator into his e21.
i'm planning on doing the same thing pretty soon.

i almost picked up a BMP gauge pod, but after looking at it, i can probably make my own for a lot cheaper. and from what i've heard the fitment isn't that great on 80-83 e21's, because i guess the pods were designed on the 77-79 dashes and those dashes are slightly different.

I have the pod and it fits perfect and the grain matches exactly. I have a 79 so I'm not sure if the fitment is the same for other years.

But I am very happy with it.

I have the the same one as CJ, the fitment was a bit of an issue but we got it on there and works/looks great, i like it!

i have them on my 323i

http://e21.tricord.cjb.net/members/RDAvena/vx2gauges.jpg

Panel needs to be adjusted for the dash color. The voltmeter has since been swapped out for a temp gauge for the differential. Hooked up to the light switch via the dimmer wire. Brightness adjusts with the main instrument cluster.

My question though is, how did you guys mount the pods? What type of hardware did you use? It seems to me if I drilled into it that it would just break. Or if I used the wrong type of hardware that it would break. I've already cracked the face several times trying to get the guages to sit correctly. The one that I have doesn't sit correctly at all, and it took several hours of filing and sanding to match the contour of the dash, even now it still doesn't sit correctly. For the amount of money this stupid thing is I probably could have made a much better one! :help

I just used 2 1.5" steel screws and they hold it down nice and tight. I guess its true that they were molded to fit perfectly for the 77-79 dash's.

Thats sucks that its being such a PITA for you, I swear mine dropped in in about 15 minuets

the one I have comes apart Zender N.O.S. part.The face latches on to the back curved part that hides the wiring. This part that holds the gauges has a foot that indicates the holes for the screws. It even came with a template for laying on the dash so one could places the holes into the dash. Used 2 inch sheet metal screws to mount the pod.

As for the gauges, these VDO gauges slip right in and are held in by the brackets and thumbscrews that came with them. The gauges slide in and out without binding or space issues. As the thumbscrews are tightened they pull the gauge back into the holeand the beveled outside edge of the gauge holds it in place.

I am going to build one for the e28 out of resin and fiberglass mat. The one that BMP sells for the e28 is too tall and sits way out in front of the passenger. It is better if the gauges are closer to the main instrument cluster. Plus the quality of their parts are "not there". Everything seems too cheap or too rushed in order to make that buck.