Aftermarket gauges

[knomad]

Does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions about where to buy an oil pressure and an oil temperature gauge for the lower center console?

I want to leave the third slot free for an SC boost gauge, but I suppose I could buy it at the same time. (It would be incentive to expedite the purchase of the SC.)

Do they come in threes? I want the most finished look available.

(I searched the archive, to no avail.)

Thanks,

[Bob ///M3]

I have the Eastern Motorwerks gauge kit in my M3 and really like it. It's a very nice match and very worthwhile addition.

You may want to talk to Jamie at Eastern Motorwerks about what is available in a matching boost gauge.

Click here for the link: Eastern Motorwerks

Bob ///M3

[knomad]

Originally posted by Bob ///M3
I have the Eastern Motorwerks gauge kit in my M3 and really like it. It's a very nice match and very worthwhile addition.

You may want to talk to Jamie at Eastern Motorwerks about what is available in a matching boost gauge.

Click here for the link: Eastern Motorwerks

Bob ///M3

Thank you for the response. Maybe it's silly to be worried about at this stage, but I want the boost gauge to look like something OEM alongside the other two. My goal is a sleeper 325.

[jon]

bmp sells the kits w/ everything you need including sending units, and red (to match guages) diffuser kit.

bmpd.com

[RSnaider]

I just finished installing the complete guage kit from Jamie at Eastern Motorwerks this past weekend. I know you can get the pieces from other sources, but I have to say that this is the most complete kit I have seen.

The kit comes complete with a pre fabricated wiring harness for inside the dash. All you need to do is tap into two radio wires and a ground. The hardest part is removing parts of the dash for the install, but if you are comfortable at doing that, then the rest is pretty straight forward. As long as you are in there, change the MicroFilter.

As for your request, Jamie will put in any guage combo you want. Just be aware that the kit is desinged for oil temp/pressure with those sending units and mounting block if you get the kit. If you don't want the Volt Meter then I am sure it can be substituted, just go to www.vdona.com and see if VDO has the gauge you want. Just make sure it is a Vision series to match the other two.

If you have any other questions regarding the install, just ask.

Ron

[knomad]

Originally posted by RSnaider
I just finished installing the complete guage kit from Jamie at Eastern Motorwerks this past weekend. ...

If you have any other questions regarding the install, just ask.

Ron

Thanks, Ron.

That's thoughtful information. Having been twice advised to look at Eastern Motorwerks, that's where I'll go. How's your dash look?

[RSnaider]

Looks like it was factory installed. Since you are removing the sunglass tray (which includes the switches below) and replacing it with another tray that has the gauges mounted in it, it has a factory look.

The illumuniaiton is a little more red, but is a very close match to everything else.

Now if Bob ///M3 would post what is normal for the gauges I can find out if my car is okay.

My kit reads 58 PSI when I first start the engine and after about 15 minutes when the Oil temp comes up to around 190-200F the PSI drops to around 10 at idle.

The volt is reading 14 when the car is running and around 12.5-13 in the accessory position.

Ron

[knomad]

Originally posted by RSnaider
Looks like it was factory installed. Since you are removing the sunglass tray (which includes the switches below) and replacing it with another tray that has the gauges mounted in it, it has a factory look.
Ron

Ron,

Do I understand you to say that the switches (in my case, for the ASC, the seat heaters and the top) come out along with the recessed shelf?

If so, does the kit simply have a piece with appropriate knock-outs, or do you need to specify when you order?

[RSnaider]

Here's a link to a picture of the piece you will replace;

http://www.easternmotorwerks.com/gaugekits_prod.htm

The gauges in the picture do not reflect what is shipped today. The volt meter is one color only, but in your case you want to replace that gauge anyway.

In order to remove this piece you will take out your OBC, and then the sunglass holder with switches lifts up and out. You will disconnect all the wires and move the switches into the new piece with the gauges. The hardest one to move is the lighter. The other switches just snap in from the bottom.

Ron

[Bob ///M3]

My gauges indicate the same as yours. 58 psi at cold start-up and then about 12 psi when fully warm. Highway driving produces somewhat less than 200 degrees temperature and in-town, stop-and-go driving produces between 200 and 220 degrees. The voltage indicates about 14 volts with the engine runing and about 12.5+ when not.

The higher the ambient temperature is, the quicker the oil temperature will come up to normal.

Bob ///M3

Originally posted by RSnaider
Looks like it was factory installed. Since you are removing the sunglass tray (which includes the switches below) and replacing it with another tray that has the gauges mounted in it, it has a factory look.

The illumuniaiton is a little more red, but is a very close match to everything else.

Now if Bob ///M3 would post what is normal for the gauges I can find out if my car is okay.

My kit reads 58 PSI when I first start the engine and after about 15 minutes when the Oil temp comes up to around 190-200F the PSI drops to around 10 at idle.

The volt is reading 14 when the car is running and around 12.5-13 in the accessory position.

Ron

[RSnaider]

Bob,

Thanks for the reply. I have yet to see 220 on the temp and it has been in the upper 80's here on Sunday and Monday. I guess that's a good thing.

The scariest part is now that I can watch the oil temp, it's amazing how much longer it actualy takes for it to warm up. I have never pushed the car in the first 10 minutes or so, but it takes around 15 or more for the gauage to reach the 120 minimum.

Ron