Hello to All,

I'm starting to get serious about installing a boost and oil pressure gauge and wanted to get opinions.

I want to install analog gauges and would like to know what gauge best matches the existing tach/speedo color. I'd also be interested in the knowing what everyone thinks is the best gauge pod to use.

I'm assuming all gauges are fairly close when it comes to accuracy. If this isn't the case I'd also be interested in understanding what the best performing gauge is. Hopefully the best performing is also the best match in dial color.

 

these are from greddy and are the best match ive found same backlight as well,

but very expensive

 

Autometer Procomp Ultralites with an amber backlite bulb are the best possible match for under 50 bucks a gauge.

Boost gauge and a pod for me was under 60 dollars, and i'm going to go buy 3 more gauges to add on, Volt, Air/Fuel, and Oil Temp. (possibly oil pressure, if i feel like tapping into something, but thats not too important to me, i have a dummy light for that for now)

 

Isnt there an airbag in that A column where the guage is mounted?

 

nah, just the retaining strap

if the cover pops off, its just flops out of the way.

 

heres a better pic of the autometer ultralite gauges...

http://store.summitracing.com/largei...?part=ATM-4301

 

But what happens if - god forbid - the airbag in the A column deploys?

 

no no, there isnt an air bag there

all it is is the strap that bolts the air bag to the frame of the car. that cover isnt meant to come off more than an inch or so.

there are pics of this in the "MINI Totaled into Mountain" thread

 

I was able to see the Cobalt and C2 gauges by AutoMeter. Cobalt was in black and C2 was in white. The aren't a good match to the existing instruments but were very impressive gauges.

Does anyone here use these gauges?

Would also like to hear from those of you that are very happy with their instrumentation so that I can come to a conclusion has to which ones I'm going to install.

 

cobalt gauges are EL, i beleve they can be any color you want.

 

Here are guages I just had installed in my car... got them from mini. Got the whole kit for 292.00 ..... just please do not ask how much it cost to have them installed... do it youself or with the help of some friends. Im thrilled with them.... great eye candy. color match is much better than it looks.. the flash of the camera distored the tru color. They are now a option on the 06 models

 

does anyone have gauges with chrome bezels that match the (interior) chrome package?

 

Autometer's hot rod nostalgia gauges are a pretty good mathc with the chrome trim. they have a black needle, but a little model paint and some patience would solve that!

 

The real MINI gauge pack that azminiman has are nice but MINI seems to keep pushing a volt gauge instead of oil pressure or temp. I also have these but they are tuff to see at night. Would have been nice if needles illuminated like dash gauges do. The gauge pod is pretty trick if you want to get it seperately. Holds 2 - 2 1/16 th gauges and replaces tack pod that comes with car.

 

part number or price?

thanks!

-jac

 

I actually have more use for the volts gauge here in AZ. The heat out here eats batteries..... I can see if the turn on volts are low, or if I start to see the needle start to suck down while driving, itll be time to change soon......sucks when they die without warning in 115. ( and that not the engine temp)

 

azminiman,

do you have the part number and price of the pod? Gauges are nice but don't need a voltage meter. Looking for oil temp or pressure but am interested in the pod.

Thanks.

 

FISHBULB

Call Classic Mini one of the sponsors here. Ask for Jason or Paul. I believe the number is in the instructions which I never got back. They should be able to lookup the number in the parts catalog. The pod is pretty slick if you can get the number. Really doesn't look like an add on compared to the others. Classic phone number 440-205-6404. :smile:

 

I went out to my Mini dealer's website and found the part number for the Mini gauges/pod. It's 82 94 0 393 994 and costs $325. As you may know it comes with a boost and volt meter. I'm going to call them today to see if the two can be bought individually but I'm not holding out any hope that this will be the case.

Pod is very nice but I'm not crazy about the volt meter or the fact that the needle doesn't eliminiate.

 

Also, make sure you get a boost gage that has a high end greater than 15psi, especially if you have a pulley(ies) installed (20 psi should do it). The high and low end of pressure gages tend to be less accurate than the middle sections.

 

I have on order the DEFI Meter BF gauges. RIght now I got the control unit and the boost gauge. This is the amber model and when I get them installed, I will post pictures of the setup. From the looks of it, though they are black face, I am hoping that the amber will match up really well. So we will see how they look in the mini interior. I will keep you all posted.

Garrett

 

Just spoke with the parts guy at the Mini dealers and was informed the pod and gauges come as a set. They are not sold seperately.

That's too bad since I really like the looks of the pod.

 

Sorry to hear about the pod not being seperate. I'll check with the one guy I know and see what they do if the pod cracks under warranty. Being an accs. you may have to get the whole kit. That bites.

 

azminiman, I sent you a PM about your gauge pod....
Larry