Have searched around a bit... the install pic on OutMotoring is nice but I'm looking for installed pics with the gauges lit up, from more of a driver's perspective. The lower gauge pod is a cheaper option for me than the Alta tach-mount setup, I'm just wondering if it is even worth buying - can anyone speak from experience?

 

I can get you one tomorrow. They're quite visible, but the OEM combo includes a voltmeter, which is as useful as **** on a boar for me.
I'd rather have H2O temp or oil pressure. The oil temp is good to have though.
If you're looking for info vs. style, the Scangauge II will give you a whole host of gauge info from the OBDII port. I've got mine sitting in front of the lower gauges - I can still see the needles, but the Scangauge gives me IAT, H2O temp, and boost, too.

 

Here are a couple of shots.
Hope it helps.

 

hey now, we stereo guys need to monitor the voltage at all times....

 

heres how im mounting mine btw

 

I have mine set up like this:


The panel is not actually mounted, but it sits under there ok. I like the farther back look. Those silver things in the middle are the dimmer and on/off swtiches I wired it all into.

...yes, that is as sharp as my camera will do anymore.

 

That's why I added 'for me'.
I thought about the cupholder mount - looks good.

 

before i did it, i thought it would be hard to see being that they're facing straight up, but you can see the just fine

 

Thanks for the help everyone! I think this gives me enough to make my decision. I had toyed with the idea of putting the gauges in a custom made (fibreglass) pod in place of the center vent on the dash (with the vent still blowing to the back of the car through a middle hole in the pod), but removing that vent requires taking the entire dash out, which is not worth the weekend it would take me to do that!
Eric- thanks for the pics. I went with Autometer UltraLiteII, boost/vac and also voltage. I decided on voltage because there was not a cheap oil temp or pressure gauge in that particular range, because I think the rest of the auto meter line up is horrid.. at least for a Mini. I do have a lot of stereo equipment, plus it's just there to look good, right? And I could always swap it out!