Hey everybody! A buddy of mine gave me an automated boost gauge the other day and I decided to throw it in today. Don't know the size or anything like that but it's pretty big. I decided I wanted it in the vent to the right of the steering wheel. After some trial and error with a couple different vacuum line, I found the one under the intercooler on the fuel pressure regulator gave me the accurate reading. Picked up 5/16 line and ran a t fitting to the fpr the extra line and back the og vacuum line. Super easy and i like the way it looks! If anybody has and question I'll help you out. Sorry I didn't take any pictures or a helpful write up I'm sure there's one out there.

 

Never seen anyone put it there nice by the way. I'm Currently looking for 4 guages to put in but i think i'm going to try to put my guages around the steering wheels. Oil Temp/Pressure, Boost and AFR. just need to find a place for this bung on my exhaust.

 

I was looking to put together a set of gauges and the cost was getting crazy, so I picked up an ODBLink BlueTooth scan tool and leave it in all the time.

The Android software allows you to create custom Dashboards on your phone. I created one with Boost, Temp, Volts etc. All of the stuff that is missing from the instrument cluster. I mount my phone "landscape" mode on the windshield.

You can change the gauge faces and they have a red "high water" mark to show the max level during any session. There are close to 100 variables available in the ECU that you can put on gauges.

They do not appear to have Apple support.

The version that I got was $50 on Amazon.

The software can also display CEL fault codes and reset some of them as well.

This is the best bang for the buck $50 I have spent on my Mini.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...ywords=Odblink

 

Yah I have been using Torque Pro and MX BT (damn MX has gone down in price ALOT), but the refresh rate is not fast enough and i think it the ECU on this car. since it fast for all my other cars (newer cars). Also this car doesn't display AFR thru OBD. In my R56 it works fast and has AFR.

After i priced everything it comes out to about $500
Prosport Gauges Evo
AFR
Boost
Oil Temp
Oil Pressure

I can go for cheaper once and save money will see.
The PIDs it has is that are useful to me are
Coolant Temp
Intake Manifold Pressure/Vacuum
Intake Air Temp
Ambient air temp
Boost (which is kind of slow)
Rev (which i really don't need since there is a big tach right in front)

 

I got the gauge for free so why not. I plan on putting a AFR in the vent to the left of the steering wheel, then oil pressure and water temp next to the tach on the column. I have bigger fish to fry currently, gotta do shifter cables and while I'm down there why not order a crave speed short shifter and the wmw shift bushing.

 

Looks pretty good , snug fit.

 

You don't live in a cold environment? I always see this but how do people when they need to use heat or AC to prevent condensation or overheating the guage?

 

No I live in Florida, and my ac doesn't work anyway. It still blows out around the gauge but I never really use it, If I do get col I got heated seats!

 

Windage plate keeps the motor oil in the oil skillet from sprinkling up into the motor's crankshaft, easing back the crankshaft down and looting drive. our windage plate are cut from 18 check hardened steel sheet for long life and expanded warmth dispersal.

 

you’re supposed to block the vent with high density insulation foam before installing a gauge. The gauge will stay at ambient temp, and your lines (if temp sensitive) won’t be affected. Did this on my first R53 in 2010, and it worked without issue for the next 5 years until I sold the car.