Anybody know who makes a 3 gauge pillar pod for our Mini's? I want to add the proper gauges and can't seem to find anyone who makes one. I know there out there because I have seen one but no luck tracking that poster down.

Any help would be appreciated.

Here is the set up I am loking to do...this is how I have it set up in my Vette

 

I don't think anyone readily makes a 3 gauge one. There was a company in japan that made a 2 gauge snap on one for RHD and LHD cars, but you'd have to deal with shipping and customs etc.

Your best bet is molding them yourself. Grab a spare a-pillar piece and the universal 3-gauge pillar pods and go to work molding them.

With that said, I'd just suggest a cleaner install somewhere else in the dash. Those a-pillar gauge pods just look cheap and tacky IMO.

 

Thanks for the suggestion...If done right I think they look great and are very functional because you can see them clearly. The problem in the MIni is there really is not that many options for placement.

I love the setup on my Vette, clean and easy to read.

 

Isn't there an airbag in the A-pillar? So, in the very unfortunate circumstance of that airbag deploying, wouldn't it become a gauge pod projectile at the occupants? Or maybe then can you shut down that airbag?

 

No, the airbag is up in the headliner. The reason the a-pillars are marked with an airbag insignia is because the anchor (attached with a nylon strap) is found under the top part of the A-pillar. In the event of the airbag deploying the very top of the A-pillar comes uncliopped. It doesn't project the pillar across the car...it just pops a little up top.

There are pictures floating around of crashed mini interiors and in all of them, the top of the a-pillar is only moved slightly as the nylon anchor becomes taught.

That's the case with R53's. I'm not sure if they moved the anchor point in the R56, but it remains true that the airbag is still up in the headliner not down in the a-pillar.

 

Wow, I was about to start a thread on this. I'm curious about the same thing, but with only two pods. Haven't had any luck finding any.

Hey Rally, what's the Japanese co. that makes them?

 

So much for my memory. Went back and searched my old posts and it turns out it's a UK company not a japanese one. Too many foreign MINI parts to remember

Moxie, I guess you'll always confuse me You were saying that "slamming" a car was too rice for you, but you want to run honda-style gauge pods? (just kidding around with you)

Here is the version for LHD cars:
http://www.minispeed.co.uk/new_mini/...duct&id=mlb164

Pic of their RHD version:

 

I knew you were going to say that! And actually I agree with you. I just think they might look better than the ones that mount on the tach.

Thanks for the link, man.

 

Awesome, thanks for the info on the A-pillars. Since I actually have an R53, then I am sold. with my Anthracite headliner, and of course A-pillars, this would look great. I agree that 3 might even look better though.

Thanks for the link.

 

How difficult is to install this? What's involved?

Thanks.

 

I also like the gauges that install on each side of the tach. I think MINI had an OEM version for the R53.

Where can I get those?

 

Its not hard....The cover just snaps into place and it is secured a couple of diffrent ways. The picture of the pod in my vette had two plastic caps. The countour is what really hold it in place if its a good one.

 

Nice Vette. Is that a C5 or C6?

 

Thanks C6..Twin Turbo

 

I thought the straight edges on the plastic pods always looked bad, no matter what you did to them.


I just used column mount pods. Tucking all that wiring back there is kind of challenge though.

 

Damn can you see out with all those gauges?

 

Innovative but they are way to far in the line of sight for me....I really want the gauges mounted in the pod for a clean look.

 

Yeah, that would kill my visibility. Good thought though!

 

Unfortunately that's the nature of a MINI's upright windshield. Even without gauges, the front pillars are generally in the line of sight especially on tight turns or an autocross course. Even with an integrated pod, they'll be encroaching on your line of sight.

 

I realize that but I do not want to put more in the way since I already am not happy with what I don't see now.. The pillar pods are more mounted straight back from the pillar...still will encroach some but not much. The picture I posted of the pod on my vette is about as perfect as you can get position wise.

 

Hmmm... I might have to just go with tach mounted pods. It's a shame no one makes the pod mounts that fit below the center stack like they did for the R53.

 

Nobody is stopping you from making one!

 

You know what... EXCELLENT POINT!!! Home Depot here I come! (As soon as I order my gauges. )

 

Moxi we do some mold work here...I just took a (2) pillar pod I had on the shelve and cut the top & bottom off..We just had a discussion about maybe making a 2 and 3 pot mount out of abs. The vette pod mounts will work as a template. We are going to mess with it this week and see if it is possible to do.

 

this guy, Alan, makes some of the sickest pods IMO... I drooled over them forever when i had my mustang...

Doubt they'd work at all, but its an idea of what a custom fabbed one may look like

http://www.speedofsoundllc.com/index.html