since search seems to be busted...

i know i've seen someone who had defi (BF?) gauges in the stock pod. I'm interested in doing the same thing, but was wondering if there were any 'lessons learned' along the install path that might be shared? ie, where did you install the controller? sensor locations? wire routing?

i'm also considering moving the stock multi-function 'gauge' to the pillar. any idea how painful that might be? this way i could run boost, egt, and oil pressure in the factory pod (may even leave the factory oil pressure gauge), and run water and oil temp in either the defi little screen thing in the dash cubby, or on the a pillar.

 

Mounting the BF guages in the stock location is a very simple process. I can't think of any lessons learned to pass along. I mounted the controller in the NAV compartment.

I wanted to keep the multi function guage also, but it would require to much work to remove it from the circuit board that is shares with the oil pressure guage. Good luck!

 

I'd rather keep the digital speed/trip computer and oil pressure gauge that come in the stock dash. Why waste money on oil pressure if you already have it? The problem is that if you remove one, they must all go as they are on the same circuit board.

 

Mainly because I want/need to have boost and EGT, and would prefer to not have an a-pillar gauge. If removing one==removing all the stock gauges, then they're all going to go and be replaced with boost/egt/oil pressure. Sucks that I have to replace oil pressure with oil pressure, but if the gauges themselves are all surface mounted to a board (or if keeping the board makes mounting other gauges impossible), then so be it. At this point in my cost estimations, an extra $250 isn't going to be an issue.

Since I'm probably going to use their little display in the dash cubby to show water / oil temps, that's almost perfect. Would I prefer to retain the multi-function gauge? Absolutely. Since it doesn't seem possible, oh well.

Lorca - do you pics of your install? Any finished pics? Which gauges did you use (BF?) size / model #? Thanks!

ahm

 

To be clear, the stock Volt guage can be removed without affecting the other two guages, but the other two are not coming apart, so if you just wanted to mount a boost guage in the stock cluster it would be easy to do so by removing just the volt guage. Search for posts by member "backagain" who posted pics of his setup like this.

I don't have any pics of the install, but you can see the guages in this pick:


and a shot of them in this compilation:


I used Defi BF 60mm guages DF04301 (boost), DF04501 (Fuel Press.) and DF04401.

Here is a good link for pics and video of this setup Link

 

How much does it cost to have the two girls installed?

 

yikes! that looks so damn good! thanks for the pn's and the pics - nice honeys...

I assume DF04401 is EGT? Can you PM me pricing on a 3 gauge setup - boost / egt / oil pressure? with the controller (v2) and the defi link display, plus sensors for water temp, oil temp and fuel pressure?

thanks a bunch!

 

here is my boost gauge in the voltage meter section, .easy install,

 

nice pic backagain

whats nice about yours is you keep the oem gauge surround and glare shield (well, it looks that way to me). with the BF's, I don't think that is the case. when I had my wrx, i used defi's hood to contain the gauges, but since the z already has one... i'll deal w/o the shield. just be keeping an eye open for the flashing red lights

ahm

 

related question: since the 05 supposedly comes with a wideband is it even neccesary to have a sepereate wideband such as the AEM installed or could you just hook up a A/F gauge to the stock wideband and which gauge could accomodate that?

 

Since you can remove the stock voltage gauge, and its pretty useless anyways, have you considered replacing it with a dual display spa gauge. Its digital and you can have boost on top and egt on the bottom. I didn't realize I could lose the voltage gauge til now, and may do this myself, but with boost and af.
http://www.bimmerworld.com/html/spa-...out-gauges.htm