Gauge pod & gauges

[m3f_BlackHawkRacing]

Is the A pillar not an option?



Got it on eBay, $34 to my door and heat molded it to my a pillar.



Will have oil press / temp and WB02 prob

Personally, I went steering column because I want to be able to gather all the info i needed in one quick glance vs two.

[m3f_JitteryJoe]

Personally, I went steering column because I want to be able to gather all the info i needed in one quick glance vs two.

Agree. Seems a similar problem to mounting on the center console. Plus A pillar vertical alignment does not seem natural when everything else tends to be horizontal alignment.

[m3f_Eclipsetrbo420A]

Does it hinder you view of the temp needle ? When I was looking to make a custom solution I spent three days and settled on the pillar. At the time I didn't have the "dished" wheel though, that may have helped now, but then I felt I couldn't see temp gauge and I'm 5'11" so it's not like height would be the issue.

[m3f_mindspin311]

Innovate MTX-D gauges in the RR dual ear pod. They are programmable as well. I have since rotated both gauges down a bit but the setup is great and highly visible. Oil pressure & temp on the left, water temp and battery voltage on the right.

For the oil pressure and temp senders, how do you have them installed? Some form of distribution block?

[m3f_BlackHawkRacing]

For the oil pressure and temp senders, how do you have them installed? Some form of distribution block?

http://www.bimmerworld.com/Gauges-Da...ing-Block.html



There are other options but I like being able to pull both from a single source.

[m3f_mpwrcpe]

I'm using the BW oil distribution block.

[m3f_mindspin311]

I'm using the BW oil distribution block.

Awesome, I was looking at that as well.

[m3f_Baby ///M3]

I have A pillar gauges as well. Sunglasses tray is not an ideal location. I have a Helix DIRECTOR remote custom mounted there and I never look at it when the car's in motion. The steering wheel mounting option offers the best visibility but it makes my steering wheel look like a Mickey Mouse so I decided against it.


I custom molded the gauge pod on the A pillar and covered it up with suede. The look is flawless and OEM like.


I think Innovate Motorsports still makes the gauges that most resemble the stock cluster. I had them modified by Marshall Instruments (the supplier for Innovate Motorsports) to match my dashboard.





Jon

Is the A pillar not an option?


Got it on eBay, $34 to my door and heat molded it to my a pillar.


Will have oil press / temp and WB02 prob

[m3f_JitteryJoe]

Question for those of you that installed the Rally Road pod.


I received the Rally Road pod and have pulled the steering wheel and removed the fasteners that hold the steering column trim pieces. The bottom trim pretty much fell off. The upper trim piece has a lip that hooks behind the console. This is the piece that you mount the gauge pod mounting plate to.

How do you get that piece off? I've worked it but it seems that the steering column has to drop in order to get it free. Am I missing something?

Thanks, Joe

[m3f_Braymond141]

Question for those of you that installed the Rally Road pod.



I received the Rally Road pod and have pulled the steering wheel and removed the fasteners that hold the steering column trim pieces. The bottom trim pretty much fell off. The upper trim piece has a lip that hooks behind the console. This is the piece that you mount the gauge pod mounting plate to.

How do you get that piece off? I've worked it but it seems that the steering column has to drop in order to get it free. Am I missing something?

Thanks, Joe

You need to remove the plastic expanding rivet on the upper column cover. That upper cover and the lip you described is one piece... not sure if you're think it is multiple or not.

[m3f_M_Parallel]

You need to remove the plastic expanding rivet on the upper column cover. That upper cover and the lip you described is one piece... not sure if you're think it is multiple or not.

He already removed the fastener, which is a plastic screw in an expanding clip, technically different from expanding rivets used in other places.



But yes, the upper piece is impossible to remove, without taking the stalks off, which simply click out. Even on my cars with tilt column, with it in lowest position, I can not remove that upper piece with only the fastener removed.

[m3f_JitteryJoe]

He already removed the fastener, which is a plastic screw in an expanding clip, technically different from expanding rivets used in other places.



But yes, the upper piece is impossible to remove, without taking the stalks off, which simply click out. Even on my cars with tilt column, with it in lowest position, I can not remove that upper piece with only the fastener removed.

Yes, I removed the plastic screw fastener and anchor (#20 in the diagram). The piece is free. It is the lip that rolls under the main dash that won't come free. Do I need to drop the steering column by removing the two fracture bolts (#3 in the diagram). I'm hoping the answer is no. I don't even know how you do that as it looks like the bolt heads are removed at install.



Maybe I can drill and mount with the piece in place? That looked pretty hard to get a drill lined up without a right angle attachment or the like.



<sigh> I thought this would be a relatively easy job. I should know there are no easy jobs



http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=32_0710

[m3f_Richardsperry]

Come on guys, you're overthinking this.



They are gauges. It's not like you have to stare at them all the time. Just a quick glance and you know if it's in the normal position.



The VDO gauges on the sunglass pocket works really well, unless you need to be all fast and furious.

[m3f_M_Parallel]

Yes, I removed the plastic screw fastener and anchor (#20 in the diagram). The piece is free. It is the lip that rolls under the main dash that won't come free. Do I need to drop the steering column by removing the two fracture bolts (#3 in the diagram). I'm hoping the answer is no. I don't even know how you do that as it looks like the bolt heads are removed at install.



Maybe I can drill and mount with the piece in place? That looked pretty hard to get a drill lined up without a right angle attachment or the like.



<sigh> I thought this would be a relatively easy job. I should know there are no easy jobs



http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=32_0710

Yeah that lip with the rubber strip on it.



Like I said, even with my tilting column on lowest the piece won't come out.



Just remove the stalks and try again. That is enough for me. Maybe not with the non-tilting column, but I have no experience with a non-tilting column car.

[m3f_JitteryJoe]

Come on guys, you're overthinking this.



They are gauges. It's not like you have to stare at them all the time. Just a quick glance and you know if it's in the normal position.



The VDO gauges on the sunglass pocket works really well, unless you need to be all fast and furious.

It is not so much fast & furious but a preference. And I'm hardly an age where I can relate to fast & furious. I like the idea of the gauges in the normal sightline. Plus the RallyRoad pods are beautifully made. I think they'll look great and perform great. Beautiful form and function. What could be better?



And I'd still like to know how to get that damn trim piece off!