bmwohio Posted November 1, 2012 Report Share Posted November 1, 2012 I'm looking to install some gauges on the M3, and want to know what people's thoughts are on the best value for my money. I can see what the most expensive ones are and what the cheapest ones are, but do I really need to shell out $200+ for an electrical oil pressure gauge? Are there pro's and con's to short sweep and full sweep? I've looked through Jeg's catalog and saw that Autometer is the name brand, but what else is out there that I should be considering? I am looking for all electrical, no mechanical gauges. Would prefer to have warning lights on each that I can set, but it's not mandatory. I would prefer it (warning light) most on oil pressure. Looking to buy: Oil Pressure Oil Temp Water Temp Cliffs: -Looking for new gauges -Not looking to buy the most expensive or the cheapest (best value) -Looking to buy some that will last and give accurate readings for years to come -Which brands are good, which ones should I stay away from? Thanks :thumbup: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cordell Posted November 1, 2012 Report Share Posted November 1, 2012 Check out this stuff, I've used their products as well as friends. It's not for everybody but its worth a look. http://www.aeroforcetech.com/products_analogic.html Basically you can hook sensors to a gauge with warning lights and other functions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iwashmycar Posted November 1, 2012 Report Share Posted November 1, 2012 (edited) Hard to beat Autometer. Stay away from ProSport... I was never a fan of mine (bought in a kit) They DO have a great warning though... very loud beep and the face flashes between white and orange... you'll know! Mine had tinted faces.... hard to read sometimes depending on sunlight/angle. I think they make clear lensed ones though. There is Stewart Warner Marshall makes some nice ones too http://www.marshallinstruments.com/catalog/performance.cfm The MINI ones are beautifully simplistic. And if you have orange dash lights they will be spot on. Edited November 1, 2012 by iwashmycar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CRed05 Posted November 1, 2012 Report Share Posted November 1, 2012 JEGS is having a sale on Actron gauges http://www.jegs.com/p/Sunpro/Sunpro-Sport-Gauges/2159310/10002/-1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schmuckingham Posted November 1, 2012 Report Share Posted November 1, 2012 I had a set of VDO's in the Accord that worked great, in fact I still have them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Bruh Posted November 1, 2012 Report Share Posted November 1, 2012 buying a full set of autometer cobalt series next week. Hard to beat autometer, all the others look cheap imo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ICEMAN1647545504 Posted November 1, 2012 Report Share Posted November 1, 2012 Can't go wrong with Autometer. Reliable, not too expensive and bunch of styles to choose from. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buckeye1647545503 Posted November 1, 2012 Report Share Posted November 1, 2012 I am buying speedhut for mine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fubar231 Posted November 1, 2012 Report Share Posted November 1, 2012 You can use the UltraGauge http://www.ultra-gauge.com/ultragauge/index.htm Pretty cheap ($60.95), plugs into your OBD-II port and reads a TON of things (74 possible gauges and more it can read). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iwashmycar Posted November 1, 2012 Report Share Posted November 1, 2012 You can use the UltraGauge http://www.ultra-gauge.com/ultragauge/index.htm Pretty cheap ($60.95), plugs into your OBD-II port and reads a TON of things (74 possible gauges and more it can read). Oil Pressure and (maybe)Temp are not read on a lot of applications though. Does not read either on mine for example. the Ultragauge does have a decent warning you can set for max and min though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fubar231 Posted November 1, 2012 Report Share Posted November 1, 2012 Oil Pressure and (maybe)Temp are not read on a lot of applications though. Does not read either on mine for example. the Ultragauge does have a decent warning you can set for max and min though! Yeah, after looking through the possible gauges i only saw Coolant Temp. Gauges % Engine Load Engine Coolant Temperature (ºF) Engine Coolant Temperature (ºC) Short Term Fuel Trim Bank 1 Long Term Fuel Trim Bank 1 Short Term Fuel Trim Bank 2 Long Term Fuel Trim Bank 2 Fuel Pressure (PSI) Fuel Pressure (kPa) Intake Manifold Absolute Pressure (MAP)(PSI) Intake Manifold Absolute Pressure (MAP)(kPa) RPM MPH KPH Timing Advance Intake Air Temperature (ºF) Intake Air Temperature (ºC) Mass Air Flow Sensor 1 (g/s) Absolute Throttle Position 1 % Bank 1 0xygen Sensor 1 Voltage Bank 1 0xygen Sensor 2 Voltage Bank 2 0xygen Sensor 1 Voltage Bank 2 0xygen Sensor 2 Voltage Run time since last start (hours:mins) Miles traveled with Check Engine Light On. Kilometers traveled with Check Engine Light On. Fuel Pressure (Diesel & Direct Injection) (PSI) Fuel Pressure (Diesel & Direct Injection) (10kPa) Bank 1 Wide 0xygen Sensor 1 Lambda Bank 2 Wide 0xygen Sensor 1 Lambda EGR Flow % EGR Flow % Error Evaporative Purge % Fuel Level % of full Number of Warm-ups since Check Engine Light Cleared Miles traveled since Check Engine Light Cleared Kilometers traveled since Check Engine Light Cleared Evaporative System (PSI) Evaporative System (Pa) Barometric Pressure – Inches of Mercury (inHg) Barometric Pressure – Inches of Mercury (kPa) Catalytic Converter Bank 1 Sensor 1 Temperature (ºF) Catalytic Converter Bank 1 Sensor 1 Temperature (ºC) Catalytic Converter Bank 2 Sensor 1 Temperature (ºF) Catalytic Converter Bank 2 Sensor 1 Temperature (ºC) Catalytic Converter Bank 1 Sensor 2 Temperature (ºF) Catalytic Converter Bank 1 Sensor 2 Temperature (ºC) Catalytic Converter Bank 2 Sensor 2 Temperature (ºF) Catalytic Converter Bank 2 Sensor 2 Temperature (ºC) Battery Voltage (Measured by ECM) UltraGauge Battery Voltage (Measured by UG) Load absolute % AFR Commanded Ratio Relative Throttle Position % Outside Ambient Air Temperature (ºF) Outside Ambient Air Temperature (ºC) Absolute Throttle Position 2 % Accelerator Pedal Position 1 % Accelerator Pedal Position 2 % Command Throttle Position % Boost Pressure, (Relative Pressure) (PSI) Boost Pressure, (Relative Pressure) (kPa) Brake Horsepower 1 Brake Kilowatts 1 Torque 1 (ft lbs) Torque 1 (N.m) Brake Horsepower 2 Brake Kilowatts 2 Torque 2 (ft lbs) Torque 2 (N.m) Mass Air Flow Sensor 2 (g/s)– Calculated Instantaneous MPG Instantaneous KPL Instantaneous L/100Km Average MPG – General Average KPL – General Average L/100Km – General Average MPH – General Average KPH – General Run Time – General Miles – General (miles) Kilometers – General (miles) Fuel Used – General (gallons) Fuel Used – General (liters) Average Gallons/Hour - General Average Liters/Hour - General Fuel Level (gallons) Fuel Level (liters) Instantaneous Gallons/hour Instantaneous Liters/hour Distance to Empty (miles) Distance to Empty (kilometers) Time to Empty Volumetric Efficiency (MAP vehicles only) General Trip Gauges Average MPG Fuel Used Average Gallons/hour Average MPH Distance (miles) Run Time Average KPH Average KPL Average L/100Km Liters Used Average Liters/Hour Distance (kilometers) Short Trip Gauges** Average MPG Fuel Used Average Gallons/hour Average MPH Distance (miles) Run Time Average KPH Average KPL Average L/100Km Liters Used Average Liters/Hour Distance (kilometers) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M0nk3y Posted November 1, 2012 Report Share Posted November 1, 2012 I like where this is going Kale. Doesn't this bump you out of STU (if you do decide to go that route) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RC K9 Posted November 1, 2012 Report Share Posted November 1, 2012 I have autometer cobalt electrical oil pressure and oil temp (for trans) gauges and haven't had any issues. I have their cobalt mechanical boost pressure gauge -30 to 30psi and wouldn't recommend it as it always reads a few psi higher than what I am actually pushing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fubar231 Posted November 1, 2012 Report Share Posted November 1, 2012 Another thing to add, ive used AEM Wideband (Loved it), and have had countless Autometer gauges and have not one bad thing to say about them, there absolutely the standard when it comes to gauges. Also had 2 cheap ProSport gauges at one point and time and didn't have any problems with them, but ive read a LOT about other people having problems with there gauges, senders, all of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TurboNova Posted November 1, 2012 Report Share Posted November 1, 2012 id go with the jegs brand gauges, ive used them before with success and im sure autometer or someone good makes them. I usually use autometer gauges cause im cheap and they work ok. and I use an innovate wideband. if I ever strike it rich im going with a race pak dash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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