After only a week of owning my X, it seems like PMS is creeping upon me.

The Hellwig rear bar is on my front porch, and the RS9000X's are in shipment, so once those are on, it's time to turn to gauges and a DP 60/80/120.

I'm inclined to keep the interior as uncluttered and simple as possible, so may go with the one-pod Aeroforce gauge and the pod DP controller. I'm not against pillar-mounts, but after seeing all the options that Autometer has for pod-mounts:







I'm unsure which is best, as I'd have to be punching buttons on these gauges, so not just visibility, but reachability are important as well, in addition to unobstructed views of existing gauges.

So what I'm interested in are the advantages and drawbacks to each of those possible gauge positions that are available:

-pillar
-integrated into dash bezel
-top of steering-column
-dash-top in the middle
-over rear-view mirror in front of console

I'm not considering the below-cubby possibility, as that's where I'm mounting my brake-controller.

Any personal experience with gauges and/or controllers in the above positions would be appreciated.

 

I like my pillar gauges and I think they look good
here are some pics

 

Um, where?

 

Sorry now there there

 

Thanks!

 

I have an Aeroforce single pod mounted in the lower portion of my A-Pillar. I believe that gives the best mounting option from the point of view of viewing the gauge AND the road (i.e. not taking eyes off the road to see the gauge)...and also not BLOCKING the view of the road by widening the A-Pillar...I've driven a buds truck with the whole A-Pillar full of gauges...it DOES IMO reduce the visibility...that stock A-Pillar is wide enough and creates a pretty big blind spot...the gauge pod simply adds to that blind spot in my experience and opinion...so take my comments from someone that is very picky about viewability to the gauge AND the road...and also from someone that tows a lot with the Ex so viewing gauges while towing is important...

-pillar (as noted above...the whole A-Pillar of gauges creates a large blind spot)
-integrated into dash bezel (does it block the fuel and/or engine temp gauges?)
-top of steering-column (probably my second favorite location over mine)
-dash-top in the middle (I hate things on my dash)
-over rear-view mirror in front of console (not bad location but requires longer runs of wires plus not optimal for viewing IMO)

DP makes an extra 'RING' mount for under the single 2" gauge that I really liked with I was talking to DP...so a single AeroForce with DP Ring mount IMO makes for a super clean install.

Remember too that the Aeroforce will display BOOST for you and if you add the external pyro sensor...you can feed that into the analog input into the Aeroforce and display PYRO too!...

When you add up all the costs of 4 analog gauges, sensors and a 4 gauge pod...how does it compare to a single Aeroforce?

Good luck...let us know what you decide.

I assume you've seen a photo of my Aeroforce installed?

joe.

 

Yes, I've seen pics of your Aeroforce; those shots have more or less convinced me to get that gauge with the Pyrometer (even though it's an additional $180 for all the things necessary to make it work cleanly).

As for the DP-Tuner ring mount, do you have a link for that? I don't recall seeing that on the site. I don't want the square controller, and I was thinking a two-gauge pod on the A-pillar would be more cluttered than I'd want, but if there's a way to mount everything in a one-gauge pod at the base of the A-pillar, I would.

In all reality, tranny-temp and pyrometer readings would be all the info I'd normally want to see, and that only when towing. Anything else of concern could simply be set to trigger the light at the concerned threshold.

What I'd *really* love to see is a stereo head-unit that has a large enough LCD capable of displaying virtual gauges feeding from the OBD-II port and any further external sensors.

 

Jody at DP Tuner told me about the ring mount option. Basically the ring will fit OVER the Aeroforce gauge BEFORE you insert it into the pod and then the DP tuner will mount to that...I never saw a photo of it but Jody at DP can tell you about it. I think it was $15 or something like that...it sounded like a good clean way to go...

And I hear you on the LCD touch screen virtual OBD2 display!

joe.

 

Or you could mount the Dp tuner here

 

I realize there are plenty of places to mount that controller, but I'd rather it look more "integrated."

Like if i could add a second sliding "Power Port" door next to the existing one, and mount the unit behind that.

I'd like to avoid the "things stuck to the dash with double-sided tape" look, if at all possible.

 

Its not stuck to the dash I built a small mount for it

 

I like that Idea about the second sliding door.

 

Also have you gotten a bigger Exhaust yet.

 

I personally like the pillar gauges. I dont feel they block my vision much if any at all, JMO. I think DP has a controller that fits in the guage pod, or are in the process of bringing it out. That would look the best IMO.

Are you putting in one or two of the areoforce units in?

 

Are you talking about this
http://shop-dp-tuner.com/gaugeswitcher-1-1.aspx