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-   -   Best looking gauges (https://www.seccs.org/forums/showthread.php?t=9663)

drfunk 2012-01-20 05:58 PM

Best looking gauges
 
What gauges are you guys using. What do you think the best looking are? Please post pics. Thinking of investing in new ones. Boost and air/fuel

khail19 2012-01-20 08:20 PM

What kind of price range are you looking at?

For inexpensive gauges I like VDO Vision series, they are not at all flashy and they have nice backlighting. I prefer gauges that match the dash cluster and lighting as much as possible.

Here's day and night pics from my old car...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...19/Gauges4.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...19/Gauges5.jpg

WRX06TR 2012-01-20 09:26 PM

1 Attachment(s)
Here is my set up. Stay away from Prosports, they suck. On the right is a Defi Racer Series and it is a really great looking gauge, expensive but some of the best gauges money can buy.

sperry 2012-01-21 12:09 AM

I'm partial to the Defi line (boost, water temp, oil temp, oil pressure, egt in the race car). But they're kinda screaming expensive. And for just one gauge, they're over kill. And in retrospect, for the race car they're too flashy and hard to read in bright daylight under race conditions (they're the BF series). But they're awesome in a street car. In my outback I went with the sti genome legacy gauges which are made by defi.

Keep in mind though, virtually none of the gauge manufacturers out there make an A/F gauge worth a damn because they're not wideband. I wouldn't bother with any A/F gauge other than an Innovate. And their gauges aren't likely to exactly match whatever boost gauge you pick. I've got an innovate lc1 with a plain digital display in the race car.

One brand many people overlook is ISSPro. They make high quality gauges popular with the truck crowd. I have a boost/Egt/tranny temp setup in my truck. The match the stock ford gauges very well. And would actually match the stock rs/WRX gauges too I imagine. Plus they're not bank breaking, and you still get full sweep electric gauges.

drfunk 2012-01-21 09:58 AM

i have matching vdo phantom gauges now that are ok, but ive seen the ones that are blacked out when off, then light up nicley when on, and do the same clockwise startup turn that the sti gauges do. Are those the defi?

GusGus91 2012-01-21 10:02 AM

Yea those are the defi bf series gauges that you're talking about.

WRX06TR 2012-01-21 10:17 AM

The Defi Racer Series does a sweeping start up too.

GusGus91 2012-01-21 10:24 AM

The Defi Advance CR's are something to look at too. That's what I have in both cars.

JoeWRX 2012-01-21 12:51 PM

I have the Defi advanced BF series (Boost, oil pressure, oil temperature) and an AEM wideband in the cubbyhole
http://www.rallysportdirect.com/Defi...ric-60mm-Gauge

http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/v...1325484752.jpg

knucklesplitter 2012-01-21 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sperry (Post 160089)
Keep in mind though, virtually none of the gauge manufacturers out there make an A/F gauge worth a damn because they're not wideband.

Very untrue. AEM's UEGO AFR gauge uses the same Bosch O2 sensor their standalone ECU's use. Even the perceived-as-lowly Prosport uses a Bosch 17025, which is as "wide" as any other wideband and is also used by Motec.

I think Prosports are pretty decent gauges for the money. We've installed quite a few with none having any problems, other then the instructions suck.

I came across a Defi BR gauge last week that was reading 2+ psi high (when often they read 1-2 psi low up here at 4500'). So pricey doesn't always mean accurate... or calibrated.

drfunk 2012-01-21 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeWRX (Post 160100)
I have the Defi advanced BF series (Boost, oil pressure, oil temperature) and an AEM wideband in the cubbyhole
http://www.rallysportdirect.com/Defi...ric-60mm-Gauge

http://i678.photobucket.com/albums/v...1325484752.jpg

that looks sick. i wonder if they make it in green to match my 03 gauges. By the way what is bad about thr prosport gauges? Surley the higher end line is ok..right? I havent read too many reviews, but lots of people that have them seem to like them. Not to mention they are more affordable.

drfunk 2012-01-21 03:04 PM

1 Attachment(s)
this is my current setup

knucklesplitter 2012-01-21 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drfunk (Post 160103)
By the way what is bad about thr prosport gauges? Surley the higher end line is ok..right? I havent read too many reviews, but lots of people that have them seem to like them. Not to mention they are more affordable.

They are made offshore, prolly China (like most things these days). They got a reputation for their gauges being DOA out of the box when they first started marketing them. That has gotten much better. Like I said, for the money I think they are fine.

cody 2012-01-21 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WRX06TR (Post 160086)
Here is my set up. Stay away from Prosports, they suck. On the right is a Defi Racer Series and it is a really great looking gauge, expensive but some of the best gauges money can buy.

I have this same gauge pod but with the Omori Boost and EGT gauges that match my stock green lighting and font (sorta). Problem is, I can't find a compatible replacement EGT probe and because apparently the ones I bought from J-spectuning are discontinued or something. Looks like they have newer ones that look similar though.

http://www.j-spectuning.com/index.php?cPath=21_24

drfunk 2012-01-21 09:17 PM

how about stri? I really want the blacked out look that lights up with ign on. Nothing i can find comes in green, but the prosports, which im reading to be pretty inconsistent with accuracy.

cody 2012-01-21 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drfunk (Post 160111)
how about stri? I really want the blacked out look that lights up with ign on. Nothing i can find comes in green, but the prosports, which im reading to be pretty inconsistent with accuracy.

You saw these from the link I posted though, right?

http://www.j-spectuning.com/images/0203daynight.jpg

khail19 2012-01-21 11:09 PM

Cody, I think he wants a gauge with a tinted lens that look completely black when they are off. Not just a black colored face.

cody 2012-01-21 11:12 PM

True. I also don't see an Omori AFR but EGT is generally better for most people anyway.

GusGus91 2012-01-22 12:29 AM

My friend has STRI gauges. They seem pretty good.

drfunk 2012-01-22 12:06 PM

ok. just another thought. Are the 2004 thru ? wrx and sti gauges compatible with my 03 rs? Can they directly plug in and work correctly? Then the amber gauges with match nicely, and ill have the benefit of badass gauge cluster.
I found a 2004 wrx cluster with roughly the same mileage as mine (within 1000 miles) for around $125. But do the 04' wrx gauges glow green still, or red?

GusGus91 2012-01-22 12:42 PM

wrx gauges are green still. only sti's are red. and it should plug and play as far as i know.. my sti cluster plugged right into my wrx

knucklesplitter 2012-01-22 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drfunk (Post 160111)
how about stri? I really want the blacked out look that lights up with ign on. Nothing i can find comes in green, but the prosports, which im reading to be pretty inconsistent with accuracy.

STRI are pretty nice, but not as many features for the money as Prosport Premium. A little harder to wire up too.

The Prosports have a nice wiring feature. You wire one up and then they daisy-chain to each other from there.

Omori is a good gauge if you can find them, and at a decent price.

Bob Danger 2012-01-22 04:06 PM

I've been looking at old military aviation gauges for my car. I want to pretend I'm a R.A.F. pilot during the war, If don't like the what the gauges are reading I can give them a good tap, and they'll read correctly. But I think most aircraft of that era were 6v.

van 2012-01-22 05:38 PM

I've owned one prosport gauge and it failed me, actually it's sender failed(boost gauge). They do make cool looking gauges I'm just not sure they have the best quality.

sperry 2012-01-22 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Danger (Post 160121)
I've been looking at old military aviation gauges for my car. I want to pretend I'm a R.A.F. pilot during the war, If don't like the what the gauges are reading I can give them a good tap, and they'll read correctly. But I think most aircraft of that era were 6v.

Please don't put RAF gauges in a BMW. :rolleyes:

:lol:


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