The official MS3 gauge thread... best gauge/location?

[Unoriginalusername]

Don't know all that much about guages, what are your thoughts on the enclosed gauges. What do you think is the best gauge for the price/accuracy? I really like the three pod on the dash, but not sure what it'd cost for a total setup or what you'd get for the other two spots and what would be involved from an install perspective

STRI DSD boost gauge (looks good, unknown accuracy)
MadDad Ultra series boost gauge (looks good, unknown accuracy)
Defi BF Series Boost Gauge (hot but pricey)
Prosport Permium Boost Gauge (not accurate i believe?)

STRI DSD boost gauge
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v252/cndxrs/PICT1650.jpg
http://www.gogauges.com/stdsdbogasma.html
$160

MadDad Ultra series boost gauge
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v252/cndxrs/MadDadUltra.jpg
http://www.daddysscp.com/dcart4/product.php?productid=162
$100

Defi BF Series Boost Gauge
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v252/cndxrs/df04302.jpg
http://www.ravspeconline.com/shop/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=76
$230

Prosport Permium Boost Gauge
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v252/cndxrs/1.jpg
http://www.streetunit.com/ProSport_Amber_White_Gauge_p/216smboswl270-pk.htm
$80


Gauge pod locations
Vent
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/2497000-2497999/2497424_88_full.jpg

Behind the cluster
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v252/cndxrs/PICT1647.jpg

Steering column
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q59/javanc/IMG_1828.jpg

Custom 52mm 3 gauge pod
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a267/fiream/G-Poding/Picture264.jpg
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i313/mattleegee/DSC00870.jpg
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i313/mattleegee/DSC00874.jpg

[Garu]

Best location. :)
STRI quality is pretty good for the price you pay. However there is bit of issues with it.
My first one was off by 1 PSI. I got a new one, this one started to blink. I will be exchanging with the third.

If you want top notch, get a defi. But doing just the boost gauge with defi is not worth of money imo.

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w173/garu79/STRI_VISOR_POD_1.jpg
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w173/garu79/STRI_VISOR_POD_2.jpg

[royroy]

ya.. defi costed me quite a lot...
but then.. their quality is amazing.. n i guess it should be accurate with the price u pay...
n james.. y dun u have pics of me and vlad's gauge pod... lol

[Gizzmo_jr]

I like that side mount Garu, for the location, it looks much better then mounted flat on the dash...cleaner if I may say so.

[midnightfxgt]

Defi is expensive, but if your looking at the "Blue Racer" Gauges, they are much much more reasonable :)

-John

[midnightfxgt]

I have Glowshift Boost and Oil Pressure, and an AEM Wideband.

For the money, I read a lot of reviews, and the Glowshift seem a touch more reliable than Prosports, plus I like the blue numbers/red needle ;)

AEM Wideband - One of the best in almost every shootout. Pricepoint is awesome!

If I had to do it over, I may consider the DashHawk, but the 04-05 stock 02 sensor is NOT wideband... and I dont have a stock 02 right now... but will in the future :)

[RX9]

the centre spot 3 gauges, thats what i like, i saw it in vlads car,they are cool.....they gonna be 1000ish in total incl install, i thought.

[royroy]

the centre spot 3 gauges, thats what i like, i saw it in vlads car,they are cool.....they gonna be 1000ish in total incl install, i thought.
is a lot of work ><

[Unoriginalusername]

I have Glowshift Boost and Oil Pressure, and an AEM Wideband.

For the money, I read a lot of reviews, and the Glowshift seem a touch more reliable than Prosports, plus I like the blue numbers/red needle ;)

AEM Wideband - One of the best in almost every shootout. Pricepoint is awesome!

If I had to do it over, I may consider the DashHawk, but the 04-05 stock 02 sensor is NOT wideband... and I dont have a stock 02 right now... but will in the future :)

hey john, you have some pics of your setup?

[midnightfxgt]

RX9 - The whole setup depends on Gauges. The 2 Glow shift are around $100, and a wideband can be had for under $300 to your door. The pod should be no where near $600.

Unoriginal - No pics man. I need to setup the cam on a tripod to get some good pics. Actually, I may have some crappy blurry ones somewhere lol.

-John

[Unoriginalusername]

i like the dashhawk and was thinking about getting one but now that i am getting the ap and they both need the same port i am not sure it makes as much sense.

[REZXPERT]

as much as it looks clean, i don't like the idea of losing a vent (especially when it's hard enough getting decent heat). IMO, the 3-gauge cluster on the centre console looks best; second, over vent, tucked away in corner; never on steering column to obstruct dash clusters. if you can't afford to do it right, don't do it.

[Unoriginalusername]

as much as it looks clean, i don't like the idea of losing a vent (especially when it's hard enough getting decent heat). IMO, the 3-gauge cluster on the centre console looks best; second, over vent, tucked away in corner; never on steering column to obstruct dash clusters. if you can't afford to do it right, don't do it.

It looks like you still get the vent for defrost from the fins behind the gauge so i think you'd just lose driver heat/ac.... not sure
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/2497000-2497999/2497424_88_full.jpg

[RX9]

thx john and roy, that setup gonna be pricey, especially there is a control thing in the glove box. but if i will inst the gauge later on, that is the way to be.

[Wild Weasel]

I've got a Stewart Warner boost gauge in my Sunfire and always liked it. I'd definitely recommend it. The one I've got goes to 15 psi but they have others that go higher.

The aluminum trim fits right in, and it lights up red at night.

http://www.wildweasel.ca/images/cars/wm3/10022005/gauges1_t.jpg (http://www.wildweasel.ca/images/cars/wm3/10022005/gauges1.shtml)

[RX9]

will that side effect the air-curtain if gauge bar install on A pillor, sunfire doesnt need to worry about.

[Wild Weasel]

will that side effect the air-curtain if gauge bar install on A pillor, sunfire doesnt need to worry about.

Yeah... I'm recommending the gauge... not the location. :)

[REZXPERT]

i like that set-up but looks like an attention-grabber. have u ever been pulled over for no specific reason? you know how cops are when they see something impressive :bana. (that's why i chose black and leaving the stock wheels on there). keep it sleeper.

[RX9]

why mazda didnt just inst one, even just in the cluster with others. it cant be more than $100.

[Wild Weasel]

I don't think that whether or not I've got gauges on the pillar of my Sunfire would have any impact whatsoever on whether I got pulled over for being overly conspicuous. :chuckle

On that note though... I was never harrassed driving that car. No issues at all. The only time I ever got pulled over for no reason other than the car itself was when driving through Indiana and I got some trivial warning ticket. Never had issues in the GTA.

[REZXPERT]

in logic, i agree, but i wouldn't put anything past a cop. for example, when it's that "time of the month", ie, they're under their monthly ticket quota.... watch out for those smoked plate covers... happened to me, but i'm still wearing them. f them.

[Wild Weasel]

Smoked plate covers are illegal. You don't need to have a modified car to get a ticket for those. They actually had a big crackdown on them a year or two ago.

[REZXPERT]

yeah, i know they're illegal but so is jaywalking. they should fight real crime. i digress..

[Wild Weasel]

heh. Back on topic then? :chuckle

[Unoriginalusername]

heh. Back on topic then? :chuckle

Good idea... anyone locally done the vent install or just the US guys?

[07Speedfreak]

This is where the side airbag pops out. Not a problem with my current location for my 1 gauge. My gauge is lower. And I got enough "extra/loose" wires under the plastic "thing" that if I do crash and the whole thing pops out, the gauge will only get out and hang there because of the extra lenght wires. I'm suppose to custom do a triple gauge pod in the center of the dash but I dont feel like it now...too lazy.
http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/8902/096b1bd5ji7.th.jpg (http://img242.imageshack.us/my.php?image=096b1bd5ji7.jpg)

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/7342/p1010508bbw7.th.jpg (http://img88.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p1010508bbw7.jpg)

And no I didnt screw in my oem plastic cover. I bought another one from another member so I can do this and when its time to swap, I'll still have my untouched cover :)

[RX9]

nice setup. seems like clip on bottoms on 4 corners, clean look.

[midnightfxgt]

thx john and roy, that setup gonna be pricey, especially there is a control thing in the glove box.

Blue Racer are much cheaper gauges from DEFI, just no expensive controller to worry about. Still very high quality, and pricing that isnt "too" crazy :)

-John

[Unoriginalusername]

Blue Racer are much cheaper gauges from DEFI, just no expensive controller to worry about. Still very high quality, and pricing that isnt "too" crazy :)

-John

That is cool that you don't need the controller... Red without the control would be perfect, is it only available in blue?
http://shop.edoperformance.com/images/defi/BRimage007.jpg

[midnightfxgt]

Only in Blue.... but I much prefer it. In fact 2 nights ago, I changed my cheapo GlowShift Gauges to red... lasted an hour. The Blue and Red goes nice with the blue ring on the dash :)

[RX9]

where did u mount it, john?

[midnightfxgt]

My 3 Gauges are on the center console piece.

[RX9]

i love it...... i will get that install this spring. center console piece!!!! cant wait.

[yellowmp5]

For STRI DSD II, smoke lense, amber, $150 CAD new, local pick up.... is that a good deal? please advice

[Fobio]

Anyone end up installing the DEFI Blue Racer?

[Garu]

Stri DSDII smoked lense.

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w173/garu79/IMG_0059.jpg

[Fobio]

any feedback about its accuracy? an early post from last yr said that it was off and/or malfunctioning...

I NEVER EVER mind saving a few bucks for equivalent function...and since SSG is getting shipment in, I'm also wondering how hard it is to install.

[Nextmod]

alot of STRI gauges are instock right now

[07Speedfreak]

AWESOME !!! And the A/C still works :)

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=131107

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=131331

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=131332

[kid_icarus]

AWESOME !!! And the A/C still works :)

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=131107



do they have these with a boost gauge?
what are these called?

[07Speedfreak]

Dude you can put whatever gauge you have in there, as long as they're 52mm I think. You just push it in.

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=131108

They will be called something like VentPods. The guy that will be making them wants 100gauges kinda "pre-sold" in advance, or commited people. Apparently they will be between 30-40$ each.

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123706535

[kid_icarus]

ahhh!!!

i thought they came pre-assembled. very cool

i will take a look lol
30-40 for an idea u'd imagine should've been quickly available before haha

[RX9]

is that hard to take the stock vent out?