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Thread: E34 Gauge Pod Options

  1. #1
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    E34 Gauge Pod Options

    Hello!

    I'm working on a turbo project for my E34 and will need to throw some gauges inside sooner than later. I've seen options for a gauge pod on the steering column, underneath the ash tray (which unfortunately I've only seen in black leather or no leather. My interior is tan), and gauges in place of the radio, which I use every day.

    Does anyone know of any other options? I know the E30 guys have rectangular gauges that can go into the A/C vents above the center console. Has anyone developed a vent gauge for the E34?

    Thanks in advance!

    Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
    '95 E34 525i, M50B32 (S52 Crank, K1 Rods, JE 9.0:1 Pistons, S52 Cams, Cutring, Achilles Oil Pump Shaft & Sprocket), GTW3684R 0.82A/R, ZF320

  2. #2
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    E30 328i, E34 525i turbo
    I made myself one using a 3D printer. Fits perfect.
    20171122_173039.jpg

  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by PepijnGeurtsen View Post
    I made myself one using a 3D printer. Fits perfect.
    20171122_173039.jpg
    Does the lack of the heat control that's usually in the middle of those two vents affect anything?

    Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
    '95 E34 525i, M50B32 (S52 Crank, K1 Rods, JE 9.0:1 Pistons, S52 Cams, Cutring, Achilles Oil Pump Shaft & Sprocket), GTW3684R 0.82A/R, ZF320

  4. #4
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    Bumping to see if there's any new info out there. Vent gauge would be my preferred location, but I'm reading that the E30 vent is as wide as the E34 vent+temp control wheel. Has anyone hacked one of these in?

    Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
    '95 E34 525i, M50B32 (S52 Crank, K1 Rods, JE 9.0:1 Pistons, S52 Cams, Cutring, Achilles Oil Pump Shaft & Sprocket), GTW3684R 0.82A/R, ZF320

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by CallMePuff View Post
    Bumping to see if there's any new info out there. Vent gauge would be my preferred location, but I'm reading that the E30 vent is as wide as the E34 vent+temp control wheel. Has anyone hacked one of these in?

    Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
    im personally thinking removing the water temp guage and installing a small mechanical guage somewhere else in the dash. but that only works if doing one guage.

  6. #6
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    E34 540i 6speed, M60B44, 272/254 cams, JB Racing LW Flywheel, Link G4+ Extreme, Powerdyne BD10 supercharger, 3.15LSD, H&R + Bilstein, 3" exhaust, M5 swaybars, 17x8.5/9.5 ACS Type II

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by CallMePuff View Post
    Bumping to see if there's any new info out there. Vent gauge would be my preferred location, but I'm reading that the E30 vent is as wide as the E34 vent+temp control wheel. Has anyone hacked one of these in?

    Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
    I made a ghetto version of the old Parker Performance shift surround pod. Just used a piece of aluminum and drilled holes for the 2 switches and gauges. Tucked the wires under the console and up under the glove box. I've contemplated using the Rally Road e36 steering column mounted pods. Also talking to Greg at Angry Ass Solutions about coming up with something like that specific to the e34.

    IMG_1744.jpg

    IMG_1745.jpg
    Last edited by motorokr718; 06-18-2018 at 02:50 PM.
    e70 x5m vrsf downpipes and turbolabs turbos - current
    e34 540 turbo take 2 - sold
    e34 540 turbo - crashed and burned

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by motorokr718 View Post
    I made a ghetto version of the old Parker Performance shift surround pod. Just used a piece of aluminum and drilled holes for the 2 switches and gauges. Tucked the wires under the console and up under the glove box. I've contemplated using the Rally Road e36 steering column mounted pods. Also talking to Greg at Angry Ass Solutions about coming up with something like that specific to the e34.

    IMG_1744.jpg

    IMG_1745.jpg
    I'd be curious to see more of this and how it was made. Do you have any pictures of it before it was installed? How does it stay put?

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by CallMePuff View Post
    I'd be curious to see more of this and how it was made. Do you have any pictures of it before it was installed? How does it stay put?


    None from before, just standard shift surround and piece of aluminum that I shaped. It’s really just wedged in there haha. It’s not the best or cleanest but it gets the job done. Haha.



    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    e70 x5m vrsf downpipes and turbolabs turbos - current
    e34 540 turbo take 2 - sold
    e34 540 turbo - crashed and burned

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by motorokr718 View Post


    None from before, just standard shift surround and piece of aluminum that I shaped. It’s really just wedged in there haha. It’s not the best or cleanest but it gets the job done. Haha.



    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Damn...it honestly looks like one of the cleaner options for us tan interior guys.

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by CallMePuff View Post
    Damn...it honestly looks like one of the cleaner options for us tan interior guys.
    Haha thanks man. I think it looks ok since i painted it black to match the rest of the console, so it kinda flows. But they're not super convenient to look at. Like if i'm balls deep in 3rd gear, i don't really want to take my eyes too far from the road to look at AFR and boost. Deff going to be moving them to the steering column in the future.
    e70 x5m vrsf downpipes and turbolabs turbos - current
    e34 540 turbo take 2 - sold
    e34 540 turbo - crashed and burned

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by motorokr718 View Post
    Haha thanks man. I think it looks ok since i painted it black to match the rest of the console, so it kinda flows. But they're not super convenient to look at. Like if i'm balls deep in 3rd gear, i don't really want to take my eyes too far from the road to look at AFR and boost. Deff going to be moving them to the steering column in the future.
    I STILL want a vent multi-gauge honestly. They make em for the e30s, but the vents on those cars are the same width as the E34 vents PLUS the middle heater adjuster wheel, so it'd be kind of hacked in there.

    Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
    '95 E34 525i, M50B32 (S52 Crank, K1 Rods, JE 9.0:1 Pistons, S52 Cams, Cutring, Achilles Oil Pump Shaft & Sprocket), GTW3684R 0.82A/R, ZF320

  13. #13
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    Are you planning to keep AC? I still want to reconnect mine, so blocking vents would be counter productive haha
    e70 x5m vrsf downpipes and turbolabs turbos - current
    e34 540 turbo take 2 - sold
    e34 540 turbo - crashed and burned

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by motorokr718 View Post
    Are you planning to keep AC? I still want to reconnect mine, so blocking vents would be counter productive haha
    Yeah I do. I think I'd be okay since there's already a driver's side vent on the left.

    Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
    '95 E34 525i, M50B32 (S52 Crank, K1 Rods, JE 9.0:1 Pistons, S52 Cams, Cutring, Achilles Oil Pump Shaft & Sprocket), GTW3684R 0.82A/R, ZF320

  15. #15
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    So I was browsing around on Google for options and I came across an eBay listing for an E34 center vent that didn't have the center temp wheel. I thought it was meant to be and I ordered it immediately.

    I haven't looked into whether or not this is actually any better than what I already have, or if I'll need to do anything special with the wire for the center temp wheel, but this could be my ticket. I didn't think they made E34 center vents without the temp wheel, but I believe they only did this on the early models. This one in particular was off of a 520i.

  16. #16
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    I'm so torn! I want the gauge setup to be minimal, non-intrusive, and clean, but I also want to be able to reference them when I'm whistling down the road. Someone steer me in a direction!

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