Like the title says, what cheap gauges work?
Many of you know I am currently building a drift e28, that is also planned to attend the challenge this year. Both for challenge budget purposes, as well as wallet limitations, I'm looking at cheap gauges. Eventually I'd like to get a full set of AEM gauges, but at ~$150 each, that's just not going to work at the moment.
The car is completely gutted, the only stock wiring left is the engine harness. Thus the stock cluster is out. I was considering trying to figure out the pinout on the cluster to get Tach, Temp, Speedo, etc, but I'm not sure how east that is going to be.
I have an Autometer Tach already that I could use, but I'd like to have water temp, and oil pressure at the very least so I can make sure I'm not blowing up my engine.
So, cheap gauges. (Preferably digital sender gauges so I don't have fluids running to the gauges in the cabin.) What is known to work?
Ive used them all
Autometer and sunpro seem to be the most dependable. Maybe not the cheapest, but generally accurate and reliable.
Eqqus from the parts store has been splotchy.
Omega gauges SUCK
dolphin gauges SUCK
Speedhut are good money and awesome.
Ive had mixed results with glowshift and no-name ebay stuff.
Build your own with an arduino and an LCD screen. If your car is OBD2, Racecapture Track is pretty spiffy. https://www.autosportlabs.com/racecapture_mk3_apex/
morello159 said:
Build your own with an arduino and an LCD screen. If your car is OBD2, Racecapture Track is pretty spiffy. https://www.autosportlabs.com/racecapture_mk3_apex/
1988 BMW, no OBD here. :)
Eventually I'd like to go standalone, and then I can use a tablet or a Raspberry Pi, but for now I am slightly limited on that front.
At your price point, I'd recommend Sunpro gauges (which appears to have been bought by Bosch).
Search for "Sunpro Gauges" or "Bosch Gauges" on Amazon and there are a number of gauges available.
https://www.boschperformance.com/
I bought a small assortment of Sunpros on clearance from Summit for like $3/ea a few years back and they seem to work just fine.
It seems like the cheap and easy solution anymore if you have OBDII is a tablet dash. I'd like to go this route on my RX7 eventually.
I've installed countless Sunpro gauges and I don't recall ever having an issue.
02Pilot
SuperDork
3/18/19 4:30 p.m.
I've been looking for cheap gauges for my Saab project (I'm a long way from needing them, but...) and those Bosch triple sets look intriguing. For the OP, however, they don't meet the brief, as the oil pressure gauge is mechanical. I'm debating if I can live with that, as I too do not like the idea of hot fluids under pressure in the cabin.
Nugi
Reader
3/18/19 4:31 p.m.
I have used the cheapo bosch without issue, but i have also used whatever noname looked liked my other gauges from amazon/ebay/alibaba and the chinesium looked and worked just the same.
If I needed serious reliability on the cheap, I would use an OEM gauge from a yard, as they seem built to a higher spec to all but the best aftermarket. Beware many oem gauges are just idiot lights with needles however, dilligince is required when researching donors.
I've had good luck with Sunpro as well.
If you have any swap meets in your area, check them out - I often see used gauges for sale at them.
02Pilot said:
I've been looking for cheap gauges for my Saab project (I'm a long way from needing them, but...) and those Bosch triple sets look intriguing. For the OP, however, they don't meet the brief, as the oil pressure gauge is mechanical. I'm debating if I can live with that, as I too do not like the idea of hot fluids under pressure in the cabin.
The triple gauge sets typically use mechanical gauges, but they also offer individual gauges that are electronic:
https://www.boschperformance.com/products/style-line-2-electrical-oil-pressure-gauge-fst-8202
https://www.boschperformance.com/products/sport-st-2-electrical-oil-pressure-gauge-fst-7001
At wreckers, 240,260 and 280z gauges will work and cheap.
..
Alfaromeoguy said:
At wreckers, 240,260 and 280z gauges will work and cheap.
..
You can tell who's from California...those cars have been gone from the salvage yards in the rust belt for 30 years. 
I can send you some,FROM SUNNY CALIFORNIA..lol
Longacre rebuilt and remanufactured stuff is cheap and carries the full warranty.
If you’re car is obd2 just get a cheap Bluetooth dongle and get a tablet or old android phone. Buy the torque app for 15$ And call it a day.
The tach is a little slow but the refresh rate on all other stuff is fine.
02Pilot
SuperDork
3/19/19 9:20 a.m.
This thread got me searching and I found a set of "gauges" I simply could not resist for my Saab. Far less useful that traditional gauges, but cheap, fully electrical, and oh so 1980s.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Equus-Bar-Graphic-Triple-Gauge-Volt-Water-Temperature-Oil-Press-Sender-/223436421653
I recall vdo gauges being pretty inexpensive. If they're good enough to be oe in Porsches, they're good enough for me.
I've been running a set of Sunpro electric gauges (coolant temp/oil pressue/volts) in my RX7 for 10+ years now. They seem to be fine and have never given me problems. I think I paid $20 for the whole set.
02Pilot said:
This thread got me searching and I found a set of "gauges" I simply could not resist for my Saab. Far less useful that traditional gauges, but cheap, fully electrical, and oh so 1980s.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Equus-Bar-Graphic-Triple-Gauge-Volt-Water-Temperature-Oil-Press-Sender-/223436421653
If I was going to build a period mid-80s car I would have to have this.
If it weren't for the god awful "JEGS" logos glowing in my face I would have pulled the trigger on these a long time ago. https://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS/555/41290/10002/-1
In reply to stuart in mn :
Sorry must have read e38(on this site someone could have a 7 series race car right? ) or I just misread (more likely)...I retract my previous statement.
RacetruckRon said:
If it weren't for the god awful "JEGS" logos glowing in my face I would have pulled the trigger on these a long time ago. https://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS/555/41290/10002/-1
Those don't look too bad. Could probably swap for a dimmer bulb or take them apart and cover the JEGS part.
