i have 4 gauges. onve is a volt meter to measure the voltage obviously and its down by ur knee kinda like where the black part of the dash meets the tan part of the kneepanel, u can view it thru the side of the steering wheel when driving its nice. iv done no drilling, and the install looks real clean no wires showing. then i have a boost gauge in a single autometer gauge holder in the center of the dash, paralell with the center console because i turned up the boost it looks nice. i have the wires going to the windshield wrapped in that ribbed plastic tubing for covering up loose wires, then routed unseen to under the dash and so on after that. looks pretty nice. i also have a pyrometer thats not installed yet and an oil pressure gauge (not installed) so i can see where the oil psi actually maxes out at, since the one on the instrument panel maxes out right after u touch the gas pretty much . i could install them all on an autometer 3 gauge holder, but then u would have a thick loom with wires in it running toward the windshield. if i used an a piller pod i could run the wires without being seen. I dont think it has anything to do with "rice". diesel trucks have it. tdi's have them. y cant we have them? i m going to school at uti for auto diesel, so id like to tweek this car a little as i have with every other vehicle iv owned. i want my motor running tip top and i love to monitor what is going on. it would be nice to also have a stoichiometer to monitor a/f... it would help u drive with the ideal fuel ratio and u can keep it in that range to get the best possible gas mileage, or make sure you motor isnt ever running lean. i dunno i really like these old mercedes alot but they are slow and i want to make it faster, as much as i can once i get well educated about this motor, but even for what i got going now including turning up the full load which i havnt done yet but will be real soon. i think its somthing to be proud of if u can make a car like this fast. even fast enough to screw around at the drag strip somtimes is my goal honestly no matter how long it takes me. but i want it to look as stock as possible even on the outside... even painted hubcaps i want like im trying to find, i have cokebottle style wheels but i like the painted hubcaps the add character to this car. but im 26 years and been into cars my whole life and in the industry for 11 years so this is the stuff im into doing. i think extra gauges look fine on these cars. im not just doing it tho because i want gauges but i need them. im planning on repainting my car after i finish the bodywork and trying to get it nice enough shape to 4 the local carshow. after i get my exhaust ceramic coated and the hot side of the turbo done, have a 115 intake manifold and my saab intercooler mounted under the hood with a fan on and it, a nice clean engine bay with all my mods lookn good and done right i think my pillar pod will then look just fine

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1985 mercedes benz 300D turbo diesel
1998 VW GTI VR6
1996 VW GTI 2.0
1999 saab 9-3 turbo
1987 300sdl (sold)