Look What I Made - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

SirNik84 · #1 03-30-2007, 04:13 PM

OK, so i haven't been on here much in the last 2 weeks, but i just finished a new "toy" for my mercedes.

I got a piller molding from the pick'n'pull and bought myself a set of gauge pods ment for an Acura... the only reason i got one for an acura was it was 1$ on ebay and 5$ shipping... it was the cheapest thing i could find. anyway. i cut it up and then guled it to the piller. once the glue was dry i fillied the gaps between the piller and the pods. it took me along time and lots of layers of bondo to get it right. i used some epoxy also between the payers of bondo to make it stronger. after layer and layers of epoxy and bondo. i then started to paint. primer and sand primer and sand. i was going to try and have it wraped in vinyl but the shapes were to complex and it looked like crap. so then i got some bondo spot putty and filled in some small spots and smooth it out. more coats of primer... there is more paint on this thing them on my whole car it seams like. I just finished painting it brown, but it is the wrong color brown. my car has the dark chocolat brown. any one know where i can get some dark brown paint? maybe the actual color?

i'm going to the paint store later, but figured that i'd ask and see what you guys thought or my work.

winmutt · #2 03-30-2007, 04:27 PM

not bad looking. I am mounting my EGT under the hood latch. Right now the boost is sitting in the the door pocket but I am just using it temporarily.

TX76513 · #3 03-30-2007, 04:39 PM

You can get the correct paint at:http://paintscratch.com

Austin85 · #4 03-30-2007, 05:47 PM

Hey PIcasso what is that?

...

Cephallus · #5 03-30-2007, 05:59 PM

you can make pods look slick on the a pillar with a very thin material (i've used nylon dress socks) and fiberglass resin.

mach0415 · #6 03-03-2011, 10:08 AM

I simply mounted my boost gauge in the glove box with the light tied into the glove box light and switch circuit - consealed, neat, and stock looking. Close the glove box and the light goes off. Open it up and she's all lit up. I angled it so the driver can see it clearly.

winmutt · #7 03-03-2011, 11:00 AM

Mine is in the ashtray. For the 87 I am going to use my Android as a boost gauge

babymog · #8 03-03-2011, 11:20 AM

I cut a piece of zebrano for the ashtray opening, gave me enough space for boost, pyro, 12v, and USB.

Although it looks nice and kind of quattro-like, I'd rather have them more in my line of site. The A-pillar doesn't appeal as much to me because of the clutter and additional blind-spot, kind of a Honda thing (or Dodge Ram) when you hang gauges in front of you.

Now a re-designed dash with all of the gauges would be really nice, I'd love to add oil temp and volts also, maybe IAT.

DrewGerhan · #9 03-03-2011, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by winmutt

Mine is in the ashtray. For the 87 I am going to use my Android as a boost gauge

How exactly will you do that?

The 4.3" screen on my X would be great for gauges!

tbomachines · #10 03-03-2011, 03:44 PM

Mine is mounted right underneath the ignition lock/keys. I will actually be taking pictures soon (intended for my blog, but I'll share them here). It mounted perfectly with a piece of 90* steel and a trim hole screw. It is out of the way enough not to hit your knees on it, the only drawback I could see is if you have some absurdly dangly keychain it will block th gauge. The dress socks and fiberglass trick is a classic - soak any fabric in resin and you can create some pretty cool stuff!

winmutt · #11 03-03-2011, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YoungBenz

How exactly will you do that?

The 4.3" screen on my X would be great for gauges!

Arduino + sensors + bt daughter board + android + code. It will be open source.

tbomachines · #12 03-03-2011, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by winmutt

Arduino + sensors + bt daughter board + android + code. It will be open source.

This would be quite cool - it would be nice to incorporate some other gauges into it too, maybe EGT, oil temp, etc? Maybe on a scrolling gauge or just several numbers on the screen...I imagine that screen would be really easy to mount and would be touch screen, no?

winmutt · #13 03-03-2011, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbomachines

This would be quite cool - it would be nice to incorporate some other gauges into it too, maybe EGT, oil temp, etc? Maybe on a scrolling gauge or just several numbers on the screen...I imagine that screen would be really easy to mount and would be touch screen, no?

Thats the idea. Eventually controlling VNT/VGT turbos. RPM + Speed + EGT + Boost + Rack position

babymog · #14 03-03-2011, 04:48 PM

I use the X in HUD mode for TORQUE ap, works with a bluetooth OBDII dongle for engine info. If only I could incorporate it.

The ashtray assembly comes out, there's enough clearance for normal gauges, put the cig-lighter outlet and USB in the middle. If it were about 20mm wider I could have used an existing zebrano 3-gauge panel from an audi 90.

compu_85 · #15 03-03-2011, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by babymog

The A-pillar doesn't appeal as much to me because of the clutter and additional blind-spot, kind of a Honda thing (or Dodge Ram) when you hang gauges in front of you.

I feel the same way. A pillar gauges rarely look like they are supposed to be there. I have a steering column gauge in my VW and I'm not 100% happy with it.

Besides deleting the ash tray / stuff bin in my SDL I couldn't see anywhere a gauge could be mounted and look "proper"

I do eventually want to take a gasser's economy gauge and turn it into a boost gauge. Or I might leave it as an economy gauge and hook it up to the rack position sensor. Hmm.

-J