Turbo Electronics????????

eurotekM3 · #1 (**permalink**) 03-16-2005, 06:30 PM

Im geting a Turbo installed in April, but I was a little confused on what gauges to buy , I have a gauge piller wich holds two gauges and a gauge panel that hold three gauges. Sorry Im new to F/I.
So far i got :
1.) Oil Temp
2.) Oil Press.
3.) EGT
4.)Water Temp.
5.)Boost
6.)AEM UGO WIDEBAND O2
My problem is 6 gauges 5 spaces? Is Boost and AEM UGO widedand the same thing. Do I only need one of those.?

chris18T · #2 (**permalink**) 03-16-2005, 07:34 PM

with any boosted application a boost gauge is a MUST! I can't imagine that your stock BMW instrument cluster doesn't have a water temp gauge (maybe i'm wrong). if it does, then leave the water temp gauge out of it. another one you could go without is oil temp. Let your car idle for 5 min before driving it in the mornings or on cold starts and you will be fine without an oil temp gauge.

IMHO, the main gaugues that you NEED are Oil Pressure, Boost/Vacumm, and EGT. All the others are preference only. Go with something better then the AEM UGO gauge. try something like the zeitronix wideband. it's not exactly in gauge form so you can mount it in different spots.

just my $00.02

eurotekM3 · #3 (**permalink**) 03-16-2005, 08:12 PM

Thanks for the info Chris18T

eurotekM3 · #4 (**permalink**) 03-17-2005, 02:33 PM

Why is the Zeitronix Wideband better than a AEM UGO wideband.

chris18T · #5 (**permalink**) 03-17-2005, 04:39 PM

it's not that it's better, it's that the display is not a gauge. it's a rectangle LCD type thing. It's just a different option for mounting. Maybe you can find a space for the Zeitronix that you can't for the AEM gauge.

eurotekM3 · #6 (**permalink**) 03-17-2005, 06:59 PM

True.

///3oris · #7 (**permalink**) 03-17-2005, 08:59 PM

You don't need EGT if you have a wideband...

I currently have the following in my glasses holder: oil pressure, oil temp, water temp. On my A-pillar I have a boost gauge. I have an LM-1 for AFR's, which I've checked enough to know that they're perfect all the time, so there's no need for me to have a permanant gauge. I actually considered getting a fuel pressure gauge instead.

Here's an old picture of my interior showing my current gauges.

Boris

chris18T · #8 (**permalink**) 03-17-2005, 09:24 PM

there is really no need for an in-cabin fuel pressure gauge if you have the lm-1. the EGT is a good gauge to have along with a wideband. As i said, it's all in knowing how to read it. do some research on it, because trust me...i'm def. not the one to explain things. lol.

this is all just from my personal experience. before my 1.8t jetta i owned a 1g DSM with a little over 350whp (not too bad for a 4 cylinder huh?). I tuned it all myself with the help of a logger, EGT gauge, boost gauge, and s-afc II.

///3oris · #9 (**permalink**) 03-17-2005, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris18T

there is really no need for an in-cabin fuel pressure gauge if you have the lm-1. the EGT is a good gauge to have along with a wideband. As i said, it's all in knowing how to read it. do some research on it, because trust me...i'm def. not the one to explain things. lol.

this is all just from my personal experience. before my 1.8t jetta i owned a 1g DSM with a little over 350whp (not too bad for a 4 cylinder huh?). I tuned it all myself with the help of a logger, EGT gauge, boost gauge, and s-afc II.

Don't see how an LM-1 (which I don't keep in the car) is a replacement for a fuel pressure gauge, but regardless. I was only entertaining the idea. If you have a wideband you DO NOT need EGT's. EGT's are the 'poor mans' wideband, 'cept widebands are cheap as hell now.

Boris

chris18T · #10 (**permalink**) 03-18-2005, 07:17 AM

fuel pressure gauges will only tell you pressure of the fuel. it will not give true afr info. the only place you need a fuel pressure gauge is under the hood of your car. set it, check it, and forget it. heheh

i'm just saying how i did it. there were other guys i knew that did it many different ways. i'm in no way saying you are wrong. just the ways i do my logging.

///3oris · #11 (**permalink**) 03-18-2005, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris18T

fuel pressure gauges will only tell you pressure of the fuel. it will not give true afr info. the only place you need a fuel pressure gauge is under the hood of your car. set it, check it, and forget it. heheh

i'm just saying how i did it. there were other guys i knew that did it many different ways. i'm in no way saying you are wrong. just the ways i do my logging.

I know it won't give me AFR data... that's what the wideband is for... I actually wanted the gauge to see my fuel pressure, odd as it sounds

I want it because I changed out my fuel lines as part of my manifold swap, and even though I used BMW high-pressure fuel lines I still don't trust them as much as metal... so I wanted to make sure I knew if my FP dropped, that's all.

Boris

eurotekM3 · #12 (**permalink**) 03-18-2005, 05:27 PM

As of right know im doing.: On my 2 gauge pillar BOOST/VAC and OIL PRESS.

in my three gauge panel under my obc: EGT, AEM UGO WIDEBAND, OIL TEMP.

and in my cluter im doing: APEXI TURBO TIMER AND BOOTS CONTROLER.

chris18T · #13 (**permalink**) 03-20-2005, 08:56 PM

Whatever you FEEL you NEED to properly monitor your car and tune it accordingly is what you should get. Boris needed that in-cabin fuel pressure gauge for a good reason. I don't need one. So what you went with is probaly the best for you. Post some pics