Chris' 200 20v Avant - RENNWGN - Blowed Up

[loxxrider]

Haha thanks man. I am trying to be subtle with it, but I had to throw some green in there somewhere. I don't think it'll look good with the red brakes, but I can either fix that by re-ordering the stickers in red or repainting the calipers black... hmm lol OR I could have different caps made. I figured for $17 shipped the 3D stickers would be fun for a while at least

Now for a question I've been meaning to ask but keep forgetting about. How the hell do you get the rear seats back up after folding them down? I can't figure it out!

[loxxrider]

Now for boost gauge discussion.

Anyone have any good ideas for where the best place for one is? I keep coming back to two ideas.

Get rid of one of the stock gauges in the cluster

or

A-pillar

I would rather not get rid of a gauge in the cluster, so I've been wondering how hard it will be to design something for the A-pillar. It almost seems like a better idea to just make one with glass rather than designing one on the computer and then having it 3D printed. With the right measurements though and a little time and money I'm sure one could come up with something...

If anyone would like to supply accurate measurements of a section of A-pillar surface where a gauge pod would likely go, I'd love to give it a try.

[WOMBAT]

What about placing one in a vent?

[EDIGREG]

I had to throw some green in there somewhere.

So your days of green wheels are over, eh?

[loxxrider]

Haha yeah Ed, I think I must be getting older. Gotta have some green somewhere though. Keeps me young at heart in the midst of life's realities!

Casey, I considered that, but the ac is anyway so poor in these cars I have mostly written it off. It's still a consideration though. Maybe doing it in one of the center vents wouldn't be so bad as long as the flow from that vent gets fully diverted somewhere else useful pretty effectively. I'll give it some more thought! Any experience here with how it affects AC?

[ringbearer]

Tablet or screen of some sort? Display everything you need or don't...

[loxxrider]

That'd defeat the purpose of the custom boost gauge!

[ringbearer]

true, I do like the period correct builds, at least visually with modern technology where it is hidden. Until you open the hood of course!

[GTJeff]

A-pillar = less taking you eyes off of the road.

Or maybe one of these in one of the factory gauge spots:
http://www.podi.ca/ExtraDualDisplay.aspx?ProductId=40

[loxxrider]

Guys... I already have the boost gauge! See the bottom of the previous page

[k2exoman]

Why not tuck it under the dash cowl in the corner like on your other 200 until you've fabbed up something else you prefer?

[loxxrider]

Yeah, I definitely can do that, I just ran out of time the other day. Funny that you know where it was/is in the other one Good attention to detail!

[Aktapod]

I've got mine vent mounted! I think it's the most aesthetically clean option, and, though my A/C hasn't worked it years, the other vents remain fully functional and retain the same flow.

IMG_5011.JPG (2.48 MiB) Viewed 30248 times

My only complaint is that it does take your eyes further from the road than I'd like. Not horribly, but I'm planning on switching it with one of the less fluctuating gauges, such as voltage or oil temp. If you wanna play around with it, I can send you a spare vent from my stash so you can always go back if you decide it's not for you.

[paradox11235]

I have mine vent mounted and I like it quite a bit. I have it set up so the vent open/close functions properly and since its three vents all attached to the same duct I really don't think it impacts the hvac much.

[PRY4SNO]

Have you considered a PLX screen on the rearview mirror?

[k2exoman]

I've got mine vent mounted! I think it's the most aesthetically clean option

IMG_5011.JPG

This is also how I've done mine.
I will say, some light bleeds around the edge of the gauge face (it's a VDO boost gauge) which can be distracting...
I've considered pulling it apart to fix a few times.

[loxxrider]

Vent is looking like the simplest viable option. I'd definitely do it if I had a spare Kevin!

I still want to try to make a pid, but that can be sometime in the future. Did you cut it with a holes saw?

That mirror gauge is awesome. I would like to put my radar detector and a wideband display there. That'd be awesome!

[EDIGREG]

I did a custom install of my v1 display behind a b7 mirror... i have a bunch of pics to do a writeup at some point

[loxxrider]

I'm going to ask radar mirror.com if they can do custom auto dimming conversions to our rear and side mirrors, integrate a wideband, and my radar! That'd be a tall order, but you never know...

[EDIGREG]

I checked them out but I wanted to keep an OEM Audi mirror and they don't have anything for Audi specifically...plus they are really expensive. I will say that DIY was a lot of work, but definitely worth it.

[loxxrider]

Right, but it seems like they might be able to take our parts and modify them to be auto dimming. You'd have to start with an audi auto dimming mirror of course.

[ringbearer]

I'd like the BMW style heads up display if you want to get serious. You could hack a little green turbo in there somewhere I'm sure

[PRY4SNO]

Don't the D2, C5 B6+ auto dim compass mirrors already work with 12v?

[EDIGREG]

Right, but it seems like they might be able to take our parts and modify them to be auto dimming. You'd have to start with an audi auto dimming mirror of course.

modify an auto dimming mirror to be auto dimming?

The hidden displays only work with a certain type of translucent/2-way mirror glass. Audi didn't start using it until B7 cars. So they would have to cut custom mirror glass to fit into t44 mirrors (might be possible?)

This is a b6 mirror for example...you need to actually remove the mirroring surface in order to see through (this person added a boost gauge to a b6 mirror):



On B7 the mirroring surface is sandwiched into the glass, you only need to remove the backing material to make it translucent:
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPEN993HmSo[/youtube]

[88a5tq]

I have mine vent mounted and I like it quite a bit. I have it set up so the vent open/close functions properly and since its three vents all attached to the same duct I really don't think it impacts the hvac much.

Ooh ooh ooh!! Me two