DIY Boost Gauge E9X

b1mmr

Corporal
Jan 17, 2017
110
32
0
I just completed a three part DIY guide walking you through how to set up your own boost gauge using any regular old gauge that can be had at you local auto parts store.. here are the links

(odds are you'll have to click the post to see all the pictures)

part 1/3

part 2/3

and lastly part 3/3

hopefully I was able to shed some light for some of you and even save you some money..

oytcome
 
Last edited:

b1mmr

Corporal
Jan 17, 2017
110
32
0
Hey, that is pretty good. How much did it cost you?
Thank you!

You can get any necessary tools at HF for next to nothing or if you have them already like myself then that's great. The gauge itself was about 25 bucks at a local Advanced Auto. I chose this one because it only went up to 20 where as the ones at AZ and O'Reilly go to 30. I had to spend about 3 or 4 dollars on a 1/8 fip to 1/8 nipple because this particular gauge comes with compression fittings, and an additional 3 dollars on a white led.. I chose to use one that was white with one smd led - this gauge uses a BA9S type bulb.

Originally I had a boost gauge from HF that was accurate (I checked) but the white face and aluminum ring was distracting against dark leather.. Oh and the leds in it quit working Haha.

So less than 40 if you've got the tools and about 40 with the tools included.
 

b1mmr

Corporal
Jan 17, 2017
110
32
0
Nice. I like the placement. Good weekend project.
Thank you, and yes I used a zip tie backwards on the vent because I thought it looked sleek enough. I was going to use a pod but couldn't picture it working out without buying the 3d printed vent pod (80$).
 
  • Like
Reactions: MattDeDom

b1mmr

Corporal
Jan 17, 2017
110
32
0
I notice this gauge uses a normal bulb and the lighting looks pretty poor, could you use an LED in it?
yes, the bulb is referred to as BA9S.

Some things I found out while playing with this particular gauge is that for clearance purposes you don't want anything too long or you'll have to put tape around where the bulb goes in (5 smd bulbs) to keep stray light in. Won't have that issue if you use a pod. With orange lighting the 5 smd did best where as I preferred the 1 smd for white, I settled with white seen here.

 

b1mmr

Corporal
Jan 17, 2017
110
32
0
No problem.

These are both 5 smd bulbs pictured.. kind of bright in my opinion although I didn't tap the wire into a dimmer source. The gauge shines onto my left knee a little at night but that's because the gauge isn't technically back lit like usual gauges.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_6477.jpg
    IMG_6477.jpg
    232 KB · Views: 764
  • IMG_6478.jpg
    IMG_6478.jpg
    183.1 KB · Views: 439

b1mmr

Corporal
Jan 17, 2017
110
32
0
Nice work. Without a doubt the BEST place to install a boost gauge in an E92 as well.
Thank you, I guess I got tired of waiting for bluetooth anything from mhd. You're right about the location, it's mint.. I don't think a phone could ever look as good up there anyhow.

Here's two pictures I took of the bosch style boost gauge with a white 1 smd led for anyone interested. I played with the focus until I felt the lightning was accurately represented.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_6763.JPG
    IMG_6763.JPG
    122.8 KB · Views: 272
  • IMG_6766.JPG
    IMG_6766.JPG
    250.1 KB · Views: 492

langsbr

Captain
Apr 5, 2017
1,266
771
0
Ride
07 335i 6MT e90
Perfect placement! That's where I put mine too. The only problem is your gauge doesn't read high enough :p.

That is a mechanical gauge so you're running a vacuum source all the way to the boost gague right? I went with an electronic gauge that is stepper controlled, and I wanted something as large as I could get. I found this one, and was happy that it had both white daytime/amber night settings.

Daytime
IMG_20170723_214826725.jpg


With lights on:
IMG_20170723_214833027.jpg


The digital part is helpful as well - it's hard to focus on a gauge when going WOT on 25psi - a quick glance and you can see.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: b1mmr

b1mmr

Corporal
Jan 17, 2017
110
32
0
Perfect placement! That's where I put mine too. The only problem is your gauge doesn't read high enough :p.

That is a mechanical gauge so you're running a vacuum source all the way to the boost gague right? I went with an electronic gauge that is stepper controlled, and I wanted something as large as I could get. I found this one, and was happy that it had both white daytime/amber night settings.

Daytime
ta5bZ1rObdKiMZ2fQWH0Acrc9e1gA3iy8tePhCh3JVL5G3tDQJBkyj4y4JCbGDYxOFlOVBSCb4s7wXGlOzdKiuA-36gwGpEmHbUDaRbnXg2WGWtSn0yt9cMTqFtJHJJWj_Yspfdf0srOsNzWJL8Y83v_CLR4EutkbWN1k-_EfRkkukE3Z9rgMHjSUlnpovhJS15BM7f5LxcX438gDou0H9FGIXK6sYxIb139KelHsvjKotld9pm2Hg-waoOnEX5FkshYZd4ovyxW9GCGbS6f8tqikRQbLyXDWt1exRsFZ9zsMuTpwvB2_Uh6bWPSL9OMYVHuZoi53yldivpgIiB43t5ANMoQP1xZxsYzQ-CSKdJxMonneRrih0oAMQRjCXPHFUT0MoSed1xBRA5X1v7Bd4VLBB5HlmViSUqBDVW8aD6yOxC6h2XS4ng7txwL3_zLhGCM02aW-o_7-R13_IWOwtsLOQvKQmT2c8AHevbWcaSp3xfc-zx1NTkxFRgouIheCwa1sNOCtECok6y1bvIRwZNO0PJx1IJE0oYGl1afWo5CxDsq0TwxYn9rS-rF5dQNTm1YZMG2B7KtYIDB_JisZyfzfJfRX4G8ftFZ8tD0tQ=w1385-h780-no


With lights on:
tm9L4qm-9t2PtQQSnyYrRXLLG4DRxbiwErYFtf-huYZazE9iKtNZfHPQ-OYv35o1FBTNWDgCC4rUcgFAqLf6D7eLDJF8SnerYvCVVNKiLMk4uzwMFtJvu8rNSVQD1F2XvMv30XEv0CiFhvEUfiCc-3ouHaiPmjPQFaircFMiK5SFasBnYv61DFCDLYS9adFVGE4GA8gXESY2iuIjBV-8Ane4K1sztBj2-FcVjtcUipD2DdOO8WVvf3qc8Q0NavR4a-7N2Y9w_JmG52e2-eDKHIXybqjCYOl1vn3jarxVPdm_xHTmmpxtKriacwnewq59boZKWIbnVGp8tm8FKaL_y_5spyjYTJyiLe0ovHZLYvs3HN3LY-PY_Wz7lH55Q4tH-ItpiBmwtVyONqZ08-5MYVeH9lsolDbGkVk-OtU1rnuM-0HxMYCv8iHgDvBz88ArHRKXNcNF6XatfKsgjIxR40n7PPN2FCG3VDyaUCSYTkp_Upc0x9Y8__HQ4dBpzYD8nFejv_OX2vgd7Y3bDWk-HBc7RhD2BFw2v5LbywbC15Kg37bjeusIw3Q4nxXar2WiiSHhfH7aHBJ5vhdaIvEC7K5u66k9CkGDHSJBTuM5NQ=w1385-h780-no


The digital part is helpful as well - it's hard to focus on a gauge when going WOT on 25psi - a quick glance and you can see.
I thought so to :smiley: and for the the time being, it reads high enough (18). You mention how it's hard to go wot and read your boost, but that's part of the reason I went out of my way to look only at gauges stopping at 20. This way I have 12 less PSI on my gauge. Reading it quickly does takes a little familiarization with the gauge but it's not like I'm counting the individual PSI in wot either. As for looks I just wanted low key. Finally, mechanical is more my budget. :tonguewink:

All that aside both set ups look sweet and work well, just two different tastes, thanks for sharing with us! ;)
 
Last edited:

langsbr

Captain
Apr 5, 2017
1,266
771
0
Ride
07 335i 6MT e90
I hear ya on the gauges having too much display. Always drove me nuts when my friends with Hondas running 8psi had 25+ psi gauges. I wanted a 25PSI gauge as I have no intention of running more than that, but apparently it's impossible to find in the 2 5/8 and red digits. It turns out it was good that I got the 30 as I'm still tuning my MMPs and had a few spikes to 29PSI :-O

You would be surprised how cheap this gauge is. It's not DEFI or anything like that. It took about a month to get here from China, so needless to say, it was cheap, lol.
 

b1mmr

Corporal
Jan 17, 2017
110
32
0
I hear ya on the gauges having too much display. Always drove me nuts when my friends with Hondas running 8psi had 25+ psi gauges. I wanted a 25PSI gauge as I have no intention of running more than that, but apparently it's impossible to find in the 2 5/8 and red digits. It turns out it was good that I got the 30 as I'm still tuning my MMPs and had a few spikes to 29PSI :-O

You would be surprised how cheap this gauge is. It's not DEFI or anything like that. It took about a month to get here from China, so needless to say, it was cheap, lol.
Haha I agree with the Honda thing.. I guess they probably have 30 because it's hard to find smaller ones like you mentioned. I know I looked around a good bit before settling with this Bosch gauge.