FEELER: Single guage in centre console

slick

Bit of an animal
Mar 15, 2005
1,124
0
Essex
Ok, after popular demand it seems a few people agree with me on A-pillars for gauges arent always the best viewing position nor an OEM look for some people but anyways, as people are intrested in having gauges in the centre console, i'm putting it forward to see how many people would be intrested in one.

Here are some pictures of mine in and out of the car, as you can see the cup holder is replaced by a guage.

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As you can see i smoothed the consoles all off and sprayed them glossy black, this doesnt have to be done and can be left as OEM platic leather look.
The guage i used in that is a DEFI BF 60mm guage and as you can see its a tight fit. if a 52mm guage is used it is a much easier and tidyier install into the dash.

Ok, so heres the questions how many people would like me to fabricate these up?
Now there is two routes i can go... I buy all the parts and guages, then fit and plum them in and send out to yourselves, or you buy the parts and i fabricate them from ur choice of guage and dash colour.
and also a indicatation on if you would prefer smoothed console or the OEM plastic leather look.

Remember that certain Leons have different colour dashes from the light grey to the black in the R version.

So over to you people, once i get an indication, i will put up a price, but to give you a guess, i got the centre console from breakers for £30, the guage (Defi) £100 but a mech guage could be alot cheaper. 52mm gauges suggestions needed if i was to "prebuild them" otherwise i would have to arrange a "typical 52mm" slot?
 

karlosR

TORQUEY, NOISEY V6
Mar 10, 2006
1,469
0
BEDFORD
i'm interested in this. would a mechanical boost gauge fit as in being able to route a vacuum hose behind there? i'd want a 52mm gauge for mine and i'd like the dash to stay the same finish as it is now (cupra R black) is there a boost gauge available that looks similar to the other standard dials?
 

slick

Bit of an animal
Mar 15, 2005
1,124
0
Essex
Well thats the question that down to you lot really.
The guages out there can look like the OEM ones, as in white backs and red dials and needles, but some may like phatom look ones... basic interest first and suggestions on guage type will determine how this goes....
Yes a mechancial gauge will fit in there, its just a point of careful positioning.... hence why i said i could make them "plug and play" so all you do it screw it into the dash postion and plug in the vacuum hose just behind the centre dash.
Again all something i need input into, as some are happy to do themselves... others havent got a clue... so the majority wins, makes it easier on me making them up.
Also as you said, ur a Cupra R, so a black dash would need to be found to use to make the spare, otherwise you have to use ur own and that i dont want as ur climate control and radio will have to be removed while its being done, making it impossible to drive your car in real terms.
 

Reg

Professional Detailer
Oct 10, 2005
962
0
Berkshire
I think the guage looks fabulous in the dash - I don't use the cupholder anyway because it will just start rattling. I'd prefer the OEM look, I don't like the gloss black - and would be interested in knowing the total for a 52mm pre-built with mechanical guage.
 

RobM

Back from the dead...
Sep 27, 2006
4,982
3
Southampton
I think the guage looks fabulous in the dash - I don't use the cupholder anyway because it will just start rattling. I'd prefer the OEM look, I don't like the gloss black - and would be interested in knowing the total for a 52mm pre-built with mechanical guage.

DITTO the above. Also interested depending on price :)
 

slick

Bit of an animal
Mar 15, 2005
1,124
0
Essex
Ok, people learning towards prebuilt then with 52mm mechincal...

I've had a quick look and found many of the guages dont have a white face and red letter as in the OEM dials on a leon, only black face with red lettering...

Ok, well the pricing is the hard bit all depends on the console... Cupra R's beign the most difficult to get spares of..
Ok, if you sourced the console for your car match and we agreed on a "typical" gauge for a group buy or etc... would people grumble at £40 for the work, sound reasonable?
 

slick

Bit of an animal
Mar 15, 2005
1,124
0
Essex
Well sounds like i scared you all off... lol

Its not merely cutting a hole i hope you all understand.... theres a fixing hole in that position to the dash which needs relocating and also the fitting of the gauge holder plastic welded, then the fasica panel needs to be copied to look OEM look...

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Then to spray to what ever finsih you like, matt, glossy or metallic....
 

karlosR

TORQUEY, NOISEY V6
Mar 10, 2006
1,469
0
BEDFORD
i'll have one off of you in the new year............. if i can find a replacement dash panel for a LCR that is. if i can't get hold of one do you think you'd be able to mount a 52mm gauge in the small vent to the right of the steering wheel?
 

slick

Bit of an animal
Mar 15, 2005
1,124
0
Essex
i'll have one off of you in the new year............. if i can find a replacement dash panel for a LCR that is. if i can't get hold of one do you think you'd be able to mount a 52mm gauge in the small vent to the right of the steering wheel?


Yeah sure, can do, did one in a Golf....only thing i will say is the vacuum hose can be a pain in the vent... 1st because of tracing into the vent duct near the steering wheel and 2nd a mech one is liable to pop the hose off, when the heating comes on and heats up the hose loose, happened to mates, went to DEFI BF and solved the problem because of electrical connection...
Just the point of the right "guage" now, finding a red lettering, white faced, red needle, red glow..... well be easier finding rocking horse poo...

Just need to get a spare vent if you can...
 

paul26982

Guest
right if i let you get the parts, leave the oem look, use a 52mm guage an autometer to match the dials how much would i be looking at

then price if i got the parts, all the same as above then for you to do it
 

slick

Bit of an animal
Mar 15, 2005
1,124
0
Essex
£50 for Autometer gauge, source a console.... (Cupra R as you have that installed in yours), £30 to £40, my work....£40
So about £120-130

You source the parts, £40 for the work.

As i said, this is a rough price, can get concrete ones, once i have all the input onto how many...
 

paul26982

Guest
very intrested m8, just need to sort a few things out up untill the middle of next week as theres things hopefully in the pipe line
 

slick

Bit of an animal
Mar 15, 2005
1,124
0
Essex
Well as i said, if i get a few numbers, its easier to get hold of parts cheaper and guages in group buys and then i can fabricate the consoles up together in batches.... instead of measuring them up at all different times...

Over the weekend, hoepfully people will post up needs/wants...

ALSO PEOPLE NOTE IF YOUR DIESEL OR PETROL, as thats two different types of guage, as Diesel dont have a vacuum and also diesel PSI is much higher....
 

RobM

Back from the dead...
Sep 27, 2006
4,982
3
Southampton
Can I add a random suggestion... might help things...

How about you buy a LCR console and a non-LCR console and get two ready made and ready to go. Then offer them as a part-exchange deal. You send out the ready to fit console with gauge, we fit it and send you our originals so you can repeat the process with the next person?

That way you only ever have to source one console and the price stays down. It also means you don't have a massive investment to make in the first instance.

Sound possible? Or stupid?
 

Scotty_b

Leon Cupra 300R
Jun 3, 2004
6,026
66
Hertfordshire
Hello mate would you be willing to do another defi gauge (62mm) as i wouldnt want my vac pipe to run all the way around there with my head unit going in and out all the time