I like the Cravenspeed Flexpods:cornut: I have Glowshift gauges with the 52mm gauge pods and the scangauge flexpod holder. It looks great on my R52 Conv:ihih:
I live the Craven Flexpod also. Seem to be leaning that way. Plan to use it with 2 52mm gauges. I think it will look better than using Alta's larger pods with spacers. Cost a heck of a lot more than 2 Alta pods though.
Go big or go home! 67mm pods from Cravenspeed are sweet. My opinion: anything smaller looks toyish. The OEM R50/R53 gauges are 52mm. I'm in the middle of a dual gauge install this weekend, and I'll post pictures when I'm done. Old setup with one 67mm / 2-5/8" Autometer Mechanical Boost Gauge and iPod holder:
I used several of the different cup holders from Craven along with Marshall Gauges. They were designed in cooperation with custom mini shop and Marshall's gauges to match our interiors for both gauge appearance and lighting. Most gauges are available in both electric and stepper motors. The reason I say several different cup holders is that I went from 2 gauges to 3 and finally 4. Current set up has Electric Boost/Vac, Water temp, Oil Pressure and Volts. I went thru custom mini shop for current pricing on everything from the gauges to the pods and with lots of options available found Steve the owner and a fellow Mini Owner was a great help.
The 2 gauges I'm looking to add only come in 52mm. Your setup looks nice though. I'll look forward to seeing your updated pictures. Those look very clean. Faces match nicely. I'm planning to add a digital OBDII gauge that also has 2 inputs for analog sensors. It does all those functions your currently running, except oil pressure. What sender do you use for oil pressure?
I know that some people like the OBDII gauges much like they use the Scan Gauge hookup, I however wanted something that I could scan when driving and see the position of the gauges and not have to try to read a small number when when hitting the twisties. As for oil sensor I have the Craven tapless adapter generation 2 setup.
I have a Scangauge II mounted down by the toggle switches but wanted something in a regular gauge location near the tach for the same reason you do. In the twisties it's no very practical down that low. The shape of the Scangauge mounted up there just looks odd. I prefer a digital readout as it's easier for me to see small change compared to an analog gauge. Is that 13.8 or 14.1 voltage, etc.? Just seems more precise. And I like the fact is doesn't require much modification, if any, to the car. Is the oil pressure gauge mechanical or electric?
Maybe its just my bi-focals that is causing me to go with an analog gauge look. With the stepper motors these are much more accurate. However it does not matter which way you go the fact that your adding gauges gives you more information then when you first purchased your car.
ALTA pods SUCK. theyre cheapo plastic and they can crack at the ONE screw point, and thus 'fall' with bumps. I rather dislike mine. After some work they stay but are still so very flimsy
If I was going with analog gauges, I'd copy your setup exactly! Where on the engine do you install the Craven adapter for oil pressure? That settles it. Craven flexpod it is.
It screws back into the tapless oil adapter. The Craven parts might be more expensive but they are built to last and they are always trying to find ways to make them better while keeping the costs down.
Well, if you have a R56, item 11 is the oil pressure switch. So the connection would be at the point. Hope this helps.