Wednesday 8 August 2018

Golf GTI Edition 35 : fitting DEFI White Racer 52mm boost gauge

in the (now sold) Edition 30 I fitted a DEFI boost gauge, see 
http://johnoldfield.blogspot.com/2008/02/defi-52mm-blue-racer-fitted.html
and
http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=2073.0
this is by far and away one of the most useful items for you turbo charged car, especially the 2.0 TFSI

It worked faultlessly for ten years which is quite a feat, so it was a front runner to fit gain.
For those of you wondering I didnt transfer from my Edition 30 as the illumination (which cannot be changed) is different mk5 (blue) to mk6 (white)

Some front runners were
DEFI 52mm White racer : https://frsport.com/defi-df06503-white-racer-gauge-52mm-boost
APR : https://www.awesomegti.com/shop-by-brand/apr/apr-universal-52mm-boost-gauge/ 
P3 https://clptuning.co.uk/product/p3-vent-gauge-volkswagen-golf-mk6-gti/


In the end I went for these parts

DEFI White Racer 52mm Boost Gauge Imperial

Forge Boost Gauge fitting kit

for in the cabin I didnt want to go OSIR vent this time, so I looked for a way to make it OEM but cheaper than ideally what I really wanted to buy

Awesome GTI : Air Vent Gauge Pod Mk6 Golf

so I went with buying a 2nd hand vent , and trying something I found on ebay

2nd hand vent off ebay : VW GOLF MK6 RIGHT SIDE DASHBOARD AIRVENT AIR VENT BLACK 5K0819710C 2008-2015

Boost Gauge Vent holder Ebay


Fitting

Step 1 
follow the previous guides, in summary go under the bonnet and fit the boost takeoff and pipe to the defi gauge sensor (I once again fitted this attached to the air intake screw)

Heres the adapter fitted to the pcv assembly. Just remember to start the car and check for leaks / poor idle



Step 2 is to run the sensor cable into the cabin,  I used the metal coat hanger trick
Step 3 : wire up the 2nd set of cables . Once again I put the 3 'live' wires together so gauge runs in night mode permanently and piggy backed onto the 5th from left fuse on top row)


Step 4 : fit the gauge holder into the vent. simple take apart and rebuild

Eh voila



Immediately I can tell the PCV is ok (pulls 22mm Hg vaccum) , and that under boost its 12psi (as calculated from VCDS logs in previous blog article)

Its absolutely awesome, apart from one issue .......

The ebay vent holder follows the same angle as the original vent , so it effectively points slightly up and towards the side window! You can still see it but its less than ideal.

So Im left trying to mod it, or giving up and buying the Awesome GTI vent pod, which is expensive but angles properly to the driver) 

Lets see, given its saving £80 I may just leave it as it is......which considering the overall cost isnt a bad thing.

Cost breakdown

forge kit £36 (reduced on ebay as offer) = £36
DEFI  170 Guage + 35(shipping) + £28(import tax) = £233
spare pod : £8.99 (free shipping) = £8.99
flat : £22.30 + £4.73 (shipping) = £26.93
fitting (free as it was DIY)


Total £304.92

Added a video acceleration run showing the guage in action

EDIT : I bought a slightly different vent insert subsequently that has a better 'to the driver' angle.



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