Tell Autometer to stick it.
With theirs, you have to buy RPM "pills" to set the point where the light comes on.
I bought a Proform as mentioned above by someone else when I needed an adjustable one for an Audi (yeah…5 cylinder car…that should be easy). It’s basically the same thing as the Autometer but has a simple knob on the back to adjust to the proper RPM. What a concept! And, it’s half as much! I plan on moving it into the E30 once the build is closer to finished. I think I bought mine on Ebay, but I’ve seen them from speed equipment vendors as well.
Shift lights
ddavidv
#5
badboypolar
#7
Summit racing has a few different models. I personally will be using the Nology shift light that has four leds that light up in sequence. It’s more than $40 for one of the adjustable ones but for me it will be better.
I’m also in San Diego. Hit me up if you need some help.
Daniel
MikeD
#8
Mine works great I just don’t pay attention to it that often as you can see in this video. The gtech pro lights are really bright as long as you have them pointed directly at your eyes. There is no wiring necessary it reads the voltage through the cigarette lighter and it’s surprising how accurate it is.
sharkd
#9
Went high-end on my Aux Tach and Shift light – they’re both VDO and required no programming to work off of the coil signal. The tach tells the light when to work. Probably overpaid (despite getting them off of eBay) for what they do.
robweenerpi
#10
http://www.nexternal.com/bimmerworl/Product162
Might be a little high tech for spec e30 but they are pimpy. I still run on the play it by ear system.
goldfish
#12
I have a G2X data logger system and wired it into the tach signal on the ECU. It has the progressive shift lights, and I have it mounted right on the steering column in my line of sight. Totally programmable for # cyls, rpms and steps for the progressive lights. Something to keep in mind is that some people don’t like digital tachs, but personally I focus just on the first two digits.
Cheers,
-aj
dwjohn
#13
Hi AJ,
I just bought the G2X myself, any hints or traps to avoid in installing it?
Doug Johnson
screwynewy
#14
I’ve got the same data logger (G2X) and display. I will have to take a picture of the custom bracket that I fabbed up to mount it to the steering column. Its nothing fancy just a piece of sturdy sheet metal that I cut to match the shape of the display and bent it at a 90 degree angle. Then I cut the horizontal section at the bend in about 1 1/2 inches so that I could wrap it around the curve of the steering column. I used the screws and nuts that are on the back of the display to secure it to the bracket and I used a 7" hose clamp to secure it to the steering column. It is positioned perfectly within my steering wheel and solid as a rock.
RichV
#15
I’ve run the ProForm on a Stang. Easy to hook up and setup your shift/RPM point. They are pretty nice and inexpensive. Got a new one off ebay for under $50 shipped a couple of years back.
The autometer "pills" thing is a scam. I got a Autometer shift light used last year for my Saleen. Didn’t feel like buying the pill packs at like $20. So I soldered in a pot and now am able to adjust the shiftpoint at any RPM I want. I don’t remember off the top of my head the range, but it a easy mod you can google.
goldfish
#16
dwjohn wrote:
[quote]Hi AJ,
I just bought the G2X myself, any hints or traps to avoid in installing it?
Doug Johnson[/quote]
Doug, nope - it is really easy. You can be getting GPS signal for speed, lap times, in literally just a few minutes. It will take longer to mount than configure.
I did exactly the same setup as Ken above for the display.
I mounted the brain to plate inside a piece of tupperware in the battery tray location, which made running wires easy and keeps it dry, secure and out of the way.
As far as config, I connected it to a wire on the ECU for the tach signal and you can set the "step" values for the progressive shift lights and the final shift point to suit your needs. I have mine 200 RPM below the rev limiter and I rarely bounce off the limiter anymore. The only odd thing was that it has a setting for the # of cylinders but I had to set it to 2 instead of 6, but it is very accurate.
Cheers,
-aj
screwynewy
#21
Yeah, they are pretty pricey but a good training tool if utilized to its full potential. They can be found on ebay at a pretty decent discount. Look here:
MikeD
#22
screwynewy wrote:
[quote]Yeah, they are pretty pricey but a good training tool if utilized to its full potential. They can be found on ebay at a pretty decent discount. Look here:
I’ve been thinking about getting one, if I do that will be the one.
sharkd
#23
The tach is a VDO Digital X-Treme #333-936 and the shift light (on the column, in front of the slushbox warning light) is an LED VDO Mega-Lite. Total spent was about $275, via eBay.
ilateapex
#24
Another G2X user here. Dan, that is another $275 in addition to your Traqmate right? G2X is a good value when you add it all up. Has the tach and shift lights.