VMR's vent boost gauge - REVIEW and PICS! *LONG*

[Quattro]

So, I was one of the fortunate ones to get lucky enough to test out the product. I met up with Don@VMR and we installed the boost gauge. The install was pretty quick and was very straight forward (just took awhile longer because of all the pictures) . I picked this up about a month ago and didnt post sooner (sorry don), but after a month it is still functional and well worth the money.

The boost gauge is of good quality and the kit comes with everything you need to install and to tap the wires.

Most will wonder how the matching of the gauge flows with the interior...and it matches pretty well. I choose the white back light with redish needle, I wanted more of a oem look. The gauge is very visible at night and looks very pretty, yes I said pretty. It is very eye catching and so far nothing but compliments.

The kit comes with a type of anti-buzzing, I havent heard any buzzing from the gauge so this is a plus.


I am very pleased with the over look and turn out of the vented gauge. This was an alternative to the AWE boost gauge. I am happy with the outcome and give nothing but good reviews for this product.

I dont know what more to say, besides showing pics! If you have questions about the product, I am more than happy to help answer questions. I am going to take some more night pics and post those shortly

P.S. I think the gauge matches pretty well with my carbon fiber interior trim. Also, if anyone is interested pm: VMRSport and he can set you up with a sick deal!!!

[Sharkfin]

besides getting some night pic, can we get some of the entire interior, thanks randy

[Quattro]

the last two are "on" pics, taken during the day will post more tonight =D

[joec500]

looks nice...if it's under 200 I would be down...I had one in my B5 S4, but it was only 150 from APR, the b6/b7 stuff is too much at $260...

[IceMole]

Does it come in platinum?

[initiala4]

looks so like AWE?

[Doctor]

I think there isn't such a bad-looking solution as putting a gauge on the pod this way...
I mean the awe-way...
Very awful looks for me, plus, it is 52mm, or smaller, you cant see a thing when you drive fast, you get no warnings, no peaks, no nothing.
If you are to put a gauge, put a good one, on a nice pod...
Otherwise, dont do it at all...
At least that's what I think, that is Y I've spent a lot of money only on the best gagues, i.e Defi, GReddy...What you pay for, is what you get...

[VZWalex]

looks great Randy !

[Quattro]

Doctor, you are saying this is not a nice pod? We are entitled to our own opinions, which is fine with me. The vent gauge will not suit us all, I agree smaller gauges might not be suitable for people like yourself who are into hardcore tracking or racing, from your pics all your custom gauges look good but way too much for me. I felt this set up is very subtle and matched very well with the interior.

The gauge is more than enough for you to read your psi, when you know your car you should already know what you are peeking, how your car feels, etc and dont really need to glance at your gauge.. but what do i know I am a noob at these things =D



-----------------------------
TY Alex, how is that race gas?

[Doctor]

Doctor, you are saying this is not a nice pod? We are entitled to our own opinions, which is fine with me. The vent gauge will not suit us all, I agree smaller gauges might not be suitable for people like yourself who are into hardcore tracking or racing, from your pics all your custom gauges look good but way too much for me. I felt this set up is very subtle and matched very well with the interior.

The gauge is more than enough for you to read your psi, when you know your car you should already know what you are peeking, how your car feels, etc and dont really need to glance at your gauge.. but what do i know I am a noob at these things =D

Yes, this is not a nice pod for me, and that is why I am saying my opinion...

When posting a thread and giving us all pics, you should know, that one of the options, is that someone will not like what you've posted...True..?

Ok, you wanted to keep the OEM lighting. Well guess what. There are other gauges, that could also do that, but also cost a whole lot more...
DEfi BF Series w/ White Dials, red needle. Am I right...? Yes I am...

With Defi, you can see the peak and REC as well, and not look at the gauge while driving and killing pedestrians as well...Am I right...? Yes I am...

As for the "...when you know your car you should already know what you are peeking, how your car feels, etc...", it is correct, but you actually need a boost gauge, not for showing it to your friends and saying look I got a gauge, etc etc, but to help you see when somethings going wrong in your engine...True...?

but what do i know I am a noob at these things

Love the carbon interior trim

[Quattro]

Yes, this is not a nice pod for me, and that is why I am saying my opinion...

When posting a thread and giving us all pics, you should know, that one of the options, is that someone will not like what you've posted...True..?

Ok, you wanted to keep the OEM lighting. Well guess what. There are other gauges, that could also do that, but also cost a whole lot more...
DEfi BF Series w/ White Dials, red needle. Am I right...? Yes I am...

With Defi, you can see the peak and REC as well, and not look at the gauge while driving and killing pedestrians as well...Am I right...? Yes I am...

As for the "...when you know your car you should already know what you are peeking, how your car feels, etc...", it is correct, but you actually need a boost gauge, not for showing it to your friends and saying look I got a gauge, etc etc, but to help you see when somethings going wrong in your engine...True...?

but what do i know I am a noob at these things

Love the carbon interior trim

I do not mind the comments, like I said not everyone will like the gauge, want it, etc.


True, bigger gauges are better to look at, but still create a hazard while driving as you should never look at your gauges or tv while you drive. I agree there prob is thousands of gauges that are better, hell I never knew that one could record (if you meant that). My thing is why would I need that or the average joe need a recording boost gauge? Might be sweet, but would be a waste of money for me.

secondly, it is cool to show your friends and they do come in handy 100% agree with you, I am just saying once you know your car you can tell when you are not boosting or when your car is in limp mode. This is in nooo way saying you dont need a gauge, saying that once you know your car you can tell. At the end of the day a boost gauge (to me) is a boost gauge and it will read boost amount from 0-xx..

thank you for the compliment on the cf trim, it looks pretty hehe

[Doctor]

The DEFI gauges, Do have a Link Unit, which has a lot of functions.
One of them is the REC mode, that u can use as following.

You suppose your car has a problem. And you say, ok, lets check what is the prob, i should go with wot on 4th gear. Which is one of the best gears to check for boost leak (ie broken dump valve)
But the problem is that when u accelerate on 4th, you will reach dangerous speeds...
So, you turn on the rec, and when you stop, you hit play, and see what the car does, or show it to your mechanic anytime you want...

Cool, or what...?
It is for me and all the people I know that have chosen so good gauges...

However, I cant convince if you dont see it for yourself...

[Nico]

The DEFI gauges, Do have a Link Unit, which has a lot of functions.
One of them is the REC mode, that u can use as following.

You suppose your car has a problem. And you say, ok, lets check what is the prob, i should go with wot on 4th gear. Which is one of the best gears to check for boost leak (ie broken dump valve)
But the problem is that when u accelerate on 4th, you will reach dangerous speeds...
So, you turn on the rec, and when you stop, you hit play, and see what the car does, or show it to your mechanic anytime you want...

Cool, or what...?
It is for me and all the people I know that have chosen so good gauges...

However, I cant convince if you don't see it for yourself...

The best way to diagnose any fault in your car - especially boost is via Vag-Com. This also has a record function and you can record your boost far more accurately than via a guage.

Doctor - can you post up some pics of your Defi setup.

[Doctor]

The best way to diagnose any fault in your car - especially boost is via Vag-Com. This also has a record function and you can record your boost far more accurately than via a guage.

Doctor - can you post up some pics of your Defi setup.

But ofcourse this is the best way. I've got a vagcom myself.
However the defi gauge is VERY accurate, it shows exactly the same values...
But because on the track or on a fast going on the road i cant have my laptop with me, gauges are the best thing to do...

As for the pics...what a strange thing...
I've opened a thread with my car, but noone but very few seems to have seen it...Should I change the title...?

I dont want to destroy the friend's thread here, but here u go.
For more pictures on gauges, or anything else from my car, tell me so we can open another gauge-o-thread







As u can see there is some job left to be done, the custom left and right vent pods to be made for the other two defis awaiting, and a plastic piece with the master warning light of defis fitted in it, which will go on the left of the defi link unit above the rcd
(u can see a gap there in the photo with a wire in it)

When its finished
(that is when the guy making them will call me to tell me they're ready ) I will post pics for everyone if u want

[Nico]

WOW!! That is intense. I like it, but I would never do that to my car, unless I was stripping it down and using as a race car. No Air conditioning in Greece! You must sweat your arse off. The steering wheel is cool too. But again I prefer to keep mine more stock looking.

VMR looks like a great option!

[CHARLESLUCARELL]

His interior looks GHETTO!!

[ringmaster2.0]

yeah, i was just wondering why it is necessary to have all those gauges on your dash if the only performance mod i can see by your sig is a 76mm cat-back exhaust. I mean, are you that worried about your ride? It just seems like overkill, unless you did it for aesthetic reasons which is fine, but I am just curious.

[GEkido]

yeah, i was just wondering why it is necessary to have all those gauges on your dash if the only performance mod i can see by your sig is a 76mm cat-back exhaust. I mean, are you that worried about your ride? It just seems like overkill, unless you did it for aesthetic reasons which is fine, but I am just curious.

Only a 76mm cat-back exhaust? Lol. You havent seen his other thread. Lemme hook you up so you can edit that last post.

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=214939

[Doctor]

WOW!! That is intense. I like it, but I would never do that to my car, unless I was stripping it down and using as a race car. No Air conditioning in Greece! You must sweat your arse off. The steering wheel is cool too. But again I prefer to keep mine more stock looking.

VMR looks like a great option!

I will not strip it down, but it will be light. However yeah, the cooling is one thing, but on summer I just wait a bit longer for the ClimaTronic to do its job...
There are other free vents for it to be done, so no problem...
It just takes a little bit longer...

His interior looks GHETTO!!

yeah, i was just wondering why it is necessary to have all those gauges on your dash if the only performance mod i can see by your sig is a 76mm cat-back exhaust. I mean, are you that worried about your ride? It just seems like overkill, unless you did it for aesthetic reasons which is fine, but I am just curious.

Well I see you are curious...Aren't you curious, why I chose the 76mm pipe for a car that hasnt got more than 170hp...?
Well I certainly would be...No, it isnt the noise I wanted it to produce...

If GT35 doesnt ring a bell to you, tell me to explain myself

Only a 76mm cat-back exhaust? Lol. You havent seen his other thread. Lemme hook you up so you can edit that last post.

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=214939

[3.2some]

Did you dyno your car yet Mixali?
(Patrida, tha theis Ellatha Souithia ???Ti tha kanoume,tha tous gamisoume,ti les?)

[Doctor]

No reason to dyno it yet my Greek friend...It is weak and it is inside for a racing clutch kit....However once I put on the turbo it will be dynoed...
(ennoeitai tha dw, elpizw na tous gamisoume an kai den kserw re gmt mipws fame pswli fetos...tha deiksei...tou to gamisame to thema tou paidiou...an einai na anoiksw ena thema me to amaksi mou re na grafoume ekei...giati sto allo, vlepoun Ellinas sto thema kai allazoun dromo h mou fainetai...?)

[3.2some]

Yeah when you drop in the BT I wanna see some numbers.....are there any decent opportunities to track where you live?(oso geia to allo, ama einai milame meson PM, sta arxitheia mou thilathi ti kanoun kai then kanoun oi alloi alla kala les pou allazoun thromo...koloamerikanakia hehehe)

[Doctor]

Yeah there is. One actually. Serres Racing Track which is the only REAL track there is in Greece. Greece is very late in this section, and i hope for some more tracks to be made so as to go there and race with safety...
Nothing better actually
(Elladara simera re pame gera :) )

[ringmaster2.0]

sweet bro, didn't see your thread about the Big a$$ turbo plans. Ver nice setup, GL and lets def see some track vids, when u get it done

[Doctor]

For the time I only have videos of me racing with my MKV GT, can give them to you if u wish... (they are nice...I pass an Impreza with 400bhp, whereas I am only 230hp LoL)

Tell me to open a thread to pass them onto there

[Vito Roma]

Too small...just my 2 cents tho

[VMRSport]

Thanks for the review man.

For those who have been asking, we currently have an introductory price of $149 plus $10 dollars for shipping within the US.

Let me know if any of you are interested or if you have any questions.

thanks.

-Don

[joec500]

PM sent...interested, also do you include directions so I know things to tap under the hood :)

[IceMole]

You're gonna try to spin a 35 on a 1.8t without going stroker?

[Doctor]

You're gonna try to spin a 35 on a 1.8t without going stroker?

Where exactly did I say that...?

[TheDifference]

if anyone likes the BF defi boost gauge, but like me cant justify buying the control unit for just one gauge, defi also make the 'racer' series which is mechanical and doesnt need the control unit. it still has the whole sweeping needle/opening ceremony stuff too!

[Quattro]

thanks for the info, back to the lovely boost gauge hehe

[Doctor]

if anyone likes the BF defi boost gauge, but like me cant justify buying the control unit for just one gauge, defi also make the 'racer' series which is mechanical and doesnt need the control unit. it still has the whole sweeping needle/opening ceremony stuff too!

I think the opening/closing ceremony isnt what is important...Its just for show...
The important functions such as peak, memory, warning, rec/play are ALL in the link
So for me it is definetely buying even for one gauge...
I mean...Hello..it costs 70euros...Now how expensive can that be when you get all these above...The racer gauges are nice, but bit small. A friend of mine has three in blue colour.
Nice.

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Rear Valence+Trunk Air Lip+Mirror Housings+WindowTrim CF'ed, Debadged Trunk, Front+Rear Red Tie Hooks, Engine Cover Removed, Painted WasherFluid+Coolant caps, Toyo Proxes Racing Semislick R888 225.40 (for now), OZ Ultraleggera 8x18 ET45 Black, 76mm Custom Cat-Back Exhaust, OEM BlackMask w/ black Audi Badge, Sparco 33mm Racing SteeringWheel, RUF Snap-off WheelHub, CF ShiftKnob, ColourMatched BrakeCalipers, APex-I TurboTimer black, Custom BilsteinPSS Coils, Tinted Tailights, GReddy Electronic Φ=60 Warning A/F, WaterTemp, OilPress, FuelPress
Defi BFSeries (w/ link) Φ=60, Boost, EGT, OilTemp, + 1, Custom GaugePods by XM Greece, PIAA CityLights Super White and White, Sparco CF Pedals, Simoni Racing SteeringWheel CronoMeter, Sachs Organic Racing Clutch Kit

[VMRSport]

I wouldn't say one is better than another, and vice versa. Each one has its own market. If not, then everyone would only be running Defis, and all other gauge companies/brands would be out of business.

We are just trying to offer something different (we have these available for Subarus, VWs, etc, as well).

-Don

[joec500]

Hey Don...I PM'd you, I am interested, please let me know if you guys have them ready to ship and I can send out payment.

[VMRSport]

Thanks, replied back to your PMs.

Let me know if you got them or not.

-Don

[joec500]

Thanks, replied back to your PMs.

Let me know if you got them or not.

-Don

I only got your initial PM...not one in regards to total cost shipping and availability

[VMRSport]

Ah, you are right. It was someone else's PM that I replied to, with the same answer.

I am sending you a PM right now.

thanks.

-Don

[Quattro]

bump for a sick gauge =)

[VMRSport]

Did you get my PM randy?