People running P3 gauge I have questions!

[M3_Dylan]

I am considering picking up an OBD II track pack P3 vent gauge. I just spent a good bit of money going stage 2 so I don't NEED this but it looks cool and I have some questions. I know there are cheaper options but honestly I just love how it looks. Are the boost readings actually accurate without a boost tap and sensor? I would assume reading from the ECU would have latency and or estimated numbers. Be honest .... how often are the readings useful to you compared to it just looking cool. I guess all 'n all do you think it's worth the almost $400 price tag? Thanks so much

[davies0186]

Need a boost tap for it to be accurate. I like the look of it but I use it primarily for IATs which I got when I added the track pack to it. Prior to that I used it for very inaccurate 0-60 runs and boost even knowing it wasn’t accurate. I personally really like it. I added an analog boost gauge above the steeering wheel recently just for fun too


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[davies0186]

Oh and also don’t get the one that comes with the vent. Just take the vent slats out yourself it’s really not hard and saves good money


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[VeeDubbinJetta]

If you are primarily just looking for boost readings and don’t necessarily care about the other features it has, they do sell a boost only version which comes with the sensor you hook to a boost tap. I have been running this version for a few years and I love it. It’s also about half the cost of the full version of the gauge which is nice too.

[Fresh.S4]

i was against p3's since 2018. i thought they looked out of place with the digital readout.

earlier this year i bought another s4 that came with a p3 in the box. i installed it and.... honestly its kinda cool i guess. i mainly installed it so i can add the ethanol sensor and analog boost signal. i never use the ethanol sensor since i use my e85 blend app to get my ethanol measurements and the boost signal i never look at, ever. i do keep it on the charge air temp but i already know that i stay within 15-20* of ambient, and even then i never actively look at. their is a code reader on it but i dont know how it works. plus i have a separate bt dongle that i can use with my phone to read/ clear codes if it ever happens. (torque pro app).

tldr: its cool for the initial setup of supporting mods, but not something you'll use daily.

[brandonpham]

I've been researching it and feel the main benefits are code reader (depends on the person, not really a benefit for me), IAT, ethanol sensor, boost, and how good it looks.

Personally i feel like it will end up staying on boost and sometimes IAT, but going from my B7 with the vent AWE analog gauge to the b8.5 S4, the digital gauge is just more fitting in the car's appearance.

Been hoping for a sale a bit better than the 10% off i've seen or a used one if possible.

[Fresh.S4]

i would still 100% choose an oem looking analog boost sensor.

[ZGskibum]

I have this and love it. I almost exclusively leave it on IAT, which is a very useful reading. Last month, based solely on IAT abnormality, I was able to immediately diagnose that my secondary water pump (AMS system) had stopped functioning, which turned out was due to corroded electrical connections in my water-pump relays. If not for P3 and IAT readings this wouldn’t have come to light until much later, after causing lethargic performance and possibly damage to other components, and likely at much greater expense.

IAT readings are also highly useful for showing when you’ve reached recovery temp so that you can do a full pull without getting too hot and pulling timing. Great for spirited driving.

Totally worthwhile purchase for those practical reasons standing alone. Highly recommend it.


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[hardfive]

i was against p3's since 2018. i thought they looked out of place with the digital readout.

earlier this year i bought another s4 that came with a p3 in the box. i installed it and.... honestly its kinda cool i guess. i mainly installed it so i can add the ethanol sensor and analog boost signal. i never use the ethanol sensor since i use my e85 blend app to get my ethanol measurements and the boost signal i never look at, ever. i do keep it on the charge air temp but i already know that i stay within 15-20* of ambient, and even then i never actively look at. their is a code reader on it but i dont know how it works. plus i have a separate bt dongle that i can use with my phone to read/ clear codes if it ever happens. (torque pro app).

tldr: its cool for the initial setup of supporting mods, but not something you'll use daily.

The codes display at start up.

Super helpful for me as Im stage 2 with test pipes and I deleated my SAI so I have a permanent CEL. I read the codes on start up; as long as I recognize them I know there isn't anything else going on.

[Allan691]

IAT 90% of the time during the Summer.
Def useful... almost necessary.

Boost is interesting, but never stays there.

Coolant temp is very useful considering the stock gauge rises to 90 and then doesn’t move.. ever. I was able to determine I had a failing T-Stat thanks to my P3. It showed temps rising and falling whereas the stock gauge never fluxuated.

Battery once in a while, just to monitor it.

0-100 kmph (0-60) for gauging perf.

Exhaust gas temps occassionally to monitor what I’m doing to my cats.

That’s it I think.

[M3_Dylan]

Thanks guys!