Aux oil pressure gauge?
 

I'm looking for an aux. oil pressure gauge, installed in the interioir somewhere. I've searched on the forum here, haven't found anything yet. Does anybody have any suggestions? Or maybe somebody knows where I can find a unit like this one:
http://www.xoutpost.com/members/mam4...-dga-gauge.jpg

I'd buy one today if I could find one! I'd like to moniter what's happening with my oil, since low oil pressure blew up my previous motor... :thumbdown

Buy a Scanguage II and you'll be able to monitor everything. Plugs into the OBD II port.

I checked the scangauge out a bit, and if I understand correctly, I will be able to moniter oil pressure, as well as many other temps and ops. But the gauges get their reading from the OBD2 port. Can I depend on this reading to be acurate, or do I need to actually run a line to my oil line with a separate gauge to get a real-time reading?

I always wondered if one of the "unused" OBC TESTs (#15-#18) was used on the rare M clusters that have an oil temp gauge. If you've unlocked your OBD...check to see if any of the unused TEST (#15-#18) are activated on your cluster.

Perhaps there's an oil temp and/or oil pressure TEST...again, your cluster is different than most other BMWs...we may find that your TESTs are slightly different as well.

Don't let the mention of "E38" throw you off...this is the procedure for unlocking ALL high instrument clusters (E39/E38/E53/E46) that have 2 buttons:

A mechanical oil pressure gauge will require a line to the dash, subject to potential leaks at every connection point. An electric gauge will have a sender unit that converts the pressure to a voltage, and a wire to an electric gauge. I would say that the electric one is more reliable. Also, it can be designed fail safe so that if the signal is lost, it shows a fault, whether the pressure is low or not. A mechanical gauge won't be fail safe.

The accuracy of the reading will be a function of the sender and any software that modifies the signal. The one on the vehicle now is as accurate as any one you will purchase over the counter, IMO.

Properly installed mechanical gauges should last the life of the car. When I said properly I mean copper lines instead of those plastic lines that is so prevalent these days. Use of grommets in all holes that penetrates the firewall.

I just found a pic of J Belknap's cluster, with his gauge installed in the cluster. I like the clean look of his, also the multiple functions of it, as well as being able to scan and read codes. Thinking of going that route. But still, I prefer mechanical over electrical as a personal preference, simply because I believe no elecronics are totally fail-safe. I would trust a properly installed mechanical setup over electrical. Thanks for all the input, I'll let you know what I end up with...

I had a mechanical oil pressure gauge installed in my 2002 back in the 70's. Wonderful piece of equipment until the hose broke when I was out on a date. Driving at 70+ MPH and suddenly your leg is covered in hot oil is most definitely not conducive to safe driving.
I never had a mechanical oil gauge EVER again!

I had a mechanical oil pressure gauge on my Morgan. Of course, I also had a wooden frame for the body, and a foot valve that sprayed oil from the main oil gallery on the sliding pillar front suspension, scheduled as a regular lubrication task.

I had this with volt and oil pressure ... http://www.xoutpost.com/members/mrbm...1082010131.jpg

This is electric gauge that come with a sender
Let me know you can have it for cheap. I took it off before I sold my X5