Erik's8

You know, Corvette and some other cars have this HUD installed that projects speed, rpm and other information on the windshield. I think it would be way cool to have one of those in our 8's, too. I wonder if there is an aftermarket solution that works with the rotary engine...

What do y'all think?

Erik

Lensman

The one that BMW uses in their cars uses polarised light and consequently anyone wearing polarised shades (as most people do when driving) can't see it. Doh!

bwayout

Why do they do things like that?

I'd love to have a HUD on the RX-8, but please make sure that those of us that wear polarised sun glasses can see them in the daylight!

:D

PUR NRG

Any light that bounces off an object (reflected light) is polarized. That's how polarized sunglasses reduce glare.

You can find aftermarket stuff like this boost gauge that uses HUD technology. But you have to attach a plastic display piece on the windshield in order to make it work.
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Daihatsu rugger history

Sputnik

That's the DEFI boost gauge. They also have a speed/rpm version too. I have the boost gauge on my Miata.

You don't have to have that piece of tinted plastic on the windshield, but it does make it clearer. I omitted mine for more "stealth".

These just aren't the same as the one in the Corvette (or Grand Prix). Those are great HUDs, and I too wish that we could get something like that for the RX8. In addition to being a cool techno-toy, they really are useful. For example, for someone like me who is constantly checking the speedo, having it in direct view like that instead of having to re-focus on the instrument panel reduces the strain on my eyes, especially on long trips.

---jps

Lensman

Agreed: it has to be safer too. Not having to take one's eyes of the road at high speed has to be good. I'd love one! (Can I have a weapons lock reticle on it too please )

OdinGuru

In addition to the reflection polarisation, I'd suspect that these HUD type displays might also be LCD based. LCDs inherently emit polarised light (it's how they work). For a bit of fun put on a pair of polarized sun glasses and tilt your head while you look at a laptop or similar LCD display.

Boozehound

I had the LCD experience when I was using a polarized filter to take pictures of the interior of my car. Turn the filter and the nav disappeared - just black. Neat trick.

dcfc3s

Defi's VSD is a REALLY nice HUD setup -

http://www.defi-shop.com/product/vsd/vsd_top.htm

I've seen them in person, and they're really sharp. You can have the numeric speed, with LED's that progressively light as the RPM's raise and flash when it's time to shift. It also does a bunch of other features, and they're not too pricey.

http://www.gruppe-s.com/Defi/defielec.htm

That's about the best prices on gauges you'll find. The VSDII is $166.

Dale

Erik's8

Yeah, I found them, too. Problem is, that they only work with piston engines. You can set 3.4.5.6.8 cylinders. We could do a quick calculation as to which setting (if any) would be a close or maybe a perfect match to our rotaries.

dcfc3s

Nope, they work with rotaries. The ignition pulse to drive the tach is the same as a 4-cylinder engine - just set it for 4-cylinder mode and you're good to go. Been there done that many times .

Dale

Erik's8

dcfc3s, that is good news! Any complication worth mentioning there? Having seen the actual projector unit, do you think we can hide it on top of the dash nicely?

dcfc3s

Dunno about hiding the unit, but it IS well-engineered and nice looking. I've seen the Defi units in person, and they operate awesome - VERY well engineered.

Shouldn't be a tricky install, but the only drawback might be finding out the ECU pinout on the RX-8 to find which wire to tap into. Don't know if that info is available yet.

The unit is small - about the size of a pager. It's not very obtrusive interior-look-wise, much less so than a radar detector.

Dale

RotorMotor

The iDrive system (at least in the new 5 series) has been modified to fix this. Not that it's that important in our case, but I just read about it in R&T....

Sputnik

It does stick out like a sore thumb, IMHO. And I don't want a flashy, radar detector lookin' item sitting on my dash enticing a smash and grabber to break into my car.

There are guys who have made "hoods", if you will, similar to the "bump" on the dash of the Grand Prix.

I buried mine in the dash of my Miata. In the instrument panel hood, behind the IP itself. This hides it well, but it moves it away from the windshield (in the location where I put it), which dims it a little, and moves it up the windshield. You should still be able to "bury" it, but it will have to be almost at the edge of the windshield, and I don't know if there is any room in the RX8 for that.

---jps

Omicron

Now this, is COOL. Problem is, if you read the descriptions on the website (http://www.defi-shop.com/product/vsd/vsd_top.htm) it says "production is discontinued." Hafta call them Monday. In the mean time, does anyone have one of these?

project

Time to bring this thread back from the dead...

Looks like the VSDII and the VSD Sport have been discontinued along with the VST Boost Gauge and Field Compass.

Seems they have some new products to fill the holes though, the VSD Basis

http://www.defi-shop.com/product/basis/basis_top.html

and the VSD Concept

http://www.defi-shop.com/product/con...ncept_top.html

I'm really interested in getting one. Anyone with personal experience that could give me a quick rundown?

Edit: I just sent off an email to Defi asking about rotary compatibility. I'll post their response here when I get it.

Sputnik

That Basis unit looks to be an updated version of the VSDII, which isn't bad because the VSDII was a decent package.

But I really like the Concept unit. It looks to be a very configurable unit (albeit expensive), and if it is as programmable as the other VSD units were, you can put what you want on the HUD. Very nice.

---jps

project

I just heard back from Defi and its not good news for us...


The main reason I wanted this was to get my tach up where I can keep a better eye on it....

Anyone know how I might go about finding out the ignition pulse pattern(?) for both the renesis and say a 4 cylinder engine? (I'm not a mechanic or an engineer so maybe this is isnt the correct question to ask.) I have some friends who could probably build a converter with that information.

Omicron

I understand these things work jst fine on RX-7s, and when I called Defi, they said it's not a problem on the RX-8. Guess it depends on who you talk to.

I plan to get the RPM signal off of my CanZoomer unit... the most recent (and upgraded) versions include a tach output. :D

Installing mine will be a summertime project. I got the Defi Basis.

Omicron

Update: After reading through the manual on this unit, it seems the speed signal is extrapolated from the tach signal and your calibration when you install it. So saying that you cannot read the tach signal sounds like BS to me.

Omicron

Shameless plug: Project, I have one of these for sale in the For Sale forum, here.

visitor

can these things be recalibrated for different size wheels?

Sputnik

No. These units read the same signal that goes to the speedometer, so it will show the same as your speedo (depending on how well the stock speedo is calibrated).

---jps

Microdot

No, you must use the Force, ...weapons lock is for rookies