well as long as the gauges keep their memory I don't care where I get power. I'll have to hunt around once my gauges get in

 

the constant 12V source should be fine just for keeping memory.

 

I was about to take the 8 out of the showroom this week to start working on it. but we got pounded with this icestorm thingy

 

that sucks. I have to wait for my gauges

 

Personally, I think the gauge pod setup looks like crap, sorry but I hate how the gauges extrude out of the dash and that's it's not a complete replacement. Wait about 2weeks and you'll see mine which is a complete replacement and fits 52 and 60mm gauges, only downfall is that it's made out of fiberglass so should either be painted flat black or you can get black texture paint in a spray can. I'm just too busy to finish it right now, that's why I'm saying 2weeks.

 

ill believe it when i see it

 

it may not be a complete replacement, but it includes good instructions on how to cut the dash (including a template) and everything, and when you're done it looks OEM like a 350Z dash

 

+1

 

SAME HERE


I ordered Lotek but im still waiting for it to arrive.

 

I would not dis anyones hard work or the effort needed to put out things for us - whoever did this was really doing something good for all of us.

But if the picture posted here (from an earlier post) is what this looks like - I'd have reservations too, and I do. I don't think it 'sucks' as was posted, but look at it - The color is off color greyish, not like the dash. The finish looks like a hard plastic model, nothing like the dash finish. IT COULD JUST BE THE LIGHT & CAMERA. But that is what I see in the pic. I'n not going to make much of the 'bugeye' appearance, that's personal preference - but that was for me too the 1st thing I noticed. Not unattractive, but not exactly beautiful either.

Again this is the 1st great dash piece out, and in a pinch I'd get it...but I'm not ready to take the plunge incase some other options get inspired by this.

 

here is the pic of my pod- up close, dash to pod, to show the qualitly. It looks exactly the same as OEM.



There is no difference. It is the lighting difference you see in the pics

 

The hood on the stock guages don't match the dash in the pics either but it does match the lotek pod....color wise.

 

Personally think this pod looks pretty damn good but, is it the best solution? Absolutely not. Is this the best solution for a gauge pod that is currently offered? Absolutely. I'm sure everyone here would love to have a complete OEM replacement piece but there isn't one readily available for RHD that I'm aware of. Until that time comes I have no problem paying $50 for a temporary pod until something better comes along. Who knows I may not even have the car anymore by the time someone actually makes a complete replacement. It's already been 3to4years since this car has been out and this is all we have.

I give you credit for making your own pod out of fiberglass but I don't think you're going to find any type of paint, textured or not that will match the OEM piece any better than what the Lotek pod does.

 

well mine that I have in my hands right now does match the stock OEM plastic.

 

pics please?

 

I already posted plenty of pics in this thread, in fact at the top of this page!
scroll up for click here: https://www.rx8club.com/showpost.php...&postcount=136

 

You seemed to intimate you had some new pics, sorry my bad. I've studied the pics you had posted above in great detail.

But I have to tell you, even thou you say there's no dif, and you may be 110% correct to your eyes, your pics on my 19" LCD shows a differece in color and texture as best as I can see. Your pic focus in the closeup is so poor that it's hard to see the texture, but it still does look to me to be different.

I know I'm hard to convince, and nothing personal, but you haven't shown anything to my eyes that matches up with your saying they are the same in color and texture. That's OK, and you certainly don't owe me further proof. I haven't bought the piece yet, but we all might enjoy seeing some better close pics of the finished installed pod, but infocus and in 'better' light.

Enjoy the pod anyway

 

i haven't installed the pod yet because I'm waiting for my gauges and RB adaptors. I;m waiting to cut the dash piece so I don't have to drive around with an empty gauge pod!
all I can say is I have the pod and it looks pretty damn close to OEM to me. No one is going to match OEM, it just doesn't happen. This is just a fact of the aftermarket.
But you can always pay over $1100 of the Mazdaspeed pod if you want exact OEM

 

I don't think it's an exact match either but it looks close enough for me. I really don't care cause I did order one last week. I'm just happy to be able to mount guages in the car. If I don't like it I'll just have it painted to match the piano black.

 

It might be me, but the MazdaSpeed & the RE Amemiya look like they are nuetral. Dont face LH or RH.. Anybody else have opinions on this?

 

I understand your point, and that's the nature of aftermarket products. But I keep going back to the FEED gauges for reference, and MAN the texture is spot on. The grains are smaller and closer together, just like OEM.

 

that is nice, but how much does it cost?? Not to mention it's RHD

you have to realize that almost no one will be able to tell the difference except for the most dicerning eye, and then only butt faces' will tell you
It isn't that far off, the average person (or car guy even) won't be able to notice. If you stare it at for hours on end, I'm sure you might see the differences, but who's gonna do that?
For under $65 with shipping, how do you beat it?

 

Talked to Lotek today...they said they will start mailing out the pods by the end of the week.

 

I finally got mine fully installed and working on the weekend. I'll post some pics of the install completely finished. Everything was pretty simple except I spent 2hrs driving around looking for a 26mm socket for the sandwich plate adaptor.

Sorry Chickwafer but I do have to agree with some of the other posters that it does not match the OEM finish as much as it should. It's close enough for me though. I think it looks pretty damn good for the price I paid. Overall I'm very satisfied with it. Even if a complete dash panel replacement comes out I think I'll stick with this one. Unless of course the panel replacement is ridiculously cheap.

I'm just glad to have the gauges installed and working. It's pretty amazing to watch how much the oil temp fluctuates.

 

please start a thread about this..

beers