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DIY: How to Install a P3Cars Integrated Vent Gauge on Your BMW 1 Series M Coupe

Keeping up with the current technology can be a bit of a headache. We're used to using the latest touchscreen technology everywhere, even in our cars.
P3Cars Integrated Vent Gauge 14 photos
Photo: P3Cars
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It shouldn't be a surprise that now, tuners are offering digital vent gauges for our cars. One of these tuners is P3Cars. They created an integrated gauge that is installed right in your car's vents. This gauge will connect to your car's OBD plug in the left footwell.

The display was initially just a boost counter for the turbo models but, after the increasing requests for aspirated models, the guys over at P3Cars created another device that displays all kinds of information. The one we're talking about has almost limitless features. Even so, most of the customers will only use it for basic info like intake air temp, ignition timing, battery voltage, coolant temp, throttle position, RPM, battery voltage, acceleration timing and brake timing. It will also display top and minimal values for the specified parameters, reducing the trouble you'd have to go through to analyse the overall performance of the car.

In order to install this digital gauge into your vent you'll have to follow this simple DIY.

First of all, get everything you need at hand. You will require a size 20 torx, a Phillips screwdriver and the P3Cars Vent Gauge that (presumably) you already bought.

Step 1: Keep the driver's door open and pull off the rubber door seal (photo no 1). After this you'll gain access to the edge of the dash and kick panels.

Step 2: Starting at the bottom of the panel, remove the side dash cover, as shown in photo no 2.

Step 3: Using the torx screwdriver, press the vent's tabs through the 2 square access holes located to the left of the vent, in order to release it from the dash (photo no. 3).

Step 4: Remove the light switch panel by unscrewing the 2 torx screws. One is at the top and one at the bottom (photo no. 4)

Step 5: install the new vent that you bought into the socket (the digital gauge should be already fixed inside the new vent)

Step 6: Go under the steering wheel and remove the lower dash cover. That will require removing 3 #20 torx shown in photo no. 5. Suggestion: keep the cover down in the footwell.

Step 7: There are 2 Phillips screws keeping the side kick panel cover. You'll have to remove them using the Phillips screwdriver. In order to be able to get to those, you'll have to hold the hood pop lever (photo no. 6).

Step 8: Flex the side panel forward to gain access to the OBD port and the trunk pop switch. In order to free the panel, you'll have to pull the rubber door seal forward (photo no. 7)

Step 9: Get the display wire down into the footwell area and connect it to the control box (photo no. 8).

If you'd like to use the auto dimmer for the gauge, connect the green harness wire to the red/grey wire on the trunk pop switch with the T-Tap connector (photo no. 9).

Step 10: Plug the OBD connector to the car (photo no. 10)

Step 11: Connect the vacuum line and harness to the control box (photo no. 11)

Step 12: Start the engine and make sure that the gauge works properly. If the device is working as intended reconnect the vent and surrounding panels and trims.

Step 13: Restore the side kick panel to its original place and position the control box and harness above this panel, near the other factory wiring (photo no. 12)

Step 14: Restore the hood pop lever and the footwell cover back to their original positions.

That's it! Enjoy your new gauge.

This is a DIY guide and, as such, you must be aware the procedures described here involve some risks. autoevolution cannot be held responsible for any possible damage that might result while following this guide.
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