Aeroforce Gauge: Small review and mounting solution

[nick0188]

Hello all, sharing my feedback from a recently purchased Aeroforce Interceptor Gauge.

I've had a P3 gauge with the track pack since purchasing my S4, and although I really liked the placement and functionality, it was always annoying to have to switch between screens to see the different parameters I wanted to see (not to mention needing the external boost sensor to see accurate boost). Since I recently switched to methanol injection and a higher timing tune, I was constantly switching between Boost, Timing, and IAT (not to mention checking my ethanol content, if I used any).

After reading some other reviews, and reaching out to Todd at Aeroforce, I was hooked realizing I could see 4 values at once. I purchased the gauge and his gauge pod for next to the Nav screen. Unfortunately, the pod only worked for S5's and is different for the S4 (if you have an S5 I would highly recommend the pod, it looks awesome). Not wanting to waste any time, I mounted the gauge myself in the location I wanted. It required a bunch of measuring, drilling two holes for the threaded gauge posts to go through to secure the gauge and dremeling another hole for the wires to go through. Seriously, including removing the bezel this can be accomplished in a very reasonable hour.

Once mounted, I hooked my existing Str8shot ethanol content signal wire up to the analog input and plugged the OBD2 plug in. That's it. Gauge fired up. I had to configure some things to see what I wanted, but the functionality is awesome. You can turn the fans on through the gauge (which is awesome for the staging lanes at the drag strip combined with the pump mod to cool IATS), you can graph values, set it to cycle values, or set 1, 2 or 4 values to display on the screen at one time. There is also a suite of performance monitors you can use (0-60, 60-130, etc), along with flashing lights for whatever value you want to configure (rev limiter, high IAT's, whatever) It is plenty fast, and I'm noticing almost negligible lag with 4 values displayed. Also, the boost values as ACCURATE through the OBD2 port with this gauge, no external sensor needed.

I will say, the ability to watch everything I need all on one gauge has been amazing. I thought it may be hard to read given the screen size, or multiple values, or placement, but this has not been the case at all. I'm really really happy with this gauge.

I know people write reviews and never list the negatives, so I will share the only two things I dislike. If you wear polarized sunglasses the gauge is very hard to see with them on. Also, the mounting options for actual gauge placement in this vehicle are slim to none. Your only real options are to mount it like I did (which I think turned out super nice), buy the pod from Aeroforce which only works for an S5, or buy the defroster vent from Aeroforce which I'm not sold on. The ECS vent pod only fits small gauges (realized that after ordering it, whoops), and nobody else makes another vent pod. So, if you have an S4 and are OK drilling a couple holes in your dash bezel, this is the gauge for you!

- - - Updated - - -

Reserved for Pictures

[nick0188]

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[bhvrdr]

nice location. yeah i like this gauge much better than the P3 which was a good one too but this one is next level IMO. a great upgrade.


also, for people who think the screen is blue, it really isnt. the camera makes it look blue. its much more black/white/gray in person.

mike

[Jk79]

I also recently installed this gauge. It starts up right away and updates instantly. Lots of measurements available to display. I also purchased a Podi column mount. Works great. Doesn’t block anything on the dash and required no drilling etc. simply unscrew and unclip the original and pop this one into its place.

Not the best pic but this was right after install.




Link to column mount:

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-podi-par...CABEgJMTvD_BwE

[nick0188]

I also recently installed this gauge. It starts up right away and updates instantly. Lots of measurements available to display. I also purchased a Podi column mount. Works great. Doesn’t block anything on the dash and required no drilling etc. simply unscrew and unclip the original and pop this one into its place.

Not the best pic but this was right after install.


Link to column mount:

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-podi-par...CABEgJMTvD_BwE

I did see and like this option, but don't you have to hollow out the back of the pod to make it fit? So you end up with like a jagged opening with a clamp and wires hanging out? To me that wasn't in any way clean enough for this car.

[Jk79]

I did see and like this option, but don't you have to hollow out the back of the pod to make it fit? So you end up with like a jagged opening with a clamp and wires hanging out? To me that wasn't in any way clean enough for this car.

I saw someone else mention that but I did not have to hollow it out. The gauge itself sticks out a few millimeters from the front of the pod housing but fits snugly and doesn't 'appear' to be sticking out. I can take a pic later from the side.

[nick0188]

I saw someone else mention that but I did not have to hollow it out. The gauge itself sticks out a few millimeters from the front of the pod housing but fits snugly and doesn't 'appear' to be sticking out. I can take a pic later from the side.

Nice, if that is the case that's a solid option for sure! Actually, I probably would have just gone that route had I known. I found a bunch of posts about people cutting the back open that looked awful and quickly averted.

[Jugghead51]

Yes please post a picture from the side. OP yours looks amazing as well. Great job and thanks for the review and pics

[hellovaras]

Nice, if that is the case that's a solid option for sure! Actually, I probably would have just gone that route had I known. I found a bunch of posts about people cutting the back open that looked awful and quickly averted.

What I did with mine was put it into the ECS pod and added a little toothpaste to the bolts on the gauge. It marked in the pod where I drilled two small holes. I then slid the gauge into the pod and the bolts slid into the holes but do not poke out. I did need to sand the inside of the pod a little (right side when looking at it) to get it to sit more flush and more recessed. The wires run through the steering column and out the back where I zip tied and connected the OBD2.

Pics are not great, but I think you get the point.

IMG_20190514_091113.jpg
IMG_20190514_091048.jpg

[nick0188]

Oh yea, that looks perfect!! Good job for sure. 1000x better than the hack jobs I found. Great to have another clean solution.

[FromRagsToS4]

So no way of running this AND the P3?

[nick0188]

So no way of running this AND the P3?

I'm not sure if a splitter would work. My question would be, why do you need to see 5 variables? Also, you can set the Aeroforce variables to cycle between whatever you choose. So every 2 seconds (or whatever you pick) it will cycle between what you want. I don't think there is a need for this plus another gauge, but I'm all ears.

[Jk79]

Yes please post a picture from the side. OP yours looks amazing as well. Great job and thanks for the review and pics

Side view. Sticks out just a bit but doesn’t look odd (to me anyway). No modifications done to the pod.



And sorry for thread jacking OP. Great write up and install.

[ModItNow]

Wow, I need one of these gauges! Sounds awesome

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[nick0188]

And sorry for thread jacking OP. Great write up and install.

No worries at all. We are here to share knowledge, if I would have seen your pictures I probably would have went that route!



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[Rodizzle]

Did you guys ordered it off the there website ? Anyone care to share the model number ?

Oh and i have Ethanol sensor already ,other then that do I need any other sensors ? Or does everything else reads off the OBD (IAT, AF ,BOOST ) ?

Thanks


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[bhvrdr]

Did you guys ordered it off the there website ? Anyone care to share the model number ?

Oh and i have Ethanol sensor already ,other then that do I need any other sensors ? Or does everything else reads off the OBD (IAT, AF ,BOOST ) ?

Thanks


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It reads everything off obd like vcds. You can hook up any additional sensors like ethanol or an egt probe or whatever. Its boost readings are true vcds like readings instead of the p3 that seems to be an incorrectly programmed calculation thats off a couple psi. Literally all i had to do is mount it and plug it in. Call them up to order the S logo on it.

Mike

[nick0188]

Did you guys ordered it off the there website ? Anyone care to share the model number ?

Oh and i have Ethanol sensor already ,other then that do I need any other sensors ? Or does everything else reads off the OBD (IAT, AF ,BOOST ) ?

Thanks


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Yep you can order off of the website. Nothing else needed.

[Helmet165]

Yep you can order off of the website. Nothing else needed.

How much is it??

[nick0188]

Does anyone know how to use the internet? All of this is posted on their site.


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[Rodizzle]

Yep you can order off of the website. Nothing else needed.

Thanks man ,
I just wondering cause under their application guide , Audi S4 is listed under “CNAUDI14” . Yet under Audi interceptor ordering page only shows IOSAV , CNAV and CNVW1516 .
I’ll definitely be replacing my P3 with this .


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[Helmet165]

Does anyone know how to use the internet? All of this is posted on their site.

The internet? Is that thing still around?

[forcefedjunkie]

Thanks man ,
I just wondering cause under their application guide , Audi S4 is listed under “CNAUDI14” . Yet under Audi interceptor ordering page only shows IOSAV , CNAV and CNVW1516 .
I’ll definitely be replacing my P3 with this .


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I think the S4/S5 option was missing for a short time but it's back now: http://www.aeroforcetech.com/product...r_audi_vw.html. It's at the bottom, and has part number CNAUDI14.

Cost is $249


Todd

[Fsts4]

Hi guys I recently installed the aeroforce gauge and I'm having an issue with the gauge staying on after turning the car off. Is this normal? Or do I need to wire the gauge to a power source that comes on with the ignition?. I tried emailing aeroforce but haven't heard back from them yet.

[bhvrdr]

Hi guys I recently installed the aeroforce gauge and I'm having an issue with the gauge staying on after turning the car off. Is this normal? Or do I need to wire the gauge to a power source that comes on with the ignition?. I tried emailing aeroforce but haven't heard back from them yet.

Not normal. Definitely give them a shout

[Rodizzle]

Anyone care to share the ethanol settings ?


Edit :
I think I figured it out

[DrZEUS]

Picked up an Aeroforce gauge and Podi steering column gauge pod. Anyone know how to pop off the stock column trim to replace with the podi one?

[zatta]

Anybody know if these would fit a 2013 Q5 3.0t?


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[waxxonMTL]

Anyone care to share the ethanol settings ?


Edit :
I think I figured it out

is that silver or polisher silver?

side note: nice custom CF steering brah! :D

[WC 13]

STAY AWAY FROM THIS COMPANY!!! I can not stress this enough.
These guages do not work as intended!!
I'll share my experience, first of all I bought a single guage due to the fact they had no ethanol readers in stock plus a dual pod. I received a single guage and a single pod which I got to send back and received my original order of a dual pod. In the meantime they re stocked the ethanol readers and I ordered a second guage and a cable to power both. I installed everything to find one guage didn't work and just displayed lines down the screen so I wrote to them to let them know and instead of sending a new guage that works they wanted me to send the broken one back on my dollar so they can try to fix it knowing i just bought them. I bought another guage since I don't have the time to ship things back and forth on my dollar so they can fix their issues and planned to ship back later but needed working guages now. I received the new guage re installed everything plugged in the guages and they both turn on and off constantly while driving. I wrote to them to find out the guages won't work as a pair and I need to uninstall everything and send them both back so they can be programed to work together on my dollar and wait for them to get fixed before installing again for a 3rd time.
I live in Canada so I'm expected to pay for shipping and duty to receive the items working or not working then expected to ship back again paying for shipping and duty to get them to work, I will then have to pay shipping and duty to have them shipped back to me. I will then have to install everything yet again and hope everything works as it should have when it originally left Aeroforce.
This company is a complete disaster and has the biggest revolving door known to man since everything that leaves there needs to be sent right back so they can figure out why it doesn't work.
SAVE YOURSELF TIME AND EFFORT BY JUST BUYING GUAGES FROM A REPUTABLE COMPANY THAT STANDS BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS!!
Unless you enjoy installing and uninstalling shipping guages back and forth until your purple then this company is perfect for you.
Just to show how fuct this company is, when you do buy a dual guage set up they send you a cable to power up a single guage not a cable to power 2 guages and they will not work as a pair unless you specifically ask. Even then I wouldn't count on it.
AGAIN PLEASE SAVE YOURSELF TIME AND MONEY, JUST STAY AWAY FROM AEROFORCE GUAGES.