AWE boost gauge

B8 S4
#1

Even though it’s for an A3, it’s the same gauge they use on the B8 S4 so I suppose this thread is relevant.

I had the original A3 gauge, and it was a piece of junk. Had it warrantied a few times but it would always lose calibration.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d9/dmakca/A3/AWE%20FAIL/Awegauge.jpg

Since AWE uses a non-standard 45mm size, it was difficult to find another gauge that would fit in the housing, so I went back to the mfg of their gauges (Omori) to see if they had a solution. They suggested I try their new 45mm electrical gauge. I purchased the gauge from Jspectuning and had nothing but problems with the electrical sender going bad. It was replaced 3x before I had a usuable unit.

Omori is on the left.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d9/dmakca/AWEvsEJ.jpg

Eventually I replaced it with the Eurojet Defi unit on the right.

Shortly thereafter, AWE switched to the electrical gauge.

I came across a thread where the OP was having issues with his AWE gauge. The OP himself even states that he had 2 units go bad in one month. I posted that it was due to the electrical sender and not actually the gauge.

My post:
http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/369417-AWE-Boost-Gauge-issues?p=5384554#post5384554

Todd tried to get me banned because of it. I do not feel as if my post was even directed at AWE (even mentioned another company who uses the same gauge) and if anything, it was more of a reflection on Omori. Nevertheless, he had Anthony place restrictions on my account due to my post and flamed me publicly on the thread while I was not able to respond.

Flash forward to almost 2 years later (last week).

My vehicle is not running right and I needed a gauge to see if there was a vacuum leak. AWE is the only off the shelf solution for the A3, other than a steering column mount. Since I had no intentions of leaving a gauge in for the long-run, I purchased an AWE gauge, installed it etc. The thing reads boost at idle. Complete crap unit out of the box.

I contacted AWE with a very civil email, following their contact instructions on the website.

[quote=me]The gauge does not calibrate properly and calibration changes with each power cycle. Just installed the product today and followed AWE instructions for wiring to a T.

Video of the issue is located here:

http://vimeo.com/35607366
[/quote]
Their response:

[quote=Chris Dollery, Director of Engineering]Hi Dave,

The gauge may need to be reset. Disconnect it completely from its power source and reconnect. If the problem persists and you are 100% sure you have installed the product correctly on your own, all I can suggest is that you may want to have a professional installer check your work.

If, after professional evaluation, the gauge kit is found to be faulty, and you are the original owner within the 1 year warranty period, I’d recommend filling out our RMA form, found at the link below, and we’ll initiate an exchange process.

http://www.awe-tuning.com/rma

Thanks for contacting us and we look forward to assisting you further, if needed.
[/quote]
What the heck? a boost gauge does NOT require professional installation. My response:

[quote=me]Chris, perhaps you are not familiar with the idea of using a switched 12V connection. There is no power until the ignition is cycled. Nevertheless, everything was disconnected and reconnected yesterday after taking the video. I then took another one in the evening and the result was exactly the same.

http://vimeo.com/35616842

Professional installation? Come on, give me a break. This item was faulty right out of the box.
[/quote]
After that response, Chris relented and sent me out a new unit, only after he sought to blame the install as well as try to require a “professional installer” verify the work. Keep in mind, there are no calibrations on the gauge unit, no possible way which a customer could easily force the gauge to be uncalibrated as such.

I received the new unit and put it up for sale. I’ve been burned many times by AWE and will be first to admit I am a stupid fool for giving them a fifth chance.

Dave

#2

if you’re looking for a good gauge for the b8 then can i recommend the P3 gauge. its a great piece that flows very well in the car with endless real time functions www.p3cars.com

#3

I’ve been “working” with them since November of two years ago (as in 2010!) to make a gauge for the B6/7 models (think about all the turbo guys and the vents are the same in both models).

WHAT A JOKE. . .
I still have emails going back and forth with them (and still email every other month or so and to get a new response).
I even bought and shipped them an OEM vent for them to mock up something.
I sent them videos of my P3 gauge (from a BMW) installed in my vent running off the S/C.
Offered to be a contact to JHM, and display their gauge in my build as it obviously would get a lot of attention.
Have talked to Rick (designer/programer), And Tim previously (who acted like it’d be out winter of 2010).
Have been told more than once prototypes were made and close to shipment.
Have been told photos would be sent, nothing yet. . .
Have contacted their main distributors to see about contact information & progress

I still think they make the best OEM integration gauge, and it’s a good product, but it’s unbelievable their progress (or lack of) & continued response of the same lies.

I’ve come very close to just posting up every email we’ve had to show just how unreal it’s been, but have opted not to as I still want them to produce the product.

#4

This forum has really found its niche. How many other places can you publicly tell the REAL story about something without getting swept under the advertiser rug?

Someone needs to post up 91’s video of him burning an AWE t-shirt.

#5

ive probably got very similar emails as you do. they have a great product but shit customer service and never get back to you. ive threatened them several times after it took almost 6 months for me to get the gauge, but the product speaks for itself and makes up for them being ass tards. i had my 3 year old nephew in the car and he pressed on the gauge too hard and broke the mounting points that sit in the vent. i told them, they sent me one out for $30 and the glue that held the plastic screen with the mounting points onto the lcd had come undone. its a joke, i was so fed up that i didnt even bother contacting them about it since it took 3 months for the screen to get to me in the first place. but like i said… UNFORTUNATELY the product speaks for itself

#6

^Yea, how NO ONE else has come into the market and copied their product with any customer service amazes me. Sure it’s not a simple gauge, but come on, this isn’t some rocket science deal either.

(I’d already been in contact etc for a good month or two before these emails ever even started as well haha)

On Thu, Dec 2, 2010 at 3:35 PM, Tim < p3cars@gmail.comp3cars@gmail.com

wrote:

We are working on this unit right now. Thanks for your interest. Give
me a call this week or next so we can get you one of the first made :wink:

Cheers,

Tim
http://P3cars.comP3cars.com
Parts.Passion.Performance

Rick - P3 Cars, Apr-07 21:42 (EDT):

Madison,

Just wanted to let you know I got the vent and started working on a plan to get a gauge mounted in there.

-Rick

Rick - P3 Cars, Apr-14 13:14 (EDT):

Madison,

Still working on designing the brackets, I’ll let you know once I get something to throw in the vent as a prototype, and send you some photos.

-Rick

Rick - P3 Cars, May-12 14:07 (EDT):

Very cool…
still working on the product, but we have decided to make it officially our next car for the gauge, so that is good news!

-Rick

Rick - P3 Cars, Jul-21 14:47 (EDT):

Madison,

We have some prototypes showing up next week hopefully, I should be able to send you photos soon!

-Rick

Rick - P3 Cars, Nov-10 14:29 (EST):

It’s a certainty… Jordan @ P3 took some photos last week, I’ll see if I can get them from him.

I’ll make sure you know about it as soon as I have something sellable

-Rick

My gauge for reference:

http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk89/mbgt72/My%20Audi%20S4/MCW%20SC%20Videos/IMG_0694.jpg

I built it as just something to monitor boost for a little while and then was going to “finish” it to make it look much nicer. Then I started talking to P3 and decided it wasn’t worth it if they were going to build a real product, and I love the features in the newer gauges. Guess I shoulda just finished the job right and called it a day.

Video of it in operation

http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk89/mbgt72/My%20Audi%20S4/MCW%20SC%20Videos/th_MVI_1176-Computer.jpg

#7

wait…so you built a gauge like theirs? Or that’s the one they built?

#8

maddog built his own with what looks like a VEI gauge?

#9

^I took a gauge made by p3cars for a 335 BMW and retrofitted it to the B6/7 vent. I basically just got a piece of plexglass, cut it to the right size, tinted it, and secured it in the vent. I wanted a decently nice way to monitor boost and didn’t want to go the podi route really. I was planning on making a more “final product” with a better trimmed piece of plexi, less tint, and a nicer “seal” around the edge, but this all seemed like a lot of work once they acted like a real gauge would be out in a month or two tops. Since then I haven’t had the desire to really finish it like I planned.

I then emailed them pics/vid of it, as well as mailed them a stock B6/7 vent for them to use on mockup (I know they could have bought it, but I wanted it to actually get made).

#10

KITT, I need ya buddy.

#11

Oooo, I want one :o

#12

Wait, I really thought you guys were kidding. Someone actually puts that on a car post 1988? Did they also put a Knight Rider light under their hood? Does it come with leather pants and a home perm kit? A duran duran poster? LOL.

#13

ROTFLMAO! But I still like it better than the other gauges.