Hey dudes,
I need our expertise once again, I am thinking of buying the SPT gauge package and was wondering if the install was doable on my own. I have an 04 STi and as I talked to the dealer it the advisor said install would be about an hour. Are the connections pre-exsisting from the factory for this gauge set up? Is it just kind of a plug and play kind of thing? Thanks!

 

Are you referring to the 3-gauge package with boost, oil temp, and voltmeter gauges?

If you can install a stereo, you can install this gauge pack. It comes with pretty thorough instructions. I did not install mine myself but had the dealer install it when I bought my car.

I would not buy the SPT 3-gauge package again. I don't like the way it measures oil temperature using a sending unit in an oil drain plug adapter. It's an unnecessary hassle when it comes time to change the oil. Also, the displayed range of the oil temperature (Centigrade!) is not adequate in the lower range. Unless you drive your car very hard or see track days, the only time the gauge registers anything is when the engine is fully warmed up and the weather is pretty warm outside. Oftentimes on cooler days just commuting to work, my gauge registered nothing at all. The voltmeter and boost gauges are fine but I would have preferred a boost gauge that displays boost calibrated in pounds rather than megaPascal units of measurement.

I would go aftermarket. Defi gauges used to be very popular but there are now many to choose from. Some have styling and lighting that matches the WRX or STi factory dash. All of the aftermarket gauge packs utilize a housing that fits right where the SPT gauge pack would go. Most of the gauges are no more difficult to install than the SPT package. All of the gauges are also larger and easier to read at a glance. Pricing isn't cheap and varies by the gauges but considering that the SPT gauge pack normally goes for over $600, the aftermarket is a good alternative. The only drawback to the aftermarket gauges is they are more likely to be ripped off because they look so much nicer.

You can search i-Club's Vendor For Sale forum in the Classifieds section or search online for Subaru aftermarket gauge packages.

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0==WW==0
"…axles of evil…" - george w. bush

 

Thanks for the info. My heart was set on the Defi red ones to match my gauge cluster but the gauges themselves w/o the housing was a little over $800! As well as $112 install for the boost gauge, $112 for the install of the voltmeter and $400 for the install for the EGT not to mention the control units! I'm sorry but I will sacrifice my own prefrences if I can save $1,000. From the sounds of it, it looks like I can install the SPT one myself which is always an advantage and as long as the sysem is functional I don't mind. Yes, it is the 3 gauge pack that Subaru sells. Thanks!

 

you have another option

Maddaddy gauges, look pretty nice... i thought about the defi stuff also but cant see spending 1k on gauges... so im waiting a month or so and getting some of these...

http://www.daddysscp.com/dcart4/prod...&cat=13&page=1

 

Thanks man! That is exactly the look I'm going for! I just ordered them, thanks again man and I also saved a lot of dollars.