E30 Zone

I have asked for some bespoke dials for my Hartge project and have an early example I would like to get some feedback on. Please note this is a pre-production sample so there are a couple of errors (eg.green banding starts from 0 instead of 1k revs). I am trying to combine the early e21/e30 clocks, with the 'M' theme plus of course Hartge. No, they are not original spec but they will be approved and yes I am having a set made to the original spec as spares or in case i decide i dont like these ones



Alternatively I had a design done with twin Hartge logos for both dials, this is something Hartge have done in the past and still do today:



Having seen these i can only say the quality of the work is outstanding.

Constructive comments welcome

NEW PIC ADDED

Just got the reverse green stripe pics back, this one is with a semi cutout logo to allow backlighting to show (eg amber glow), which is something i am toying with. Unsure if i like the reverse stripe or not, think i will go with the originaL, what do you think?



Tim

I think the 2 hartge one's look better.

Hear, Hear, for the 2nd set Hartge, nice, joeboy.

2nd set are sweet.

Need a bigger pic really but they look really nice.
Personally I'd tone down the green swoosh into a thin green line, or delete it but its not offensive and if you like it - go for it

How much are these being made out of out of curiosity? sorry to spam,

But i also think Hartge X 2 looks better

Vote for second, they look great.

I think having an M and hartge is over kill; dare i say a bit counsil.

twin hartge ones...

Another vote for 2 x Hartge. The first set looks a bit too mix n match.

i like the 2nd set the twin hartage ones

2nd set but flip the green line round so the point gets bigger the closer to red line it gets, unless you were already going to do that,

Def the second set!!

Green bit reminds me of the new transit vans 'telling' you where the power band is. Wrong!

Rest is nice though.

Jon_Bmw wrote:Green bit reminds me of the new transit vans 'telling' you where the power band is. Wrong!

Rest is nice though.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^
What he said

I prefer the second set too.

Reckon the green would be better made of small green lines rather than one solid... /////// you get the drift.

defo the second set with the hartge on both..

you fancy doing more than one set ?

Definitely the second set, perfect finishing touch.

Second set gets my vote too. First set looks a little ebay-tastic imo

Second set, as said I'm not to keen on the green bit either, horses for courses and all that.

Just a thought, but won't the speedo need recalibrating given that the the new covers read up to 180mph?

Out of interest, and what does the recalibration involve?

the second set.

bloom_meister wrote:
Tim

I like this set, but reverse the width of the green band - if you know what I mean, ie graduating towards the red line....

wow great feedback, 2nd set it is then!

Sideways scouser : Yep, Hartge will do whatever it is they do with the clocks i guess, they didnt raise that as a problem when we discussed them but if its any different i will let peeps know

Really good idea about reversing the width of the green line so it gets wider the higher the revs, I'll see if i can get them to do a soft copy mocked up and post it back.

Costwise i think its running around £250 so far but we have had a few diff designs (7?) If you just wanted one dial made up to your own spec i think it worked out about £120, and yes, if you want to they can do funky stuff with diff coloured back for diff lighting and 'stuff'.

Didnt expect it to be so one sided, glad i asked now because i was 50/50!

Tim

There you go then! Any chance of a "group buy" at a discounted rate?

grantfk10 wrote:There you go then! Any chance of a "group buy" at a discounted rate?

now that sounds like a good idea id be up for that

The problem with me organising that is it would be copyright infringement

They are ok with putting a set on one of their cars because their car= their brand but makers get really snooty (in a serious and expensive legal sense) about people using their brand without permission.

if Hartge were not involved and this was just my own personal project it would not matter because well, who would really care, but i need their 100% co-operation and goodwill, especially the goodwill.

What i can certainly do is ask Hartge if they would mind a few spares being done for some friends E30's who are Hartge fans and/or owners, I'll ask tomorrow. Any idea what numbers we are talking?


Tim

really don't like the green sweep on the rev counter at all. makes it look totally different to the speedo, and as if theyre from totally different cars.

makes it all look disjointed and lopsided. i fail to see how theyre any improvement whatso ever over the standard dials

and no, i'm certainly not a 'keep it standard' old git, i just don't see the point in modifying for the sake of it unless it actually makes something look or work better.

well i would be up for a set of these. let us know what they say mate

i would be up for it aswell keep us posted

harry_p wrote:really don't like the green sweep on the rev counter at all. makes it look totally different to the speedo, and as if theyre from totally different cars.

makes it all look disjointed and lopsided. i fail to see how theyre any improvement whatso ever over the standard dials

and no, i'm certainly not a 'keep it standard' old git, i just don't see the point in modifying for the sake of it unless it actually makes something look or work better.

I wouldnt pay the extra for the sake of it I really like the green stripe ! but as with all visual things its a matter of personal taste and all opinions are equally valid (unless you say Kylie is ugly then you are simply WRONG)

Just wait till you see the neon underbody kit!!

Second set here. Money seems to be no object for you; so how about trying to change the LPG swingometer turd metre thing to an oil temp gauge? Just a thought!

Dan318-is wrote:Second set here. Money seems to be no object for you; so how about trying to change the LPG swingometer turd metre thing to an oil temp gauge? Just a thought!

I'm struggling back to my youth when I was an electrical engineer to think about this one. I'm guessing there is no problem with a sensor and mount for the oil temp as this is there as standard.

The guage would seem to be easy as they already exist, youd just be using the mechanism (eg strip off the case/shell) and then you could have a dial made to the correct shape for the MPG (I am assuming you meant MPG) console in the clocks.

Only real issue would be fitting the stripped down guage mechanism behind the dial but its really a very simple thing so its probably not that big a deal.

Just doing the guage dial would be very easy but as the MPG dial is very wide but narrow you wouldnt be able to fit a long needle and that would restrict how much left to right travel you had, leaving wasted space at either side of the guage..unless of course you wanted to fit something else in there!

What you could do, to make good use of the space, is fit a oil temp guage in one half and a water temp (ordiff or whatever) in the right half.

Hmm you've got me thinking now!

Dan318-is wrote:Second set here. Money seems to be no object for you; so how about trying to change the LPG swingometer turd metre thing to an oil temp gauge? Just a thought!

Ok, I have mocked up a split oil/water temp dial to replace the MPG one, its really basic but should give you an idea. I have sent this to the maker of the other dials to get a professional electronic mockup done.



I'll ask my technical friends about the fitment of the guage pointers, will need to open up a set of clocks though so it may take a while

Tim

like the 2nd set the twin hartage ones

I believe that Hartge made a limited batch of ten sets of branded 180mph instrument binnacles for the UK market, they were apparently to be fitted to the H36 24v cars (although only six of these were actually completed worldwide).

If originality is an issue, what about getting covers made for M3 clocks - they've got a temp gauge where the MPG swing-o-meter is on "normal" E30's....

Demlotcrew (our resident Hartge and S14 guru), has genuine Hartge clocks in his S14 car, ask him nicely an he might post some pictures...