Car Installation Instructions
- E90 335/M3 (PDF) (video)
- E85/E86 Z4 / Z4M (PDF)
- E82 135 (PDF) (video)
- F30 3 Series(video)
- F10 5 Series(video)
- E46 3 Series(video)
- Boost Line Tap (Video) (PDF)
Vent Assembly Instructions
(if installing in your own vent)
- e90 3 Series (download)
- e82 1 Series (download)
- f10 5 Series (download)
- f20 & F30 (download)
- e46 3 Series (download)
Non-obd2 Wiring
(Only for 2007 335 or custom installs with no obd2)
Configuration and Setup:
Your new P3cars.com gauge is packed with many advanced features, but has been designed to work for your car pretty much right out of the box. There are a few settings that you may wish to change such as english or metric units, or selecting the proper engine model for your car, or setting the trigger RPM of the shiftlight. Below is a basic description of the gauges different features and modes.
Wiring:
When first installing, connect ONLY the obd2 connector.
GREEN=dimmer BROWN=Analog1 BLUE=Analog2 AUX PLUG=external boost sensor
Main Button Functions
Left Button TAP = Peak recall (and start 15 second record)
Left Button HOLD = 15 sec playback
Right Button TAP = View Current Mode Name (If pressed again within 5 sec, change mode)
Right Button HOLD = Night / Day Dimmer toggled (if auto-dimming is not enabled)
Gauge Modes
Boost: This mode will show vacuum and boost. Depending on settings in the config menu this may be from VAG ecu data or an external analog sensor. Boost is read in PSI by default and Vacuum is inHg. If you configure the gauge to metric boost will be in BAR.
Coolant: This mode will show your current coolant temp. Unlike the needle on your dash, this will show you exactly the temp that your engine is currently running at, and is configurable between Celsius & Fahrenheit.
Air: Air intake temperature. This is the reading of the temperature of the air entering the engine, and is configurable between Celsius & Fahrenheit.
Igntn: Actual ignition timing. This mode will show you the ignition timing of your engine in real-time.
Egt: Exhaust Gas Temperature. This is the temp of the exhaust gas as calculated by your ECU.
Throttle: Actual throttle plate position. Use this mode to see how your car changes the actual drive by wire throttle blade in relation to what your foot tells it to do.
rp-Shift: RPM readout. It can be handy to use this mode to see an exact RPM or to record/playback and see your shifts.
Speed: Actual roadspeed direct from VSS. This is the actual roadspeed value of the car, uncorrected. This is the raw value, therefore it may not match your cluster which tends to read high in many cars.
0-60: Zero to sixty Performance Timer. Come to a stop and this mode will read “Rdy…” The gauge is ready for you to accelerate to 60. As you accelerate the gauge will time you and automatically stop when you hit 60, leaving your time on the screen. When you slow to zero again the gauge will change to “Rdy…”
Batt: Battery Voltage. This is the voltage of your cars power system, anything between 13-14.5 volts while running is normal.
Configuring the Gauge
For version 2.1+ simply hold both buttons to enter the config menu, you can do this at any time! On older versions, to configure your gauge, you must first make sure the gauge is awake. The gauge goes to sleep about 3 seconds after the display blanks out, you can tell this by the double flash of the dot in the corner. After you shut off the engine, but BEFORE the gauge goes to sleep, simply hold the FIRST button until the gauge reads “Conf” , RELEASE the button as soon as you see the word “Conf”. SAVING YOUR SETTINGS: Your settings will not be saved until you exit the config menu by HOLDING the right button until the gauge resets.
Config Button Functions:
Left Button TAP = Change Value
Left Button HOLD = Change Value fast repeat
Right Button TAP = Change to next config
mode
Right Button HOLD = EXIT
config menu and SAVE settings.
| Default | Values | Fuction |
|---|---|---|
| D.On | On or Off or On.A or On.P | Turn the gauge display ON or OFF or ON-Auto-Dimming(if you have attached the green wire to your dimmer line) or ON-Persistant-Dimmer(for dimmer setting not resetting on restarts.) |
| En.Y | Y or N or b | English units? No = Metric, Y = English, b = Boost only (boost in PSI, rest in metric) |
| Pr0.1 | 0.1 or 0.5 or 1.0 | Pressure resolution/decimal point. 0.1 = tenths, 0.5 is rounded to 5 tenths, 1.0 = whole numbers only |
| U.bg.Y | Y or N | Vacuum bargraph in boost mode – set to N for no bargraph while in vacuum |
| SL.57 | 30 – 80 | Shiftlight activation RPM x 100, default is 5700 |
| Bst.d | d or A or n |
Boost reading – digital or analog or none. (analog is for gauges with boost sender and tubing to manifold) Digital is used for n55 only. |
| A1.N | Y or N | Enable or disable the first analog input (brown wire) |
| A2.N | Y or N | Enable or disable the second analog input (blue wire) |
| Clr.C | None | Hold the first button to clear codes. |
| Cal.b | None | Calibrate the analog boost sensor to your ambient conditions. — tap left button after confirming engine is off |
| n54 | n54, n55, A.n55, F30, n63, AnLg | Select engine type – this will enhance the accuracy of the gauge. A.n55 is for n55 with voltage tap on the OEM sensor connected to analog 2. AnLg mode forces the gauge to use analog only, no canbus. NOTE: for A.n55 and F30 modes, the 2nd analog input (BLUE WIRE) is configured to allow you to attach this wire to the 0-5v output of the manifold pressure sensor on the engine and use analog boost (bSt.A) which will then use this connection for boost readings. |
| Flo.N | Y or N | Enable or disable the first analog input (brown wire) to be meth flow — will add “Flo” and “Bst-Flo” gauge modes. |
For gauges with "CAR" config options:
Car.0 Not Used
Car.1 K-Line BMWs (pre-2008)
Car.2 Not Used
Car.3 Alternate K-Line BMWs (pre-2008)
ANLG Analog sensors only, silent on canbus
Car.4 N54 BMW's with N54 engine USE bSt.A SETTING
Car.5 N55 E8X, E9X BMW's with N55 engine USE bSt.d SETTING
Car.6 N55 with analog tap on AN2(blue wire) BMW's with N55 engine and a t-map tap USE bSt.A SETTING
Car.7 F30 and F20 and F10 Cars N20 and N55 engine USE bSt.d SETTING
Car.8 F10 Cars n63 and s63 engine USE bSt.d SETTING
Reading and Clearing Codes
For version 2.1 and higher there is a Clr.C option in the config menu, use this to clear codes!
To read codes, simply start your car. If you have a code, the gauge will read it back to you. If you have multiple codes the gauge will read off all codes. For a definition of codes, please search your 4 digit code on the forums.
To clear codes on OLDER versions of the gauge, once again turn the car completely OFF, while the gauge is off, HOLD BOTH BUTTONS, and then start the car. The gauge will say “hold” to confirm that you want to clear you must continue to hold for several seconds and then the gauge will read “CLRD” and the codes will be cleared.
Setting up the Optional Analog Inputs
Your gauge has 3 linear analog inputs, 2 of which can be used as universal displays for ANY 0-5v sensor. Do not hook up a device that sends more than 5 volts or you WILL damage your gauge.
To enable an analog input, enter the config menu and set the A1 input to Y for yes. After doing this, 3 new options will appear.
A1.DP, analog 1 decimal points. The gauge will show 9999 on the screen, and tapping the first button will move the decimal point. A1.Lo, analog 1 Low volt, or Ov reading, which the gauge will show when it sees ZERO volts on the input. -999 through 9999 A1.Hi, analog 1 High volts, or 5v reading, which the gauge will show when it sees FIVE volts on the input. -999 through 9999 A1.bL and A1.bH, limits of the bargraph for that input. L is the bargraph start, H is the bargraph end.
Simply set the values for the 0v and 5v readings of your attached sensor, as well as the number of decimal points, and the gauge will interpolate anything between 0 and 5v to the proper display.
EXAMPLE CONFIGURATION – LC-1 AFR Controller:
According to the LC-1 wideband controller documentation, Analog output 2 is the 0-5v output. By default it is 0V = 7.35 AFR and 5V = 22.39 AFR . To configure our gauge to show this on the first analog input, we would use the following settings:
A1.DP,
2 decimal points, 99.99
A1.Lo, 7.35
A1.Hi, 22.39
A1.bL 7.35
A1.bH 22.39
After putting these settings onto the analog input, the gauge will show proper AFR displayed in the Analog 1 gauge mode.