custom speedometer with a higher top speed reading?

[bmwdude]

Wasn't sure which forum to add this topic in....

I have seen some pictures of E30's with speedometers that go up to 330km/h. Obviously this is custom work, but I'd like to find out how to go about doing this? The M3 has a 260 reading, and the Hartge speedometer goes up to 280km/h. Aside from aquiring those clusters, how can I increase mine from the stock 240km/h one?

[Jordan]

you can increase it visually... but the needle stops at the same place anyways.

on the US 140mph speedo the needle stops at 150mph. There is no further range of movement.

Your e30 will never see such speeds anyways, so why do you care?

[bmwdude]

you can increase it visually... but the needle stops at the same place anyways.

on the US 140mph speedo the needle stops at 150mph. There is no further range of movement.

Your e30 will never see such speeds anyways, so why do you care?

Thanks for the info. I care because my car is turbo charged, and with the stock 373 gearing I'm easily smacking into that range. I'm planning on adding a taller diff perhaps this spring as 1st gear is virtually useless now. Having said that, a taller diff will give me much higher top speeds obviously. So functionally, I need an other speedo, and aesthetically, it wouldn't hurt 8)

[nando]

doesn't the M3 speedo read higher?

[M-technik-3]

There were true Alpina units that said 260km as well as factory ones for M3's. $$

[bmwdude]

Yes! If you read my original opening to this topic, the m3 reads 260 and an original Hartge reads 280. As for the Alpina one, I'm not sure, but it's safe to say it was probaly at least 260. I have a few pics of some e30's with 300 and 330km/h ones! They numbering looks original too. I wish I knew how they did that, or where they got those clusters from!

[Jand3rson]

If you're deadset on finding one of those clusters, keep your eyes glued to ebay.de (German ebay). Those pop up every now and again, but be prepared to pay dearly for such parts.

[bmwdude]

If you're deadset on finding one of those clusters, keep your eyes glued to ebay.de (German ebay). Those pop up every now and again, but be prepared to pay dearly for such parts.

Thanks guy!!!!!!!!!

[Bryson]

take it to a shop that calibrates speedos and make a custom face that stops at whatever speed you want at the 150mph point on the stock face.

Jordan - a well conditioned stock m20 can indeed pull 150mph

[M-technik-3]

They had VDO make them for their companies. That's kinda a no brainer since the were manufactering companies.

[bmwdude]

take it to a shop that calibrates speedos and make a custom face that stops at whatever speed you want at the 150mph point on the stock face.

Jordan - a well conditioned stock m20 can indeed pull 150mph

Your idea is very logical, but I don't quite have the resources to make a custom face that will MATCH the original look of the rest of the faces in the vehicle, eg tach, fuel gauge etc.

[Brew]

Jordan - a well conditioned stock m20 can indeed pull 150mph

Down a 10 mile, 45 degree slope. Maybe.

[Stu]

My needle went to 150 and buried about 1/2 inch farther. I've done that once. I can't imagine taking an E30 to those speeds (in the US) often enough to need a 160 or 170 mph speedo. Besides, E30 speedo's get less accurate as speed increases. To know your exact speed, it's best to calculate it.

[Jand3rson]

take it to a shop that calibrates speedos and make a custom face that stops at whatever speed you want at the 150mph point on the stock face.

This is where you need to contact.

http://www.paspeedo.com/

[e30bimmerdude]

not to change the topic, but on the whole top speed issue, so if my speedo said i was doing 140mph's (which happened today :shock: ) i really wasnt... i know there is a slight difference depending on wheels size etc, but im running the stock size..

i thought the eta's were supposed to stop at about 130...but it kept going.. IT WAS DONE ON A SAFE ROAD WITH NO PEOPLE OR CARS!!! i atleast thought about other people :D