PROTOTYPE: Dual Gauge Pod for Center Speaker
 

Here's a first look at the dual gauge pod prototype I've commissioned from Lo-Tek. I'm not happy with the position of the pods. IMO, they're too high, so I've instructed them to make a second prototype with the tops of the gauge pods flush with the top of the OEM speaker grill. Take a look and let me know what you think:
http://lh4.ggpht.com/__pqkhEfdq8I/S4...0/IMG_6220.JPG http://lh6.ggpht.com/__pqkhEfdq8I/S4...0/IMG_6221.JPG
http://lh5.ggpht.com/__pqkhEfdq8I/S4...0/IMG_6222.JPG http://lh3.ggpht.com/__pqkhEfdq8I/S4...0/IMG_6223.JPG
http://lh4.ggpht.com/__pqkhEfdq8I/S4...0/IMG_6224.JPG http://lh4.ggpht.com/__pqkhEfdq8I/S4...0/IMG_6225.JPG
http://lh5.ggpht.com/__pqkhEfdq8I/S4...0/IMG_6228.JPG http://lh5.ggpht.com/__pqkhEfdq8I/S4...0/IMG_6229.JPG

NOTE: THE PIECE PICTURED ABOVE is a PROTOTYPE, so it is very rough...the production piece would be have a much nicer finish, with the same type of surface as their A-pillar pod (I have one, and it is VERY nice).

Lo-Tek makes these using a vacuum forming method. As a consequence, they cannot make a piece with the necessary mounting pins that come on the OEM speaker grille. This means that their units would require the pod to be epoxied onto the speaker grille, so your OEM speaker grille will need to be sacrificed. It also means cutting the center out of the speaker grille to make room for the gauges. What I want to know is this: Are you willing to sacrifice your speaker grille for the gauge pod?

Also, Lo-Tek requires a MINIMUM order of 40 units, at an entry price ~$50 per piece, no discount structure available for group buy pricing. So question #2 is: Would you be willing to spend $50 for such a gauge pod that requires gluing and cutting of your stock speaker grille?

The other option I have yet to investigate is injection molding. I have a couple of Detroit-area contacts that purportedly do short-run injection molding, but I haven't pursued them yet. The advantage would be they could injection mold the entire piece with the mounting pins and everything, meaning that the speaker grille would not have to be used as a mounting piece. I have NO IDEA on cost of this approach yet.

Feedback please!

Here's an idea that just came to me. I recently installed some 1" kicker tweeters into the 941. They come with these slick little angled bezels for doing a flush mount arrangement. Each tweeter has two of these angled bezels, on for in front of the surface and one for behind. The bezels allow the tweeter to be mounted on an angle, and they are fully "rotatable" to achieve the desired aspect. Here's what the bezel looks like (top item)
http://lh3.ggpht.com/__pqkhEfdq8I/S4...ount-bezel.jpg

So, why not have some of these made in a 2" version to accommodate a standard 2" / 52mm gauge. You could also make a flat version like the lower one in the photo above. Then, either modify the stock speaker grille, or make a replacement piece exactly like it, like this one posted earlier...
http://lh5.ggpht.com/__pqkhEfdq8I/S4...1149064782.jpg
...and use the bezels to allow the user / installer to put the gauges in as desired. This approach would accommodate folks who don't mind their gauges being flat, and would also accommodate both LHD and RHD cars.

Don't know about cost effective, but maybe something along these lines would allow the flexibility to accommodate all the various tastes that have been expressed so far...
Thoughts?

I like the second option better, it looks cleaner. Admittedly that first piece is a rough mock-up like you said, so maybe it'll look better once V2.0 is done . .

^ I agree.

the first doesnt look like it belongs in a German car... its a little, uhh... vulgar.

Solution for the bezels found. Contributed by a 924board.org member: