Protege5Online Steering Column Gauge Pod

[goonsquad]

I just received my steering column gauge pod from protege5online.com and I'm really disappointed. I waited about 2 1/2 weeks for it to arrive (not ridiculous but annoying). Anyway I took it out of the box and the first thing I noticed was that it was made of extremely thin plastic. Other than that it looked ok. However, when I took it out to my car and replaced the old part with the new one it looks crappy. The color does not match and the tolerances are not acceptable. The piece I'm replacing is made of strong plastic and is dark (almost black) grey. It also fits into the bottom of the steering column snugly with little plastic tabs. The new piece doesn't fit in like this. It looks like a crappy aftermarket part, not "like stock" as they claim. It just looks plain crappy. I think I may return it but I've been waiting to install my boost gauge so I might just keep the part.

For $82 I expected more.:wtf:

 

[goonsquad]

I guess I could paint it to match. Has anyone gotten paint to match the steering column? If so what do I need to know about it. If not, who would you ask?

 

[Bijou-MP5]

well... You can't really blame anyone about this. Pictures are always looks different from real product.
do search before you do something. Protege5online sells good products and have good customer services.
maybe you are expecting too much from $82 ?
just a thought.

 

[goonsquad]

$82 for a piece of plastic that fits correctly to me does not seem like too much to ask. The color I guess I can fix, but the quality of the plastic part is not good. As far as the color goes, the only thing I can figure is that maybe the different proteges have different colored steering columns.

 

[shawnmp5]

The only one I've seem installed was at sounddomain on chopstickheros p5. I thought it looked good, but maybe he got his some where else.

 

[Natey]

That sucks, dude.
Mitch is a really customer conscious guy. If you have a complaint, let him know and I bet he'll try to make it right.
Sorry, I don't know the code for the paint color, but painting it sounds like a good idea, also.
Good luck!

 

[JMS'sMSP]

I got mine from there too and yeah the plastic is a little thin. But it does the job. Also the way it fits around the side of the steering pod is a good thing. I think it was overpriced but acceptable.

 

[PaulMP3]

just put mine in yesterday, i agree for 80$ its a rip. Myabe if it snapped into the existing holes but it just lays over top an has to be glued on. My color doesnt seem to far off. Overall its a handy pod, but should fit perfect for that kind of $$$

 

[mypfizzle]

why dont u just take your stock column part.. buy a single gauge holder and make it yourself with fiberglass bondo? then you can paint or texture it however you want. -=)
i tore my column all up takin my gauge cluster in an out to put gauge faces on an break my needles.. woO hOo..
also .. if it doesnt feel sturdy.. u can always strenthen it -=)

 

[PaulMP3]

why dont u just take your stock column part.. buy a single gauge holder and make it yourself with fiberglass bondo? then you can paint or texture it however you want. -=)
i tore my column all up takin my gauge cluster in an out to put gauge faces on an break my needles.. woO hOo..
also .. if it doesnt feel sturdy.. u can always strenthen it -=)

i bought this because of the factory look. Im not all that dissapointed, but i feel it should have been better. It looks like it cost 25cents to make. Also mine took about 2weeks also but mitch mentioned it wouldnt shipp for a week after i order it.

 

[goonsquad]

...All good ideas. I guess I'll try to paint it to match. I guess it's not a high-stress part so it shouldn't break. Where would you go to get paint like that because I seriously have no idea. I'd even consider painting both top and bottom just so I can get a perfect match.

 

[jonnydoe48]

i would never buy it for 80 bucks, nuff said =)

 

[MSP-4-ME]

I got the pod from Mitch too this week and I agree that it looks like a cheap $10 part. The material, texture and color do not match and the overlapping lip that needs to be glued is a joke. Come on, for $85 dollars I expect it to fit perfectly and look factory.
I like the overall concept of the column pod because it is the cleanest looking but I guess just expected more.

BTW How may people would spent up to $125 for a factory matching unit that snaps in and looks exactly like it came stock?(mspblack)

 

[jonnydoe48]

why dont you guys just buy A pillar mounts..cheaper, looks better, doesnt clog your dash..and you look nice!

 

[igdrasil]

Yeah, I think is a little expensive but the item is good, very good.

 

[savaho]

Am I the only one that thinks those gauges look like warts? Don't you want to keep the car looking clean on the inside instead of having them clutter the dash area like that? It's like you've got several clocks to look at.

 

[jonnydoe48]

how can you even see your fuel level..so cluttered..

 

[PaulMP3]

for p5 and mp3's and other protege we need a lot of gauges to help run boost saftley. Id rather not use any gauges, but i need to be paranoid. I also have a 2gauge pillar pod.

 

[igdrasil]

how can you even see your fuel level..so cluttered..

you can see it from drivers point of view, but those gauges are there temporarily there is no gauge pod available for them.

 

[jonnydoe48]

ahh i see.