Digital gauges in cluster- expose circuit board or not?

[— Agent☣Orange —]

I'm working on replacing my stock fake gauges with some fancier ones that actually do something. Since my theme is high tech and I was experimenting with gauge placement, it kind of dawned on me that it looks cool to leave the gauge's circuit board exposed. But, I also have the black mask that hides the circuit board along with an amber lens that are supposed to be part of the gauge.

So now I'm in a toss up and looking for opinions between three different options: letting the circuit board be exposed with no lens OR use the black mask and amber lens OR circuit board exposed with amber lens (no mask). I guess I should have taken photos of those other versions too. I'll do it tomorrow.

Oh, just to head off any threadcreep, keep in mind that I'm only asking for opinions about looks, not that what I'm doing is stupid and how great your Autometer gauges are. I'm definitely doing to do this project with what I have. Don't mind that I'm using a fuel gauge in the oil gauge location in a couple fotos, it's only a test fitting.

[concealer404]

Someone else actually put a digital gauge in the "oil pressure" location, wish i could remember who it was. But it was some fancy thing that would output 4 readings at once, looked pretty trick.

I can certainly dig the idea.

[George]

good idea, I'd not do the exposed board, but if it fits your theme then do it! I've always wanted the Arrive gauge

[concealer404]

^Ok, that's awesome. I bet it's expensive as hell, right?

[George]

50000JPY for this one and 30000JPY for lite version (probably without warning lights, peak values etc)

[concealer404]

Oh sorry... just re-read the original question.

I vote for NO exposed circuit board, amber lens.

[— Agent☣Orange —]

Someone else actually put a digital gauge in the "oil pressure" location, wish i could remember who it was. But it was some fancy thing that would output 4 readings at once, looked pretty trick.
I can certainly dig the idea.

This one?

[concealer404]

Yeah that one!

[Ktdubya]

mmm plx obd gauge

[Muzdaman]

Im definitely digging the exposed PCB.

[— Agent☣Orange —]

Yes, good eyes, that's a PLX in the center but I just yanked it out to join its two brothers in a center console gauge panel.

Going to go digital on the three gauges in the cluster. I'm not going to spend $600 on an Arrive gauge and thanks for noticing this thread is not asking what gauge options are out there, only the aesthetic choices I have with these current ones.

I know I said I was going to post more photos but then life got in the way and I have to wait until this weekend. I kinda like the exposed board but I also like exposed with amber lens. I thought about tinting the lens as well with some window tint. I'll know more this weekend.

[richterat83]

This one?

more info?

[concealer404]

+1. I just noticed that there was stuff in the steering wheel.

[The Platypus]

I don't like the exposed circuit board.

[— Agent☣Orange —]

I've been playing around with it a little more and I think I'm going to put in the amber lens but with some window tint. I had some super dark stuff but the gauge looked black. Now I'm going to get a small roll of slight tint and see if I can get some of the amber to show through.