The questions we are asked most often, answered by the people who do the work. If yours is not here, send us an inquiry and we will answer it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you work on Porsche gauges?
Yes, and it is what we are best known for. Porsche is built into the foundation of the shop, because our founder Claus worked at VDO, where Porsche’s gauges were manufactured. Owners, collectors and concours judges have called our gauge restoration the premier work in the industry, and several hundred of our gauges have been featured at concours events and Porsche shows across the country and around the world. Our Porsche gauge customization has been just as popular, because the design is done entirely in-house, which means you can specify every detail of what you see on the dial.
Do you work on Mercedes-Benz gauges?
Yes. Mercedes-Benz is our other specialty, and it comes from the same VDO background. Whether it is a Mercedes-Benz SSK or a W-126, we can restore those gauges to factory original, repair them, and customize them to your liking.
How long does a speedometer repair take?
Most repairs are finished within a week, though some take four to five weeks depending on what we find and what parts are needed. A full restoration typically takes five to six weeks, and mileage cluster programming is usually two to three days once we have the unit.
How much does gauge repair or restoration cost?
There are so many different services, and so much optionality in any given repair, that the only honest answer is to get a quote from us. Call and describe what you have, send us an inquiry, or send us the gauges so we can diagnose the problem properly and give you the most accurate estimate.
Do you warranty your work?
Yes. Every job carries a two-year warranty. Where we have only done cosmetic work, the warranty covers the cosmetic parts and the calibration, but not the long-term functionality of a movement we were not asked to rebuild.
Can I ship my gauges to you from out of state?
Yes. Most of our work arrives by mail from across the country. Fill out the order form on our site, print the ticket number it gives you, and put that printout in the box with the instruments.
Is it legal to set the mileage on a replacement instrument cluster?
Yes, when it’s done properly and documented. When a cluster fails it’s usually replaced rather than repaired, and the replacement arrives reading zero — which doesn’t match the car. Federal odometer rules require that the recorded mileage reflect the vehicle’s actual mileage, so setting a replacement cluster to match the car is a correction, not a rollback.
This applies to used clusters as well as new ones. A used cluster arrives carrying another car’s mileage, and that can be corrected to match your vehicle with the same documentation.
Every job requires the vehicle’s VIN on the paperwork, whether it comes from a dealership or a private owner. Beyond that, a dealership job needs a written purchase order number. A private owner needs a signed Odometer Agreement Form giving the true mileage, along with a copy of your driver’s license. The mileage we set is recorded on your invoice, so there’s a paper trail.
What we won’t do is set a cluster to a figure that doesn’t match the vehicle. If the mileage you give us doesn’t match what the car has actually traveled, we can’t help.
What happens if a gauge turns out not to be repairable?
It is rare. Most of what looks unrepairable just needs components or parts replaced, and we will do that to get it working. Occasionally a gauge genuinely cannot be saved. When that happens the best route is usually sourcing another core, choosing whichever is the best fit for your car, and making sure it is working properly before it goes back to you.
Our bench test is a flat rate, and if you go ahead with the repair it is absorbed into the final cost rather than added on top. You never pay twice to find out what is wrong.
Can you repair an odometer that is stuck, skipping or missing digits?
Yes. A stuck, skipping or incomplete odometer almost always comes down to the odometer gears, the star gears, or a broken part inside the mechanism, and all of that is repairable. Send us the gauge, or the whole cluster, and tell us what it is doing.
My needle bounces, or reads consistently high or low. Is that a repair or a restoration?
Almost always a repair. A bouncing needle, or a gauge reading consistently high or low, is a mechanical fault we correct on the bench. A restoration is a different job: a full overhaul of the instrument along with its cosmetics. We will tell you which one yours needs rather than selling you the bigger one.
Do you work on motorcycle gauges?
BMW motorcycles, yes, and we specialize in them. Other motorcycle marques are not work we take on. If you have a BMW motorcycle instrument we are the right shop for it, and if it is anything else we would rather tell you so than take the job.
Do you sell gauges, or is it service only?
Both. Alongside the repair and restoration work we build and sell a small range of finished instruments: Porsche 356 and 914 triple combination gauges reading oil temperature, fuel level and oil pressure, 356 electric tachometers, reproduction 356 clocks, and other gauges that fit the 356 60mm opening, including oil pressure gauges, voltmeters, mini tachometers and cylinder head temperature gauges. Everything is built to order in one to two weeks. See our gauges for sale.
Can you recalibrate a speedometer after a gearbox, tire or differential change?
Yes, and we do not need the car. Send us the speedometer along with the new ratio and we will recalibrate it to read correctly.
Do you offer rush or expedited service?
Yes, but call first. Rush work has to be arranged in advance rather than requested after a gauge arrives, so ring the shop on (650) 323-0243 before you ship and we will tell you what is possible.