Has anyone installed any aftermarket gauges in their R56?

If so, what gauge pod, where did you buy it and what was the price?

What gauges (function) did you choose; and what brand?

I've seen mention of JCW gauges for the R56 coming out, but no details or pics. Anyone have any details other then big bucks?

Thanks

 

ScanGaugeII with Velcro.
Last I looked, there weren't many gauge options for the R56.

 

Hi Robin,

I saw the scangauge2 and the dashhawk. They plug into the ODB2 port if I recall correctly. Do you like it so far?

I'm looking for something like Craven Speed or Alta's gauge pod solution... or JCW if there is any information on it.

I've only been able to find Craven's R56 pod on MiniCarPart.net for $180. That's without gauges. That price seems high to me. Especially since R52 & R53 gauge pods go for ~120. I checked the dealer links on Cravens sight, but none of them show the R56 part.

 

give me a week! I should have the ALTA R56 pod with gauges how to done by next week. And a whole kit for less than $300 pod, gauges (electronic not digital) etc. Stay tuned!

 

will boost be one of them?

 

alta alta alta, you have so much up your sleeves! every r56 forum theres always a wait! we have what you need! do the majority of your intial r56 products will be out with in a month?

 

Yeah, don't forget detailed instructions as to " sending units".

"I've been searching, but not finding" help!

Carl

 

For the overambitious, such as myself, you can always use the fact that the center ring of the OEM vents is 52mm to your advantage...

I will most likely be picking up the Alta pod once it's released though.

 

Kind of hard to see but the outer part of the vent is still there and the "fins" fit snugly against the bezel. used a Dremel and alot of patience.

 

I set up a package with the Craven Speed Pod and 3 Gauges - Oil Pressure, Oil Temp and Water temp. For 2 weeks I've been looking for info on sending units on the R-56 with no luck. No one seems to know where the sending units for water temp and oil seem to be. I'm running out of options. In looking at the engine I did find two sending units in the head of my MCS at the drivers end of the block. One unit is verticle and the other horizontal , both are between the cams. Can anybody answer me if these are the oil pressure and water temp sending units ? If you want pics I'll get some tomorrow , remember they (the gauges ) are not functional just mounted on the back of the tach.

 

Great job finding the sending units! No, go unscrew them and see what leaks out.

If it's oil, good job, you found the oil pressure sending unit!
If it's coolant, good job, you found the temperature sender!

When you're done, let us know. And thanks in advance.

 

Sorry for the delays guys. I swear it is for the better that things are taking this long. More photos etc. ASAP.

Thank you again for all of your patience!

 

Ok ... Found some info today on the net ... go to this web page -- http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...& hg=11&fg=15

And it shows the R-56 Cylinder Head - look at part 11 - This is listed as a -OIL PRESSURE SWITCH - This must be the place - the same picture does NOT show the Water Temp Sending unit which I think is in the same area just in the Verticle plane below bracket Part number 8 . I will try before the week is out - and get some pics to put here also.

 

Ok - The pics on the OEM site are correct - The horizontal Sending unit is Oil - so the Verticle must be water - Problem - on the oil pressure sending unit I used the Adapter from Craven Speed to insert the oil pressure sending unit while keeping the original Sending unit to kep the ECU happy - when you try to screw it in it won't go - I must have looked at this for about a hour trying to figure out what the heck is happening - The thermostat housing rests just below the oil sending unit and the seam for the halfs of this unit pushes up on anything extended out of the oil sending feed hole. So the adapter will not screw in. Some one might be able to grind the thermostat housing down enough to make a adapter fit , but may compromise the seal on the thermostat housing. Some thing with a 45 degree up angle needs to be there for the oil sending unit
All in all some people have used the oil filter housing for the perpose of oil Temp. and some have used the Oil drain plug in the oil pan and used a adapter there.
I personally don't like those two options. The oil filter housing is too thin to be drilling on it. The oil drain plug is going to be in and out every so often ( don't like removing and reinstalling this adapter again and again)

The only thing I can think of that's easy is a short custom [FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]hydraulic[/SIZE][/FONT] hose with adapters on each end - Male 3/8 NPT and other end Female 3/8 NPT (National Pipe Thread). A 250 lb pressure hose with a Stainless Braided covering should take care of any abrasion from the outside. I'm going to check locally for someone to make this and see how much it will cost - will report back soon.

 

Went by a Rubber Hose Industrial Supplier today after getting my JCW put on finally. Had them make a custom hose for me. Rubber - Oil is ok with it - had a 3/8 NPT female on one end and a male 3/8 NPT on the other end. Will work for now with the Tapless adapter from Craven Speed. Want to make one with Stainless Braid on the hose to help stop any abrasion when installed. Will probably have to connect a ground wire on the adapter also for the Sending units. Have thought about making a manifold to hold the orginal sending unit plus two more. The only issue is that hose. This stuff I'm using is good to 300 PSI and 300 degrees F . It will rock with the engine as it is attached to the engine. If your careful of placement it should be ok without the braid, but I would use the braid just in case. The best part ----- the hose with the 3/8 NPT adapters connected $3.90. Can't beat that.

 

Well it all went to hell in a hand basket. It looks like the threads in the head are NOT 3/8 NPT but rather a 3/8 BSP - British Standard Pipe - going to trie the rubber hose thing again, if I can find a supplier for this BSP thing.

 

This is getting really old. A few years ago some one borrowed my Metric screw pitch gauge, maybe if I had it now this would never have happened. It's NOT a BSPP thread in the head. After consulting a machinist friend with a screw pitch gauge I have found "it looks like 16mm X 1.5mm " Oh how I hate that "it looks like" part. I'm going to the hose place today to get another one made again. This time Metric X NPT and hope this one works. If they have the parts I'll let everyone know late today. Keep your fingers crossed for this one to work.

 

ok - The thread in the cylinder head is 16mm X 1.5 mm for sure. I'll have the sending units in today. The wiring may not be finished but we'll see. Mcmasters-Carr carries a manifold that looks just right to hook 3 sending units up - Oil Pressure (the stock sender), Oil Pressure (the Gauge) and the oil temp. for the gauge. May have to order one of these to make it all neat. When finished I'll have the suppliers of parts and part numbers, plus pics.

 

I just want to ask, are there any gauges for the R56 that looklike the rest gauges that the R56 come with? Ive seen the Alta gauges and they dont look exactly like the mini style gauges! Are there any out there that do look like the mini ones?

 

the autometer ultra light series looks like a pretty close match but I'm not sure if they're front or backlit for nighttime matching purposes

 

well if anyone can post pics to see their matching it be swell!!

 

I am definitely new to the Mini mod world but I would really like to add some instrumentation to my mini and I had a few questions:

1. What are the advantages of mechanical vs. electrical guages? Electrical seems to be much more expensive.
2. What guages have people added to the R56 so far? I would like oil temp and water temp. as a minimum.
3. How difficult are they to add? Do I have to put any new holes in the car?

Thanks for any help
John

 

That's what I've been waiting on also. I want the gauges to have the same colors and fonts as the tach, so they look OEM.

 

obscurity and Minidrvr i think what you want to know, is very close to my wonderings also. I too want a few gauges and i too want them to look exactly like the ones of mini, with same color, fonts etc.
Way to go guys!

 

What gauges ? I've got a gas gauge and speedo + Tach and that's it from Mini, in my '07 MCS - Was away for a few weeks with some personal business and then went into the hospital for some work on my heart. It seams that the manifold is the only way to fit all in there.