For those who have the steering column mounted gauge kit (OEM MINI):
I just installed this kit on my 2006 Cooper S and now my toggle switch bank doesn't work. The voltmeter works and the gauges light up, but the switches are dead. I disconnected the gauge harness and plugged the switch bank back into the main harness and the switches work so I know I don't have a bad switch bank.

There appears to be only one way to wire this thing up -
Male end (teal) of gauge harness to the switch bank, female end of gauge harness to the male end of harness that previously went to the switch bank. There only appears to be one way of doing it. Am I overlooking something or did I get a defective harness with the kit?

 

There are hinged mechanical bailers for each connector. Are you opening the bailer up all the way so "side gears" are meshing ok before pushing the connector in and is it locking down ok ?

All I can figure is maybe they are not locked down fully ?

 

That's a possibility. I can check again. This kit is getting rare now - I bought Morristowns last one and I might not be able to find another.

It's only 3 wires to worry about, I could just cut the harness and tap into 12V, ground, and lights.

But I'd rather not.

 

You say you just installed it....call the dealer...you may need to get the BCM updated to have it work...
Also does your car have the trip computer.....
For some of the functions to work...you had to have it....
I'm guessing that adding a new computer to the wiring changes the address of the items that the BCM is talking to on an electronics level (data bus). So a BCM re-program may be needed!!

 

It is my impression the harness merely plugs in line grabbing 12v power for illumination and power for volt meter. I didn't get a sense it was drawing anything else from the body control module for interpretation.

You could check the harness with a volt meter going from one pin side to the other making sure each wires between each connector is ok.

And can always double check your work with MC2 magazine. They had a few full page how to on this including some good pics.

Kit is still available. However if it was their last one, they can check MINI dealers in CONUS for one if yours is defective. Or by way of slow U-boat from Germany.

 

I was thinking of the Chrono/Guage pack.... A few adventurous folks have tried to retrofit it...
I guess you are installing an OEM gauge kit? Kinda like the auto-meter ones? Pretty sure that those would not need to have a BCM update. Sorry for the confusion!!
I'd still call the dealer....heck, they sold the part, the least they could do is provide technical support to ya!! Hand-holding is one thing, but it sounds like you are well beyond that!!

 

I'm going to double check the connections and make sure nothing is amiss with the connectors - then it's on the phone for a new harness.