So i have a 2002 r53. And i installed an aftermarket android head unit in my car. Its pretty nice but the one problem is it replaces my center speedometer. Well. more like covers it up. i can post pictures in the comments. The replacement unit does have a speedometer but it is in kph. and while i can drive like that here in the states, im not sure if thats actually legal. im sure there is a cop here thatll be more than glad to confirm this.

So my solution was to find a dual cluster from a mini of the same generation as mine. so basically one from a mini that has a navigation system. So i started looking and i found one. Got it last friday and hooked it up and it works! kind of.

The tachometer works. the speedometer works. and the on screen odometer even works. But the lights are all messed up. Right turn signal blinks the battery light. Hand brake triggers the EML light, etc.

One of the problems could be that its a cluster from a 2006 cooper. i found a guide on all of this and it said for best plug and play you should try to get parts from the same sub section. IE pre-facelift into a pre-facelift or facelift into facelift. Problem is im having a REALLY hard time finding a dual cluster from a pre-facelift mini that doesnt break the bank. I dont mind spending the money but only if i can guarantee itll work.

Ive been in contact with every mini dealer in my area and theyve all basically told me to pound sand. they hear "code used speedo" and they just shut me down and wont listen because they think im trying to code the center speedo. which i know for fraud prevention isnt possible. im also sure they arent to concerned with trying to do maintenance on a 20 year old mini.

So i ask you guys. do you know of anyway that i could code this myself? ive heard of a few pieces of software like NCS expert and such. but im not sure if theyll do what im looking to do. again, money isnt the issue (i own a mini i know what that means) but im not going to throw money at something unless i know its going to work.
Covered the lights with electrical tape because they are distracting

yeah the original speedo is hidden behind this thing

 

The issue is the center speedo store you information. As in miles an vin. The issue is not the dual gauges. They hold no info. The issue is the coding in you center gauge cluster. It would have to be coded in order for the 2 wheel gauges to work. A pre facelift chrono package is a hard find.
When I swapped my gauges to chrono. I had to do two thing. One was to send of my center chrono gauge to be coded to work with the dual gauges to work correctly. Second issue I had was my mini is a pre facelift. So my water temp would not work. So I had a used post facelift DME programmed with my cars info including miles an vin. Now it works perfect.

 

Who did you send your Chrono pack to for coding?

 

I had the vin number matched to mine an miles. So there would be no errors.

 

I know why you did it, but WHO did you sent it to?

 

A friend in England.