I ran across a very interesting thread over on the E46 fanatics forum here about adjusting the temperature gauge values to have a more narrow buffer at the center line to be more responsive of what the actual coolant temps are. Most were using PAsoft to make the change, but it can also be done with NCSExpert.

Their coding is very similar to what our first gens use, so I started looking into making the same change for my 2003 R50. I found similar hex numbers in the KMB module giving the gauge readings for our first gen MINIs:
So, what that means is 75 - 114C, the needle will stay on the middle mark. The warning is set up to sound at 120C.

I devised some revised numbers like this:
So, with those, the needle would move above the midline when temps rise above 100C, and wouldn't get to the middle line until the coolant is a little warmer.

However, the issue I ran into was I wasn't able to code it. I tried using NCSExpert and PASoft to write the revised hex values, but they never took. It's as if the values cannot be changed, at least on my pre facelift MINI.

I'm wondering if anyone with a facelift 05-06 MINI is willing to give this a try to see if it works on their later version of the KMB module. I noticed in NCS Dummy that there are actually multiple temperature curves available on later versions of the KMB module - I suspect for whether it has the chrono pack or not. With two curve options, the later KMB may be able to be recoded. The value you're looking for in NCS Expert is KUEHLMITTELTEMP_WERT in the KMB module.

Curious to see what you guys find if you give this a try. If you have a facelift MINI and are set up with NCS Expert, but aren't sure what to do from there, let me know - I'd love to help guide you through the process so you can see if it works.

 

let me know how to read and write the values with ncsexpert, then I’ll take a look at it.

 

Cool, do you also have NCS dummy setup? That's how I tried adding the new hex values.

 

yes the whole lot.

 

Great, you should be able to give it a try. I've been busy with Thanksgiving and work, but will try to find the how-to on adding custom settings to the datens with NCS Dummy soon...

 

Alright, took a look at this finally! I attached the NCS dummy manual, which you probably already have. The thing to look at is 3.1.4. Adding New Parameters. This is where you'll be able to add a new parameter for your own gauge value, in theory at least. Like I said, it didn't work on my pre-facelift, but there is a chance it will work on later versions of the KMB module.

The temperature gauge values are located in the KMB module. Confirm which version you have using INPA, it runs from C04 to C11.

In the KMB module, scroll down in NCS dummy to "Temperature Gauge"

Then, right below that, you'll see "KuehlmittelTemp_Wert" which is the Coolant temperature value. When you click on "kennlinie_01 - characteristic curve 01", you will see the hex values for the temperature shown below. To create a new set of curves, right click on the existing "kennlinie_01" and choose "add FSW/PSW parameter." It creates a new parameter that you can name and put in custom hex values for the temperature. You can use the values I tried above in the first post or come up with your own.

You can also try adding a new parameter for lowering the coolant temp warning threshold too. It's "kuehlmitteltemp_warnschw" in the same section.

Once you've added the new parameters in NCS dummy, you update the module in the daten files by using the option at the lower left. From there, you use NCS expert to do the final coding.