No. 1 wife's '05 MC has the big clunky speedo in the middle of her dash instead of the much cooler nav screen Anyway, the plastic has a sort of haze that covers the bottom 2/3 of the lens and has a definite horizontal top line that is straight across, but dips down evenly at the mph numbers on both sides. It's kind of like looking through glass that is very lightly frosted. It could almost be tape residue from a sticker, except it is very even in density and looks intentional.

The dealer could not evaluate it because they can't darken the shop (didn't take well to the idea of covering the car with blankets ) but did replace the unit. The new one is just like the old one. Anyone know what the weird thing is and how to exorcise it?

 

You mentioned darkening the shop, if you are referring to when it is lit at night this is from the water fall lighting, bothers me from the opposite end, you see a slight refection from the orange leds in the roof, same one that light the switches and shift ****. about 1/3 of the way down is a straight line from the shadow of the overhang of the dash. You may want to try dimming the interior lights where the effect is not as severe. If it really bugs you I know people have replaced the LEDs you may consider removing the LED.
Personally I Like the center speedo, reminds me of rallying, so my co-pilot can see my speed, also fun when I have passengers and they realize just how fast I am taking corners.

 

is this what it looks like?

 

Not quite sure what is bothering you about your speedo, blue, but as for the "big clunky speedo," it is a classic part of the MINI that most of us MINI enthusiasts love. It is a traditional rally speedo, which navigators needed for rallying courses!

 

Motor - Pix is a little hard to see, but it sure looks like the problem. I don't understand which light is the culprit. Please try to explain again? The big clunky speedo in the middle of my forehead says I'm a little slow today.

 

'agave, the waterfall lights shine down from the headliner where the map lights and air bag warning light are. Hold your hand up there and you'll see 'em on your skin.

 

I'll go out and get another pic, thats just one I had in my library of MINI photos

 

Rant on ..... the speedo was not placed in the center for rally reasons. When the original Mini came to production in 1959, the speedo was placed in the center because of cost -- whether the car was right-hand drive or left-hand drive -- the driver could see it and the company did not have to make parts to shift the speedo (and the temp and oil pressure guages when they came along later) from side to side. All the holes necessary to move the steering column, and the pedals from side to side were put in all the body shells, as far as I know. To switch a right-hand drive Mini to left-hand drive, all one needs is a new steering rack and some brake and clutch hydraulic lines.

When the cars were used by the Factory ("the works cars") the navigator had his Halda precision odometer and other navigation aids mounted on a panel right in front of him/her. The driver had a panel with a bunch of switches for lights, horn, heated windscreen and a big tachometer right in front of him/her.

OK, now that I have that out of my system.... rant off.

In our new MINIs there abound multiple sources of reflections, and the angle of drivers eyes to the speedometer varies quite a bit according to driver size, seat position, that I am amazed there aren't more problems with reflections.

Paul

 

I believe the fix for the speedo issue is available from Mini and cost $300 - it's called the cockpit chrono package! After living with my wife's Mini for a few months, it bugged me that the computer is restricted to a single line on the tach and if you choose to display speed here (I can't get used to looking in the middle of the dash for my speed ), you lose displaying anything else useful.

 

What does No. 2 wife have? And No. 3, etc?

 

I was worried when I saw the thread title that it would be this sorta Weird Speedo Thing

 

Eww Gnarly!

Back to the reflections, I never noticed them until I retrofitted the Chromeline interior into my car. Now at night, the chrome tach surround makes a really cool cross-hatch reflection across the lower part of the speedo(meter) <G>.

I love it, and think it's ultra-cool!

 

ALIMONY

eVal, how did you get pictures of their new husbands?

 

 

Thanks for bailing me out with the moderator Not that I knew what I was talking about when I made the gaffe, but the truth always manages to persevere. (We need smiley icons for "Oops" and "Whew")

 

I read that the center speedo was also to cover up the hole used to support the body of the car with a telephone like pole so it could be rotated and painted back in the old days....

another reason the speedo was put in the center.