Is there any way to switch out the Speedo mph plate with a kmh one?
Thinking of taking the car to Europe next year and leaving it there with the family and this would help.

or did MINI did this US mph only speedo to avoid move just like this?

 

You can switch the digital readout to kmh.

 

Taking a car to Europe and leaving it there may not be a wise idea. I am not sure if it will meet all the specific country safety regulations. Most of Europe is the same and taking a US Spec car there as a military or government employee for a specified period of time is normally allowed but in some cases the cars do not meet the country safety regulations and can not be left there permanently.

Example:I purchased a 2003 BMW 525iT wagon (US Spec) for very little money because the owner was Swedish and was moving back home (in less than a week) but could not take the car back with him as it did not meet the country safety regulations. I no longer remember exactly what the problem was but he had told me when I bought the car.

I recommend checking with the country DMV before making plans to ship the car.

 

Thanks scahtzy, its pretty safe bet nowadays as long as its a late model car. We have taken a few cars over in the last few years with no problem. Even the US specs and speedo are no issue. Of course it still depends on individual countries, but to Poland, where this is going its been ok. Most countires tax to death larger engine displacement cars, typically anything over 2.0 liter, but small bangers are golden.

and also thanks drewster, knew about that already, but was wondering on the actual large overlay.

 

MINI doesn't sell the overlay separately, but you can get aftermarket overlays in kph:
http://www.outmotoring.com/mini-coop...uge_faces.html
Also try: http://cockpitspecialties.com/index.html

However if the overlays were created for Euro spec, they will have labels for the warning lights in Euro spec. You need to check whether the warning lights are arranged differently from US spec (I believe they are).

 

There's also the issue of many European countries still not using unleaded fuel. The nozzle will still fit in the tank but it won't take long before the car don't run so well as the catalyst in the CC's is all "Gunked" up.

In the past, the issue was bringing Euro Spec cars to the U.S. because of stricter regulations on this side of the pond.

If the car is going to England, there's also the LH vs. RH drive issue. From personal experience, LH drive cars in RH drive countries can be dangerous from the front and rear. Passing is nearly impossible as you can't get a look down the road to see if it's clear. I was required (not by the UK but by the U.S. Military) to have a decal on the rear end of my car that stated "Left Hand Drive Vehicle". That was because there were accidents caused by other drivers freaking out that there wasn't somone "behind the wheel".... Oh, the headlights of a LH drive vehicle are not only aimed differently but the lenses are different enough that they can't be adjusted properly.

Then there's the monetary issue of taking U.S. vehicles to Europe. I contemplated leaving mine when I left but the taxes to be paid for the transfer were outrageous!

Just a few things to think about...

 

thanks for the tips on those, but they are all for previous generation cars.
I am looking in particular for the R56 / Clubman.

 

Hi Lurch70:

I was wondering if you have found a solution to your KM/h speedo faceplate?

I have a similar situation in that I have just purchased a used 2009 Clubman from the USA and I am taking it back to Canada where I live. I have to change the Speedo faceplate to indicate KM/h. I presume that the MPH only faceplate was done intentionally to discourage Canadians from buying American cars for a cheaper price. Anyway, once the faceplate has been changed, and the digital readout has been re-programmed, then it meets the Canadian Motor Vehicle Department requirements. The aftermarket businesses do not yet have the faceplate for the 2009 Clubman, not yet one that I have found.

I have watched the video and read the tutorial for removing the speedo, but those are both for earlier 2007 models, I believe. It looks quite involved with lots of little screws to get lost and not re-installed correctly. There must be an easier way, but I have not found one, as yet.

Also, I believe that the re-programming of the digital read-out to show KM/h and KM, instead of MPH and miles, can be done simply by the dealer. I have not yet investigate this, but if somebody knows the answer, I would appreciate hearing from them.

Please keep me informed of your progress and what solutions you find. I will post the same, if I find anything useful.

Garry.

 

You can switch the digital readout to show kph by simply going through the options on the read out. I'm currently in Spain with my US spec R56. The digital readout does great! The only time i look at the speedo is to check the fuel level.

 

I know in England you will have to add rear fogs, change the headlights out to rhd drive, and there is a couple of other things but, I cna't find them on the internet right now. Just keep looking on the intenet and you will be able to find more info about. If it were me which it might be in a few years I am just going to either keep the MINI here in the States or sell it then I am going to get a MINI or something else in Europe and bring it back.

 

Its very complicated to import cars that are Euro spec Porthos. You may know something i don't, or people but there are a ton of laws that make it next to impossible to bring cars into the states that arent US spec.

 

All European Manufacturers have programs for US owners to purchase a car in Europe and then bring it back to the US. Many of those are US spec but easily then adapted to a more Euro spec while there. As long as the car meets the US spec and then some it can come to the the US. My boss goes over to Germany every other year to get his new car, drive it for a while on vacation and then bring it back to the US. All of those have been US spec with a bunch of Euro spec parts added on.

 

That's European delivery... it works because it's still a US spec vehicle first and foremost, that's been made to comply with Euro spec (and I think it's excepted in certain ways, too, since it's only temporary). It's tough if you have a European spec car and want to bring it here (like, say, an Alfa Romeo).

 

Is that why some VWs and other cars supposedly get 70+ mpg (or so I have heard) over there?