Referring to the VDO oil temp and volt meters available from MINIUSA. Wondering how the wiring works, do you need to get the computer flashed, etc. Thanks!

 

I had the stock ones installed (I think the same as mini-mania sells). It was suppose to take an hour to install. The dealership had the car from 9am until 7pm and screwed up more than they fixed.

It's not an easy do-it-yourself job, but be careful that you have someone do it thats done it before. I love them since they were put in. They fill up that worthless space under the switch panel behind the worthless drink cup holders. I also had the rear fogs installed and put in a parcel shelf. All three mods greatly improved the looks of the interior. Did not need to reflash the memory.

 

Are the instructions available online anywhere? I'd like to take a look at them to see if I think it's a DIY job or one best left to the dealer.

 

I tried the MINI gauges on for size, and frankly, do I really need to be looking waaay down there by the cup holders at gauges when I am busy at speed? don't think so. the pod by the tach is the way to go.
.025cents worth from someone who has not installed gauges yet.......

 

the gauges are cool and the dash is so small it is not a problem glancing at them occassionally.... but more than anything, they fill the hole.

 

volt and oil temp is not something you need to constantly monitor so

the location is okay, I think. I kinda wanted to fill up that hole too... I
have a pyrometer for intake, volt, and a/f meter which I can use.

 

Nice topic tell me more whats the cost ect?

 

Believe it or not, the cost from the dealer is less than Mini-Mania, plus most dealerships (at least in the Bay Area) will give you a 10%-20% discount if you belong to one of the local MINI clubs.They are shown in the 2003 MINI accessories catalog, plus dealership will charge 1-2 hours for the install. The MINI MOTORING ACCESSORIES book lists the guages at $250. I paid around $200. I would buy from the dealership and then have a local mechanic install them unless your dealership has done it before.

 

YOu didn't happen to get any install instructions with your kit, did you? Be interesting to see what it entails.

 

No, sorry. I bought the gauges directly from the dealership with the intention of having them do the install. They estimated that it would take an hour but the book said 2. I brought it in at 9am. They said I wuld be out of the dealership by 1pm. My guess is that they started working on it about 11:30am. I was there until 7pm. I saw at least 3 techs working on the car.

Because they wanted to go home to their families, they forgot to put my car totally back together... omitting several screws and bolts in the engine bay and the dash partially apart... fortunately for me, Randy Webb worked on the car about 3 weeks later and replaced broken and missing parts.

Either the techs working on the car were total rookies or this is a tough install.