Thanks to some wonderful forum members' advice I managed to crack open my 2006's dash this afternoon and install my new dark gray GP-style gauge faces... They look WONDERFUL! GOOD NEWS for all 2005-2006 owners - you can definitely get to the speedo without the nightmare of removing the dashboard. I managed to have the speedo off my car in about 10 minutes flat once I realized what I needed to do. Huzzah!!

I have photos and a rough draft of a complete install How-to, but it's late and I need to do a bit more work on them, plus I want to be 100% certain that I can actually publish photos of the gauge faces (I'm not sure if they're actual final-release models or still proytotypes), but I can say that they're NOT the expensive ones made by the aircraft gauge manufacturers that some others have installed, but are completely custom gauge faces with non-OEM lettering/numbering and customized calibration marks (no kph numerals for one thing, mph marked every 10 mph for a second, brighter than OEM for a third).

I should have more details posted Monday!

 

cheaper? awesome I want some dark face plate also

 

I hope that these are eventually made for the tach and speedo over the steering wheel, ie those of us that have the Chrono or Nav options.

 

Cockpit Specialties told me they are prototyping it and will have it available in about 4 to 8 weeks.

 

this sounds like a great mod... YUMM

 

Wow... as sharp as these are in the nighttime, they're even sharper in the day. The way they're designed, all of the idiot lights are invisible and stealthed until they're illuminated, making for a VERY clean-looking gauge. Easy to read in the extreme.

Just as soon as I have permission to post pics of the new gauges I will - the How-to is all written and ready to go and all my images are reformatted for the web. The How-to has separate sections for 2002-2004 cars (with a 2-peice dashboard) and 2005-2006 models (which have a one-peice unit that does not have to be removed as part of the install).

 

Lookin' forward to the how-to. I want to install the blue gauge faces and am a little intimidated by the install.

 

It's not too bad, but I'm really glad that I sweated all the small stuff and read all I could BEFORE I picked up tools. Hopefully the How-to will show just how simple it is and give people all the details they need.

 

Wow, that would be cool. I hope that they do something for the nice people that have the Chrono pack.

The checkered one looks nice!

 

Hey Matt, My PM is always open for a picture or 10

I've watched those GP style gauge face plates on eBay, just can't pull the trigger at $149, and now I'm glad I've waited.

No more teasing on with the photo's

 

HERE YOU GO...

 

Hey thanks Matt - well done as always. This is now far less intimidating than when people were talking about having to remove the boot and the oil pan to get at these gauge faces. Think I'll hang out awhile to see what Outmotoring has to offer as far as colours and patterns.
Thanks again for your efforts.

 

Looks great, and well documented instructions. But such a teaser... the product hasn't been priced or released yet. In any case I'll have to wait for a Chrono/Nav version from either OutMotoring or Cockpit Specialties.

The installation instructions from Cockpit Specialties is here: http://www.cockpitspecialties.com/instructions.pdf. It is interesting to note that they give a stern warning not to unplug the speedometer. It seems to have not caused any problems for you but they must have run into some issues.

 

Nope no issues other than that I had to reset my clock. Hmmmm... Wait. I haven't checked my oil service settings or odometer since I installed the new faces. I assumed that all of these functions were driven by the onboard computer and not saved locally in the speedo assembly, however. The guy I spoke to that detailed the gauge removal (who is a MINI tech) did not caution me about wiping my odometer or oil service settings, however, so I think I'm good - will check that later today.

 

It may just be when you are replacing a speedo that it requires re-programming but as it is the primary interface between all of the vehicles buses, it would be best to be cautious.

There is also another caution in the Haynes manual that states "Warning: The instrument panel must kept in an upright position to avoid silicone leaking from the guages" How odd!

 

To avoid concerns about unplugging the speedometer, I'd recommend disconnecting the battery first (no note about this in the Cockpit Specialties instructions). I can't imagine how the speedometer could get messed up if the battery were disconnected.

 

I always thought it was common sense to disconnect the negative terminal anytime you worked on anything electrical in a car....but maybe that is just me

if power is disconnected, really, there is no way for the modules to know they are separated from each other unless they have power cells of their own, which they don't.

Great write up ImagoX...thanks for your continued contributions to the community

 

Well I checked, and my odometer and scheduled service counters are all OK, as are all the idiot lights (as far as I can tell, anyway). Even the low fuel light seems fine. My car is a 2006, however, so this might be an issue with earlier models (?) I'll make a note in the How-to just to be sure people know about the possibility of a problem.