I noticed that the Nav system takes the spot of the speedometer and temp gauge, but doesn't replace the temp gauge. Is there an indicator I'm missing or is this an engineering oversight?

Can I get an aftermarket temp gauge? I'm pretty paranoid of frying my engine.

 

The only indication of overheating is the "ding" sound and the high temp lamp coming on over the Nav unit. Just part of the deal, trust me... NAV is worth it!

 

Trust me. I love me my nav. I just wish there was a way to get a temp gauge in there as well. I can't imagine it would be THAT difficult and am willing to bet that someone has made an aftermarket dealio.

 

I have an '03 with Nav. I added my own water and oil temp gauges after having an overheating session that a gauge would have helped to alert me of before it happened. Stuck in traffic, the light came on about a minute before the car belched up coolant due to a blown radiator fan fuse. This apparently had been waiting to happen for a while, and this particular idling in traffic was my first in ages. A gauge would have shown me the engine heating up while not moving. The light told me there was merely impending doom.

 

I have heard of this issue from a couple of people and want to take preventative steps before I encounter this myself. What was your remedy and how did you go about getting it installed?

 

On the 2007 (at least) a warning also appears in the Control Panel when temp gets too hot. It is supposed to warn you before things get critical.

 

I bought the empty bezel that ordinarily comes with the MINI aux gauge set (oil temp and volts), fitted it with Auto Meter full-sweep electric water and oil temp gauges. I made up my own wiring harness and fitted the sender for the water temp in the block drain plug location (that's the tough part, it's above the starter) and the oil temp sensor in a tapped hole in the oil filter canister. Both locations provide ideal monitoring points as far as accuracy, and the sensors are not in the way of any normal maintenance. The whole arrangement looks almost stock.

 

Bear,

I just noticed you're in Maryland. I'm just up in Linthicum. If you know how to do this, I'd be willing to pay you for it.

 

I can give you all the info needed as far as required parts, depending on the types of gauges you select and how you want them and the sensors mounted. It's not difficult, but the full-sweep gauges and their larger-than-average sensors complicate things a bit. Do you have a MC or MCS?

 

Craven has the FlexPod Brcket Z that attaches to the dual tach/speedometer on NAV MINIs and lets you add gauges cups of your choosing. You can easily add your temp gauge that way, or add more gauges while you are at it.

I am happy to help in any way I can. Just give me a ring.

 

2004 MCS. I'd appreciate the parts list. Thanks.

 

To install the gauges like I did, ahead of the console and under the toggles, you'd need the MINI OEM gauge pod, and an Auto Meter water temp and oil temp gauge. These full-sweep gauges are a great deal more expensive than simpler 90-degree sweep version water and oil temp. The wiring for the 90 degree versions is simpler, with only one wire needed per sensor rather than two. The starter does not need to be removed for clearance when using the single-wire sensors (the two-wire versions have a large plastic connector body that hit the starter when initially installing it). As for the remaining necessities, a fuse holder and some hardware, extra wire and connectors are needed. The oil temp sensor can either go into the oil pan where the drain plug is (using an adaptor) or fitted into the oil filter canister inside the hex 'nut' recess. The block drain port is the best location for the water temp, as any other solution uses a tee in a heater or radiator hose, with a reduction in accuracy.