OK, after finding nothing in the owners manual I checked through the last <arbitrary large number> of pages of postings here and on a number of other Mini sites and done general Google searches and haven't found an answer to this so here goes.

We just moved from the Minnesota to Vancouver Island Canada and brought my 2005 Cooper with us. In Canada the speedometer should be in KPH. Mine is in MPH, but the large gauge has a small set of KPH numbers that I've been using. Two questions.

Is there a way to switch the digital speedometer in the tach to KPH? I'm really hoping that there is a hidden switch, or combination of buttons or something else that I can do myself. I'd really rather not drive all the way down to the dealer in Victoria or take the ferry to Vancouver just for a 5 minute fix.

Months ago I saw an ad for replacement scales for the big speedometer in the Mini calibrated in just KPH. It's been long enough that I don't remember if they were an adhesive sheet that went over the existing numbers or an actual replacement for the stock plate with the KPH scale on it, or for that matter where I saw it. Anyone have an idea where something like that might be found?

 

I asked my dealer this when I bought my 2005, you have to go to the dealer and get it programmed. I've heard rumours that 2007s you can do the change yourself.

Where on Vancouver Island are you? How was easy was it to import the MINI? I am currently thinking about moving back to Vancouver from Chicago....

 

Well drat.
I guess it's off to Victoria I go. We are in Nanaimo so it's just an hour or so down the highway. Still it's just one more thing to deal with.

Bringing Katie over the border was easy. The thing is that if you bought your car in the US, you have to "export" it. We went through the Blane port north of Seattle**:
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/c...ts/wa/3004.xml
I just gave the Vehicle Export Office a call and they e-mailed me the documents. I filled them out and faxed them back. There is a 72 hour waiting period before you can take the car across the border. However, they let you get your vehicle pre approved for export. We got our paperwork sorted out a couple of weeks in advance and then breezed through customs.

The rules for Canada are located here
http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/importation/menu.htm
As soon as we get the paperwork from Customs in the mail we have to take Katie and our Prius for an inspection. I checked on the list of Vehicle Admissibility
http://www.riv.ca/english/US_vehicle_admissibility.pdf
and I don't expect too many issues. Not with my Mini anyway. We might have to have the Prius modified for daytime running lights.
Once we clear that we can get our plates.

**We moved from Minneapolis to Vancouver Island so our trip roughly parallels the move you're thinking about. We decided to stay on the US side as long as possible for a couple of reasons. I94/90 is more direct than Canada Hwy 1, The speed limits are higher, and gas prices were lower.

 

Thanks for the import/export info. My work visa here is expiring in October, I can renew it, but I've been thinking about moving back to BC (I grew up in Kelowna and went to University in Victoria. Oh, do I miss the mountains!!!). I've been reading as much as I can but it's always good to hear first hand experience.