Where's the temperature gauge?
 

I'm sure this is a newbie question, but where can I get the engine or coolant temperature information in my R53?

I have the navigation display in the center of the dash, and the dual speedo and tach behind the steering wheel.

Scrolling through the On-board Computer option on the navigation display, there's an "Outside Temp" reading; but I presume that to be the temperature outside the car, and not the engine temp. (But the "Outside Temp" seems to be stuck at 220 degrees, so either that sensor is broken or that is the engine temp.)

I know there's a warning light that appears when the car is overheating, but is there some other place to get basic temp information?

Not without installing an additional gauge. I use a scanguage 2 to get this info.

That's crummy. So we get no warning until it's running dangerously hot?

Here's a great thread on Scangage https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...connector.html

There is another option, using a wifi OBDII reader (about $20) in the slot under your steering wheel, and Dash Command ($10 I think) installed on your iPad or iPhone. Although cool, there are slight delays with the info, you need a mount, and for me it's a PITA to connect to my car via wifi (probably because I don't do it every day).

Not really... In most cases buy the time you get a warning the car is already damaged at some level.

There are additional gauges that you can install on the R53, but most people use a scangauge or their smartphones now. Most cars no longer have a water temp gauge.

I forgot to mention you can also get an Ultragage.

The chrono pack guages were real....factory option 2005+...
The other temp guages that were standard were "dummy" ones...staying in the middle...no real info....
You can install a guage of some type....I hesitate to say the odb2 are truly useful case they piggyback on the same system that turns on the red idiot light....

I guess it's true that many cars in the last ten years don't have a temp gauge. Our Prius certainly doesn't - but then again, I'm not worried about it overheating. The Mini, on the other hand, has already had two leaky radiator expansion tanks replaced - so knowing the engine temperature would be nice.

ultraguage or scan guage will tell you along with anything else that comes out of the OBD2 port