My question is related to some others on the "Chrono pack" ... but this is slightly different.
So... I've decided to make it a separate post as I've not seen this in other threads.



I have a question and hope that some of you can take a moment to help me out.

My car, 2005 (9/04) MCS... has the info button on the stalk, if that makes a diff.

Would like to add the speedo/tach combo on the steering wheel.
I need NO other gauges in the center and I'm quite content with my current center cluster.

Plenty of Factory/OEM-MINI R53 tach/speed gauge combos used, in good shape, out there to be had at reasonable prices.

Is there a way to pull off adding the speedo to the column from the chrono pack option. WITHOUT the center gauges.

If so, specifically, what is involved in terms of harness (does the non chrono tach connector have all the terminals necessary?)
Coding by the dealer.... Necessary without using the center cluster??
I'm not opposed to swapping MY current tach into the replacement housing if that makes it simpler.

If this really is a PITA to do... thinking of using my tach in the dual tach/speedo housing and doing a clean-gut and substitution of an OBD or GPS speedo into that... but I really like the looks of the factory unit.

I like the speedo in front of me and I cant read the digital speed on my tach without my reading glasses.

Any help is MUCH appreciated
Thanks in advance!!






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I would think it would work, I can only answer what I know from personal experience. I had a 2005 Chrono MINI. I installed a LinkECU MINI+ Stand Along ECU. THe Link ECU does NOT support the ChronoPack, but the dual cluster behind the steering wheel worked fine, the gauges in the center chrono did not.

Also I have a 2006 MINI Cooper with the Chrono Kit, and the Info display was not functioning correctly, I asked the dealer about and they told me it was the 'gauge', I asked is the gauge Coded to the car, they told me no, so I bought a used one and installed it and low and behold everything worked perfect, so all the info being displayed including the mileage, is stored in the body computer and sent over the CAN interface.

 

The harness, connector, and signals are the same for the single tach and the dual gauge. It wouldn't hurt to plug one in and see if it works, but I have my doubts.

The center gauge (large speedo, chrono, or nav) contains the instrument control module that controls what is displayed on each gauge. There is no coding option to configure it for the combination of center speedo and second speedo on the steering column.

Can't swap your current tach into dual gauge housing. The dual gauges are smaller size, and actually the two gauges are not physically separate. The housing is cleverly designed to look like two separate gauges, but actually both gauges are mounted on a single "8" shaped circuit board that spans the entire width.

You had simply replaced one dual gauge with another, which is a very different scenario from what @mountainhorse is trying to achieve.

 

I'm wanting to do this also - replace the single tach on the steering wheel with the dual pod from the chrono pack. Did you get this to work?