Ok, so I read this article that said if you now get the anthracite dash it changes everything to anthracite, including the tach which remained silver in previous years... Is this true or not? Anyone who recently ordered anthracite interior can confirm?

 

It would be helpful if you could post the reference to this article?

 

I was thinking that too...but mine's silver tach on anthracite dash (built April 2006). I thought it was supposed to be an anthracite tach too.

 

I believe it was on www.motoringfile.com, but I can't be sure. I'll have to search again... Basically, it said that '06's would have the anthracite tach. However, a bunch of people said theirs were silver, and they were all earlier in the year builds, so that's why I was asking someone who took delivery really recently...

EDIT: Here's another thread about it... it was motoringfile.com:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...nthracite+dash

 

I believe this is the trim ring, not the actual dial face itself...hopefully this helps, or adds confusion.

 

I have an end of Nov. build/Jan. delivered '06 with all anthracite interior - tach ring silver, but back side is black - is that different from previous years?

 

Here's the link to the MotoringFile article:

http://motoringfile.com/2005/11/21/n...-tach-housing/

 

I read that too and was really excited about it when I moved up to an 06... but it didn't happen. I have yet to see an anthracite tach ring from the factory. I'd love to have one though.

 

I was the person who started that thread. Cars with the Piano Black interior option get an anthracite tach ring, and to my knowledge that is the only way to get the anthracite tach ring from the factory. By all reports, the anthracite dash still does not include an anthracite tach ring.

According to RealOEM, it should be possible to purchase an anthracite tach (part # 62116966527) but it is the entire tach instrument, not just the trim ring separately. Actually the same is true also for the standard silver version (trim ring part not available separately). The chrome is the only version listed where a trim ring available by itself.

 

I've seen it on an anthracite dash (It was just the tach/speedo rings; the background remained the same)--and I don't like it. The whole thing looks washed out. Chrome looks much, much better with the anthracite dash IMHO.

 

I think a lot of you have misunderstood what MINI is doing.

In the MotoringFile article it said, "New for 2006, MINIs with anthracite trim now include an anthracite tachometer housing."

The HOUSING for the tach is going to be anthracite, not the dial or the trim ring. I haven't checked this against any cars, but nowhere have I seen it say that either the dial face or the trim ring will be anthracite.

Just my 2¢.

Cheers,
Bruce
motorbruce

 

The look of chrome vs non-chrome is a preference, and that is not the issue here. Assuming the non-chrome choice (which is what I prefer), the issue is anthracite vs standard silver for the tach ring. With an anthracite interior, all the trim rings come in anthracite EXCEPT for the tach, which is a glaring mismatch in silver.

But hasn't the housing (the back) of the tach always been in anthracite only, for all interior trim options and all years of MINI? Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that the MotoringFile article is in error.

 

That's what the IMHO was for....

I would strongly recommend you look at this setup before you go with it--if you've seen it and you like it, then go for it. But if you haven't, I hate to say it, but it looks very plasticky, and very cheap...

 

I think the tach face for the JCW-GP is anthracite instead of silver.

 

Well, I think ALL the dashes (no matter what colour combo you get) look 'plasticky' because they ARE plastic... no real way around that... I agree that some look more than others (silver... ick) but still...

 

I painted my own. Doesn't match exactly, but pretty close.



Here are the details.

 

Our 06 with a Piano Black dash came with an anthracite tach ring. We got that and the black headliner and I like it alot better than the silver/white in our 04. If you install an aftermarket chrome tach ring it doesn't cover the whole ring and you get the best of both worlds

 

Early Apex, Can you post a photo of it?

 

Yep, but I doubt that's going to be easy to get a hold of, since it's done by Bertrone. I really like the look of that too, but I've only seen it in pictures.

 

Actually when I first went to the MINI dealer, I was very underwhelmed by the quality of material in all the interior options. This was my assessment of the trim rings:

• Silver: looks like cheap plastic
• Anthracite: looks like less cheap plastic
• Chrome: looks like chrome plated cheap plastic

I don't like the look of chrome in general (quality or not), so that option was ruled out. My ideal in trim rings would be real metal in a matte finish such as brushed or anodized.

 

I would but my car is in WA and I'm in WI. I haven't been able to drive it for over 2 months! We got the 06 in Jan and I had an unexpected job change in Feb. I drove it to just past the break in period, and then had to move out of state, while the fam stayed in WA.

Good news is I'm flying out on Friday to get the car and the family, and we're taking a week plus road trip back to WI. I'll post some pics (and update my sig) in a few weeks.

 

Yes,
quite a necrobump here!

This thread is older than my car which was built 9/06.

I never knew this option existed until recently seeing a rev-counter with anthracite ring listed on ebay, it was in England for a buy-it-now price including shipping for $65. Although I wanted it I paused because that's quite expensive for just a trim ring LOL but I noticed that it sold within 3 days.

The trim ring isn't available by itself sadly, you must buy the entire instrument.

Brand new units are still available,
but they are expensive:
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...n/62116966527/

Once it was on my radar, I added it to my watch list and waited --- a couple weeks later one popped up for $40 shipped so I got it, but it still hasn't arrived because it's coming from the UK.

Apparently, in the USA, these only came fitted to cars with the 7 interior option and even then some owners chose chromeline trim.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-interior.html


Mini One Sevens overseas got them, but curious if the 7's were the only ones that ever did?

Whatever the case may be, they seem to be somewhat rare.

Some images I found online:

 

Finally got around to installing the anthracite tach & speedo rings.

I'm so glad to get rid of the chrome that was originally fitted as the shiny glare from light/sun was both annoying and a distraction.

Went ahead and added the GP replica gauge faces as well. Painted the needle buttons anthracite but not an exact match, close enough though.

Also finally installed boost gauge too.





Plus a nice Sparco steering wheel of my favorite type. I never did like the chunky fat feel of the stock wheel.

 

may I plz ask what steering wheel adapter you used ?

 

I used an ebay special china cheapie very similar to this one:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/184138233758

The one I got looked slightly different on the backside though and required modification to retain blinker cancel function which was a j-b welded stack of the right sized washers LOL horn functions too, and used 3.9 ohm resistors to eliminate airbag dingdong light.

That particular design is a knock-off of the NRG hubs:

http://www.getnrg.com/index.php?rout...product_id=695

I may add quick release in the future, but for now it's just solid mount.