Hello All!
Were a first time new Mini Copper owner. ( 2006 MC - 5 speed w.175/65-15 Rocket wheels & Tires >1000 miles)

1st Question:
Speedometer accuracy? I have noticed and confirmed with GPS the speed is inaccurate by 3.3 MPH at 70MPH.
I did do a searcrh around this issue on the site but found most comments to be accepting the issue. I feel error is is unacceptable with todays calibrations. Has anyone challanged this issdue with MINI-USA?

2nd Question:
Could someone tell me the engine RPM at @ 70MPH? I'm running about 3400 RPM @ 70MPH with is actually 66.7 MPH. Just seems a bit high.

Thanks in advance for the help.

 

i only go 55mph so i would not know.

 

Every new car I've driven in the past 15 years has been a bit generous in its MPH reading. Speedo reading of 60 usually read 58 on the roadside radars. I've always assumed this was intentional. Think of it as a buffer between you and a speeding ticket.
If you really want the speedo to be accurate, put larger diameter tires on it and watch your performance go "bye bye".

 

1) Didn't know GPS could be relied on for that degree of accuracy?
2) Not much help on this as my 2004 MC Auto is at about 3000 RPM at 70 MPH

 

I would not put much faith in your GPS accuracy either...

 

My aftermarket Garmin Street Pilot GPS shows that the mph speed is lower than on the MINI's speedometer, but that is at speeds over 35-40. From all I've read over the years, BMW-made vehicles typically show higher than accurate speeds on the speedometers.

 

I have always heard (can't say if this is true or not) there there are regulations in Europe about speedometer accuracy. If I remember correctly, if they are off on the low side (actual speed higher than reading) that the auto companies are subject to fines. Thus they tend to be off the other way (actual speed lower than reading) to have a margin of safety.

A lot of motorcycles are off as much as 5 MPH at speeds in the 50-60 range. I had one.

I think most GPS's are probably fairly accurate, so your speedometer is probably off a little, and it is off intentionally.

 

From what I know, and have experienced, it is the law that dictates this. Unlike the post above, however, I understand that it is U.S. law. My understanding is that U.S. laws and regulations state that the indicated speed must not be lower than actual speed. Rather than ride on the thin line of exact calibration, manufacturers tend to overstate speed by just a few percentage points (typically well less than 10%).

I have worked at Porsche and Saab dealerships, as well as BMW motorcycle and Triumph motorcycle dealerships. The situation is the same all the way around. The speedos read a hair high.

Now, from experience, I know that the topic of odometer accuracy will come up. The argument goes, "If my speedo overstates, my odometer must be overstating also. When I go to sell my car it will show more miles than the car actually has." Relax, all of the identical/similar cars on the market have the same slight overstatement of mileage. So you are actually comparing apples to apples.

Relax. This is a non-issue.

Cheers,
Bruce
motorbruce

 

Depending on the receiver, it's accurate to 3'.
3' won't make much impact when at 70mph.
GPS is as about as accurate as you can get, you get a second of lag but if you are at a constant speed it will be dead on.

When Silver Bean is reporting 70 mph, I'm actually at about 67 mph and at 3,000 rpm.

 

the local cop speed box identified the same speed as my MCS.

the NAV in my blackberry showed speeds of about 3mph less than my
MCS. but this is true on my other cars too. i think the car is biased
to show a little faster than actual.

 

70 mph = about 2750 revs in 6th on my automatic, though my eyeball might be off a bit

 

Agreed, 3400 rpm @ 70 mph sounds a bit high, should be closer to 3000 rpm and 90 mph to 4000rpm (or so i've heard )

Edit: Oops, never mind, you have a Cooper. I have no clue about Coopers.

 

It's overseas laws that cause the discrepancy, BMW-MINI will recalibrate it for you only if it exceedes 10% inaccuracy. 2 GPS recievers and many different "cop boxes" can confrim a consistant discrepancy.

I drive and MCS and my ratios are slightly different, I ride at about 3200, so your 3400 sounds completely normal, besides you want to keep it a little under 70 for max MPG, whent he limit is 70, I just take the hit and go with it. If its too loud you can do some research here on NAM about adding a little sound deading for substantial results (guess the doors are the big weak spot)

 

welcome.

Dont believe everything you read ... especially GPS which is not all that accurate

 

My nextdoor neighbor is a Washington State Patrolman. He rode with me the other day in our new (2006) Mini Cooper S, 6-speed. He brought his radar gun with him and we were both surprised that the speedometer was off exactly 2 mph no matter what speed we were going.

25 = 23 mph
35 = 33 mph
55 = 53 mph
65 = 63 mph

Wierd that the ratio wouldn't change with the speed of the car. Is the speedometer electronic or something?

 

I have an '06 MC 5 spd. I get the around 3400 RPMs at 70MPH too, it's normal.

 

No just digital

I was the same way until I put low profile tires on the same wheels now I'm 3-7 off.

 

Also get the 3 MPH overestimate. I'll get back to you with the RPM question once I get to a completely safe road which legally allows such excessive speeds!

 

I read on here that BMW makes there cars 2mph off state side and overseas.


Art

 

My car (2006 MCS) goes 3,000 RPM at an indicated 70 MPH. If it's a bit optimistic & couple MPH off, well I don't really care.

 

I noticed that the speed indicated by the digital speedo reads about 3 mph lower than the big speedo, and I'm guessing that is on purpose. I'm also at about 3400 rpm at 70 in my Cooper.