I'll admit I rarely click my OBC beyond the outside temp - I'm not obsessed with my MPG and all that. I was clicking through the info the other day and noticed my "average speed" was only 12 MPH.

I drive mainly to school and back and that is 13 miles mostly highway. Even in town the speed limit is 25 MPH. My SO takes the MINI to the gym, but once again it is 11 miles of interstate after about a mile to get out of town.

I would guess that 99% of the time my speed is over 12 MPH, so why the read out? Probably the only time I go slow like that is when I'm looking for a parking spot.

IS there something wrong with my OBC or is it some weird math (taking into account time parked?) or something? I've got about 23,000 miles overall.

What is your average speed?

 

Ladidah, That's a good question. The mathematics just do not compute for that kind of reading on your average MPH.

I would reset the computer (I'm pretty sure it works the same as the other readouts on the OBC--go to that display function and hold the button down for five seconds) if I were you and see what kind of numbers you get from that point forward. If they're still not making any sense, I'd have the OBC looked at the next time you take it in for service... sooner if you have any other, more critical, concerns with its operation.

Let us know how that turns out, please.

 

41.3 MPH average speed here, although I am usually going close to dbl that. I think it does in fact factor ALL you driving time , including pulling into a parking place etc. so the number really doesn't mean much. The one that gets me is the range # .Right after fill ups it says roughly 411 miles to go , but then right on cue roughly 230 miles later I'm driving on fumes, and this after 85 K. so it should "know" by now what my driving style is like.It also says my average miles per gallon is 28.3...............not even close! So really the only thing that works at all is the outside temperature, and it's usually pretty accurate I'm not sure I would spring for this option if I bought another MINI.

 

I reset the average MPG and average speed everytime I fill up. I find that my trip computer is optimistic by less than 1 MPG so it's not bad.

 

I use the average speed on the OBC most of the time and here’s what I’ve learned.

It is a total average speed from the last time you reset it. If you do not reset it often, over the months you have driven the MINI it will slowly drop down to what seems a speed you never drive. Also if you just sit still at a light, stop sign or just your driveway with the engine on it will continue to drop in speed. Try it and you will see.

 

^ Yeah, unlike the MPG average, the MPH average counts when you're not moving.

 

"^ Yeah, unlike the MPG average, the MPH average counts when you're not moving."

Actually, the MPG keeps calculating as long as the engine is running. Reset it, drive a mile or so, and stop. Leave the engine running and watch the average MPG keep dropping. You're not increasing miles, but you are increasing gallons.

 

Yes, both average MPG and MPH accumulate while the engine is on, even if you're not moving.

But you would have to total a lot of idle time to average 12 mph, given the type of driving Ladidah described.

Still... I think resetting the MPH setting will result in a more accurate reading since it sounds like it's never been reset in the 23,000 miles of driving.

 

When you first reset the average speed on the OBC it will display accurately your speed at that time, but as it does continuous recalculations over time, as time goes on without resetting it your speed will continue to drop. Remember this is an average over the entire time. So in order to have your average increase to the speed you may normally drive you would have to increase your MINIs speed way above what the legal limit just to raise the average a few miles an hour.

 

Brutal stop and go traffic for 15 miles everyday and I'm always around 25 mph

 

OK, I reset it. I guess I never realized it was resettable.