Does anyone else worry about not having a temperature gauge on your dash? What year did Mini stop doing this?

My old car (Pontiac) started over heating because there was something wrong with the coolant system. My husband's old car (Nissan) started overheating.....well because he had 120k miles on it and everything started to go wrong.

One time with my old car, I was stuck in bumper to bumper Chicago expressway traffic and had the pleasure of watching my temp needle slowly work its way into the red zone. Fortunately, I had time to react because I saw the temp actually rising so thats why I'm a little freaked out about not having this gauge. I know there is light that comes on to warn you but from what I heard, your car has basically overheated once it bothers to tell you this....

 

When MINIs did have a temp gauge, it wasn't that much use, it just sat in the middle, telling you nothing. If you really want a temperature gauge, you can add one aftermarket. The Scangauge is quite popular and can show temperature amoung other read outs. Mine tells me temp, mainly so I know when he's not warmed up yet so I'm not too enthusastic with a cold engine.

 

Yes I've been complaining on NAM too about the lack of a temp gauge. IIRC the 5 series BMW's don't have one either.

go figure.

 

Yea, it is odd that it doesn't have one. I also went for the ScanGaugeII. I have it displaying coolant temp, boost (MAP), mpg, and mph. You choose what info from the OBC you want displayed.

 

Not sure if its available yet, but MINI was supposed to sell some aux JCW gauges that'll display water temp, lateral g's or relative torque if you wanted to go the oem route.

 

So much information available with ScanGauge: and such a simple install.

 

I bet once you use one of these for a while it would be hard to live w/o one. Especially since the mini lacks a temp guage. Individual guages are the boss, but they involve more set up and modifications. This thing appears super easy......

 

The ScanGuageII was my choice also for displaying service codes and internal temps. Good for those cold winter days where you don't want to move the car until it's good and warmed up.

 

How easy is it to mount the ScanGauge II in that position? It looks clean there, I was thinking the best spot would be down in the cubby by the shifter but cabling that might be harder. I think I'm going to have to get one of these at some point....

 

Very easy to snake the cables around the silver panels, and down next to the steering column to the OBDC port.

 

I often wonder why MINI doesn't introduce (and charge for) something that functions something like the Scangauge that is OEM and uses the excellent displays right in the speedo. All the buttons are there to flip through info. Maybe we'll see something like that one day.....a la the chrono pack.

 

Not sure how you reacted but you can always turn on the heater and turn the fan on high to help stall the inevitable.

 

They could probably just add it with a sofware upgrade to the NAV. That would be an excellent place to display it, and further justify the high price of the NAV. They'd probably sell a lot more NAVs if it had a mode to display the info gearheads love.

 

Oh, I think those smart folks at MINI could do it w/ or without nav by upgrading software (the Scangauge gets it's info from somewhere), but you're right, there would be an upcharge....and why not? It would be an option many (but not all) would want.

 

The data comes from the onboard computer and is available to the ScanGaugeII via the OBDII port under the dash. So, it should be readily available for software to display it. Without the NAV, you would have more limited display options.

 

Ah yes, good point!!! I was thinking a linear bar gauge or numeric display of some sort would fit in the speedo readout but, if you are going for a specific option, this may not be good enough.

 

Yeah, I was surprised with the lack of temp gauge when I bought my MCS, I have just been using the heater to determine when the engine is warm enough to "get on it." I have the auto ac/heat so I just press the auto button when I start it up and as soon as it starts blowing warm air, she's good to go. I realize this only works in the cold months, but that's when the engine will be the coldest upon starting.

 

The omission of both a temp and an oil pressure gauge is hard to understand. They are typically a standard part of any sports car instrumentation.

Also, while on this general topic, a compass would be a great addition as well (but not on the "critical list.")

 

ScanGauge comes with a cable that plugs into your car's OBD Port located under lower left of dash panel.

I just threaded it up through behind dash (wrapped a coil of the excess) and out behind the Tach and it has a USB type plug into side (or rear) of the ScanGauge.

The ScanGauge came with two small adhesive velcro strip sets and you can see one of them at lower edge and other is at top edge (so I could adjust angle).

If you go to my Gallery, you can access a larger version of that photo and see the installation better.

 

They just figured the majority of people never look at it anyways. Most people don't even know when they have a check engine light on let alone check a gauge while the drive.

 

I think you are right. While the MINI is a sports car to many of us, this isn't necessarily so for everybody. You can bet some logic was involved...the BMW folks overall were very clever with the workings of R56 (the Cooper, at least ). I do think the best approach is to get a Scangauge and be done with it....customize your car if you prefer more performance-oriented driving.

 

I just don't like the look of that Scangauge on the dash, but do appreciate its ease of installment. It'd be nice if there was some sort of pod gauge that's customizable like the Scangauge and plugs right into the OBD port. Anything like that on the market yet?

 

Yes, at 4 or 5 times the cost:

http://www.dashdaq.com/specs/plx.htm

The above site shows a comparison of two 'high-end' products and they also have a comparison of dashdaq with ScanGauge.

If you download ScanGauge's operator manual (should get there from link in my sig) you will see that it does a whole lot more than just boost/temp readings.

 

I got the new JCW brochure from dealer yesterday and the gauges are available as one or two gauge kits. the one gauge is $300 and the two gauge is $315. The indicators run$ 89.50 each.

 

Um..I didn't get squat, does it say when it will be available?