Just purchased an 08 hardtop, 6sp. manual. The car has the original factory 15 inch wheels with Conti run flats. I have determined that when my speedo reads 70 mph I am actually going 65mph. The service manager at the Mini dealerships says that this is intentional by Mini. He says that BMW for years and now Mini offsets the displayed speed to keep owners from speeding. That sounds goofy, but is it true? Thanks.

 

Not sure the reason but both of mine are exactly like yours.

 

True. Mine has a +2 mph difference.

 

Mine's just as inaccurate, or perhaps worse. Odometer is, oddly, quite accurate. So, know how far I went just not sure why it took so long.

 

there is truth to them doing it on purpose. To my knowledge every car mfg does this

 

Iwas told by the service manager that the odometer is accurate and so is the info used by the on board computer. The speedo has an offset to create the overstated speed. I own other vehicles, but none have any noticable ofset.

 

Hmmmm... all my American made vehicles are/were spot on! In my opinion, "gauges" should be made as accurate as possible - this way, the driver can make intelligent decisions based on the feedback given by them.

The fuel guage also gives an "approximate" reading so what is BMW's rationale for that?

 

My 07 is off by about +3. It's annoying, but not greatly annoying. The digital readout on my 06 Civic Coupe was dead on. I would pass a radar sign, with the digital display of your speed, and it was always exactly the same as the Civic's speedo.

My Garmin's speed display shows a consistent lower speed than the speedometer readout in my Mini. Same with the radar signs.

I would think it would be easy enough to fix with a computer patch.

 

Our 2009's are off by +3. I just compensate and move on.

But I do not understand the reason for this. Makes no sense to me.

 

If it reads fast doesn't it get out of the 3/36 warranty and free maintenance sooner?

 

Yup, mine is +4mph. There was another thread somewhere on here explaining this, but all I remember is that it said BMW speedos are "optimistic." I like that term. Personally, I just ignore the speedo and pass everything on the road.

 

It reads fast because of strict German (maybe all of Europe, I don't know) rules concerning speedo readings. They can read high but they cannot read low. BMW/MINI err on the side of caution to a point. I don't think it has anything to do with discouraging drivers from speeding, but about not getting stuck paying fines for bending the rules.

This is what I have heard, anyway. It could be a load, but sounds reasonable to me.

 

I'd never tested my speedometer for accuracy until we took a road trip this past summer using a borrowed GPS. Based on the GPS display, my speedo also reads high by 3 mph. Naturally, I then used the GPS for a speedo.

Spridget

 

Or the OP could put 195-85-15's on and correct the speedo. Or just learn to live with it...

 

Commonly known...........my Toyota is the same. Changing things though changes other factors. Different tires do affect the odometer. 3 mph is easy to live with.

 

I had a BMW 5 series that was under warranty when I took it to the dealer to complain about the speedo being off by 3-4 mph at highway speeds (when compared to my Garmin GPS). I was expecting a no-cost repair but instead was told it was within the 10% error allowed by BMW...no repair.

 

NCSEpert allows you to access different computer modules of your car. There is whole section dedicated to this topic https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-yourself.html It is not exactly easy for everyone to use; however, if you know someone in your area that has NCSExpert up and running they could go in and remove the correction to your digital speedometer. There is a spreadsheet which shows the modules Mini Owners have changed and the effect these changes cause to their Mini.

 

Being off by as much as 5mph is normal for just about all vehicles and manufacturers.

 

Not sure that I buy that. The Mini's I own now are the only cars I have owned where the speedometer was off like these are.

 

My 2011 MCS spedo is 3 MPH fast as were my former cars,a 1999 Porsche 911 and 2001 Porsche Boxster,so I have learned to live with it.

 

There are a lot of reasons for this, allowing for different tire sizes (and the fact that tires change size as they wear!). I believe that German laws allow for a +8% to -0% tolerance, so they are allowed to be "optimistic" but they are not allowed to be "pessimistic" by law! Naturally, most of them err on the side of optimism.

Note that my information is from a number of years ago and may be outdated now, but I'd bet (a whole shiny nickel!) that there are similar laws around in some of the markets that MINI sells to.

 

Mine is also off, 4mph. I have access to a radar gun and I was able to verify.

 

The speedo does in fact display a higher speed than what you are going. From what I am told, this is because of the origin of the vehicles (Europe) where auto manufacturers can face significant penalties if the car is actually going faster than the speed that is displayed.

Basically, you've got two options. Do the math in your head to adjust or, get in touch with someone in your area that is able to "code" the various body control modules and have them turn off the auto speed correction. I've done this on mine and I can confirm that my displayed speed with within 1mph of the speed shown on two different GPS's.

Because the "correction" factor is applies to the speed display only, the odometer/OBC aren't affected.

 

I say live with it. Also did you think of possibly adjusting wheel and tire size to compensate?

 

They have rules in Europe. Its normal. My 2011 R55 is off by 3 at low speeds and off by 5 over 60 miles per hr. So if it reads 75 I am only going 70ish. My 350Z is off by 2.
(this is according to my GPS)