Has anyone noticed that the speed indicated by their Mini's speedometer and digital display in the tach is @ 4 mph slow? I've noticed in my car (2013 hardtop) and my friends 07 hardtop.

 

Actual speed is usually 6-10% slower than what is indicated. The odometer is fairly accurate.

 

I swear, this is about the umpteenth time this question has been thrown out. The latest just this past week. The answer to your question lies herein.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...h-fixable.html

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ini-owner.html

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...do-errors.html

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...libration.html

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

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-do-i-fix.html

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ter-v-gps.html

And that is just off the first page of five that a search for 'Speedometer Error' dredged up.

 

Didn't think in a million years it was a common issue. Thanks for the links...
Is the dealer service dept able to adjust the car so the speedo is accurate?

Thank you

 

Had this problem since day one. Speedometer is different from Tachometer which is different from Scangauge which is different from GPS
I go off the GPS speed now...seem to be pretty accurate as compared against speed limit signs etc.

 

It isn't an issue. It is what it is. The speed difference is built in on purpose and has been for a very long time. The variance on mine is 3mph so, for example, where the speed limit is 65, I set the cruise at 70 to 71. That sets my down the road velocity at 67 to 68. On a day long trip 3mph makes a difference of around half an hour's driving distance but doesn't red flag my speed with the local LEO. As long as you know what the speed difference is, make the most of it.

 

As has been said before, this is not an issue unique to MINI. Virtually every car manufacturer on the planet does it.

 

+1

 

Scangauge speed can be re-calibrated to agree with GPS if you want to. It's in the manual. I think the subject is "re-calibrating the miles traveled" but in the Scangauge the speed and the distance traveled are calculated together. Not independently as they are in the MINI displays.

 

Yup. Mine is slow. Maybe its only for stock wheel sizes?

 

Larger circumference tires will get it closer to actual speed.

 

Here is a tire size comparator that shows changes in speedometer readings. Doesn't really acomplish much unless you want to spend the money to make the changes but it's fun to fool around with for 30 or 40 seconds.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/tirecalc.php

 

I find 205/55-16 tires make the speedo pretty accurate.

 

Discount Tire Direct has in their "Info Center" a tire size calculator that can calculate for you the miles per hour against stock tires or any other size. This knowing that the OEM tires give roughly 5% error in MPH it works great against that fact as a constant.

 

Just a note for you all, you the displayed speed is slow, but the odometer is extremely accurate. It is done on purpose. When you change the tire size, you will change the odometer accuracy... It's a trade off. My speedo is 3 mph slow like others have said. Just learn it and deal with it. In my neck of the woods, the LEO's won't bother you for going less than 10 mph over the limit. Just to be really safe, I set the CC to +10, or what the flow of traffic is doing. That way I won't be getting run over by the majority of drivers in the area that think +20 is too slow...lol

 

Don't go more than 30 over and you're good