I really find it annoying the gear indicator is buried in the speedo. In my opinion it should be displayed in the tach where it's easily visible.

Does this annoy anyone else?

 

Yea, its the automatic thing for the Gen 1 MINIs. For manuals you don't have it at all. Would be cool for manuals also.

Back in the day people did not like how the clock was there either.

 

I can live without the clock.

It's hard to see the digital info with the top down and it's so small I can barely read when sitting still.

 

yes, i know. This was a thing of the Gen 1, along with cupholder people complained about. . All you can do is look down at the automatic shifter and the light beside it to confirm.

On Gen 2 MINIs they moved it to the Tach position.

 

It's still in the speedo display, but with NAV or the chrono pack the speedo is on the column next to the tach. It would have made more sense for the info display to be in the tach for cars with the standard large speedo. Just because they're quirky, doesn't mean they had to throw all common sense out of the design.

 

You could try an OBDII solution. Here's what I use - Dashcommand on my Android phone. (the current gear is the 0 in the upper left.) It's not the best though, it has a lag and some uncertainty in between shifts.
Here's a link to see more: http://dashxl.net/forum/index.php?topic=9507
-Mike
2014 MCSa F56

 

Is it displayed on the heads up display on the new MINI? It may be a worthwhile option if it is on there in a large font.
It would help immensely during track or autocross.