R56 Do People Miss Having a Temperature Gauge?
#1
Do People Miss Having a Temperature Gauge?
My '04 MC has a temperature gauge, but I believe the 2007,2008 does not....do people miss having a gauge? I know I could get used to the car warmimg up without me being able to follow its progress but I do glance at the temp gauge from time to time on long highway trips to make sure there is no overheating issues (never any problems with overheating so far but had a Neon with a lousy radiator that would overheat....I remember one long uncomfortable trip where on a 95 degree day I had to drive with the heat on full blast to vent heat from the engine to prevent oveeheating). Do you feel comfortable having just a light to let you know that the car is now, or almost, in an overheating situation?
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Does it?? Actually I believe it does not...not a true gauge...and some folks found this out the hard way. It is (sadly) little more than a dummy light w/ a needle, so don't treat it otherwise. That said, R56 has a duel stage light (yellow and red) and knowing what those stages inticate would be important as it is relaying some information. That said...yes, I really would like a real temp display (maybe even not a gauge), and I would want them to place it with the brilliant OBC readouts which are now available in the R56 speedo display. There's all kinds of info there...I'd love to see a temp readout (and maybe a few other things) there as well. That would keep the interior tidy w/o the need to hang gauges or other devices all over the place...I hate clutter. With the current setup you can see a variety of parameters at once, or select one to monitor....and since the buttons are at a higher location (up in the speedo) you can flip between readings very easily. I love that feature and use ot all the time. Perfect spot for a temp readout.
I freaked when I was flipping through that section on an '08 MINI and found items renamed and additional information available...it really illustrated that that section can and is being modified and updated!!!
I freaked when I was flipping through that section on an '08 MINI and found items renamed and additional information available...it really illustrated that that section can and is being modified and updated!!!
Last edited by gokartride; 02-23-2008 at 05:50 AM.
#7
That said...yes, I really would like a real temp display (maybe even not a gauge), and I would want them to place it with the brilliant OBC readouts which are now available in the R56 speedo display. There's all kinds of info there...I'd love to see a temp readout (and maybe a few other things) there as well. That would keep the interior tidy w/o the need to hang gauges or other devices all over the place...I hate clutter. With the current setup you can see a variety of parameters at once, or select one to monitor....
And that's the perfect reson to add Scan Gauge http://www.scangauge.com/
or Brockway Engineering
http://www.brockwayengineering.com/
less popular but perhaps a bit more advanced... both work with the older MC, new generation, not sure, But HIGHLY recommended and install is a breeze
And that's the perfect reson to add Scan Gauge http://www.scangauge.com/
or Brockway Engineering
http://www.brockwayengineering.com/
less popular but perhaps a bit more advanced... both work with the older MC, new generation, not sure, But HIGHLY recommended and install is a breeze
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#8
Does it?? Actually I believe it does not...not a true gauge...and some folks found this out the hard way. It is (sadly) little more than a dummy light w/ a needle, so don't treat it otherwise. That said, R56 has a duel stage light (yellow and red) and knowing what those stages inticate would be important as it is relaying some information. That said...yes, I really would like a real temp display (maybe even not a gauge), and I would want them to place it with the brilliant OBC readouts which are now available in the R56 speedo display. There's all kinds of info there...I'd love to see a temp readout (and maybe a few other things) there as well. That would keep the interior tidy w/o the need to hang gauges or other devices all over the place...I hate clutter. With the current setup you can see a variety of parameters at once, or select one to monitor....and since the buttons are at a higher location (up in the speedo) you can flip between readings very easily. I love that feature and use ot all the time. Perfect spot for a temp readout.
I freaked when I was flipping through that section on an '08 MINI and found items renamed and additional information available...it really illustrated that that section can and is being modified and updated!!!
I freaked when I was flipping through that section on an '08 MINI and found items renamed and additional information available...it really illustrated that that section can and is being modified and updated!!!
And having a turbo charged automobile without a temperature gauge is actually quite pathetic when you think about it... what was BMW thinking?
#9
And that's the perfect reson to add Scan Gauge http://www.scangauge.com/
or Brockway Engineering
http://www.brockwayengineering.com/
less popular but perhaps a bit more advanced... both work with the older MC, new generation, not sure, But HIGHLY recommended and install is a breeze
#10
It sounds like that "gauge" worked out really well for more than a few people; here's but one example:
Ah yes the famous R50/R53 temp. gauge.
Useful as the car warms up to normal operating temp. Useless in an overheating situation.
My 03 MC overheated because of a block heater leaking, which heats coolant in the engines water jacket. It is a MINI part, that was installed by the dealer. I was on the highway, a few minutes from home when it let go, the gauge went from normal to the top of the gauge in less than 10 seconds, then the "idiot" light came on and it started chiming at me. From what I have read since about it, thats how it works, works well up to normal temp. then does not respond well until the the engine is overheating So really just a glorified "idiot" light.
Mark
Useful as the car warms up to normal operating temp. Useless in an overheating situation.
My 03 MC overheated because of a block heater leaking, which heats coolant in the engines water jacket. It is a MINI part, that was installed by the dealer. I was on the highway, a few minutes from home when it let go, the gauge went from normal to the top of the gauge in less than 10 seconds, then the "idiot" light came on and it started chiming at me. From what I have read since about it, thats how it works, works well up to normal temp. then does not respond well until the the engine is overheating So really just a glorified "idiot" light.
Mark
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That is the state-of-the art solution, imo, in that it is so flexible and you don't need half a dozen gauges hanging *****-nilly all over the place. Now, wouldn't it be cool (I think so) if that functionality was integrated into the R56 speedo readout? Just a dream...
#19
The MINI is my first car, so I'm not used to having one per say, but I do miss a temperature gauge nonetheless... Especially now that I've gotten into mods and am learning the technicals aspects of our wonderful motor. Also there's been at least one instance in which I'm pretty sure my temperature was a bit high, but the 'idiot light' wasn't on... Would have spared me a ton of stress having a simple read out of some sort.
I'll likely add the ALTA coolant and boost gauges eventually. Would just prefer something closer to the OEM style.
I'll likely add the ALTA coolant and boost gauges eventually. Would just prefer something closer to the OEM style.
#20
i believe it does. my 04 S has risen to 3/4 a few times and both times there was an actual issue i discovered before it was too late. the first time i needed a thermostat and the second time the dealership did my flush and forgot to add enough radiator fluid. therefore i believe it does.
BriGuy
BriGuy
#24
The lack of temp gauge is the only reason I'm considering adding gauges. I like the stock look without the gauges but feel temp is too important. You need to know when temperature is increasing, not once it's gotten too high. Does the Mini's idiot light warn you early when the temp is increasing or just when the car is too hot?
#25
+1 why would you not want to know whats going on in something that you rely on as much as a vehicle
oh well guess youll see things differently while on the side of the road with steam blasting out from under the hood. meanwhile you could have been parked at a nice convienient location waiting for a "slightly" hot motor to cool for you to limp it to its needed destination.
oh well guess youll see things differently while on the side of the road with steam blasting out from under the hood. meanwhile you could have been parked at a nice convienient location waiting for a "slightly" hot motor to cool for you to limp it to its needed destination.