Speccing SatNav vs. Chrono Cockpit: Where do the gauges go to?

[grinner]

Hi everybody. I've been lurking around here for about a week, dreaming about speccing my MCSC. Thankyou all for the accumulated knowledge and experience, this place is great!

Reading your questions and answers has brought me to the following spec. which I'll be ordering as soon as the leasing hoops have all been jumped through. I'm waiting to get in line for a Mini and the suspense is killing me.

So anyway, my spec is:
Cooper S Convertible
Manual
Hyper blue, black roof
Anthracite dash
16 inch wheels (then replace them with aftermerket 17 inchers and non-runflat tyres)
Chrome Radiator Grille & Boot handle
Climate Control
Height Adjustment for front passenger seat
Heated Front Seats
Leather & Cloth Upholstery (black satellite)
3-spoke sports steering wheel
harman/kardon HiFi 8 Speaker Stereo
Chrome line interior
DSC
Alarm


I want to get the chrome mirror caps, but keep the body colour tailgate hinges.


The biggest question left is do I get SatNav or Chrono?
I think having the speedo and tacho over the steering wheel is a must. So if I don't get SatNav, I'm having the chrono gauges (which look great to me). I like the idea of having SatNav, but I'm wondering: where do they put the other gauges? Where do the temp, oil pressure, fuel gauges end up if you have nav?

After that I'm beginning to think about getting the rain sensor and automatic lights and the self-dipping rearview mirror. Are these worth the money?

And one more question: how am I going to keep my sanity while I impatiently wait?

Cheers,
Grinner

[flibmeister]

Quote: Originally Posted by grinner

I think having the speedo and tacho over the steering wheel is a must.

So did I, until I test drove one that way. I was disappointed to find that I couldn't see some portions (ie, the arcs at the top) of the speedometer or tach because they were blocked by the steering wheel.

My MA pointed out that, with only the tachometer there, it's centered, so it's less obstructed-- and that there's a digital speed readout in the bottom of the tach that's in full view.

I'm ordering a MCC on Saturday-- without the chrono package or navigation system.

[Mickey690]

Quote: Originally Posted by grinner

I want to get the chrome mirror caps, but keep the body colour tailgate hinges.


The biggest question left is do I get SatNav or Chrono?
I think having the speedo and tacho over the steering wheel is a must. So if I don't get SatNav, I'm having the chrono gauges (which look great to me). I like the idea of having SatNav, but I'm wondering: where do they put the other gauges? Where do the temp, oil pressure, fuel gauges end up if you have nav?

After that I'm beginning to think about getting the rain sensor and automatic lights and the self-dipping rearview mirror. Are these worth the money?

1. Get chrome mirror caps after market
2. If you have sat nav, you dont get a temp or oil pressure, and the fuel is by means of a light system ie 8 little orange lights = full, 1 little red light = fill up. I think the only way to get the extra guages is after market ones which replace the two centre vents or one that goes below the toggle switches
3. The visibility pack is a must IMO i could not live without it, and now that you get automatic lights it's even better.

Hope this helps

And the waiting is agony but something you just have to do

[eeney]

I went for the Chrono pack because I was told here in Oz the rev counter would be in the middle, as apposed to the speedo in all other countries (gotta love the RTA's obsession with speeding).

I personally preferred the look of the Chrono pack over the Sat Nav, or was it that the Chrono Pack was cheaper . It's very much a personal preference, I'm happy with the Chrono Pack, but I know many people don't like it.

You can always get Sat Nav using a PDA or similar at a later date if the need arises??!!??

[grinner]

Quote: Originally Posted by flibmeister

So did I, until I test drove one that way. I was disappointed to find that I couldn't see some portions (ie, the arcs at the top) of the speedometer or tach because they were blocked by the steering wheel..

The MCSC I test drove also had chrono, and I seem to remember reading the gauges without obstruction. Which steering wheel was on your test car? Mine had the 3-spoke sports wheel.
I'll go back and look again, see if they are obscured.

As eeney says, here is Australia all the state road/traffic authorities are thoroughly obsessedd with speeding. In my state Victoria you can get booked for driving at 102 or 103 in a 100Km/h zone (but that's a whole different topic). The result is the government forced BMW to put the speedo on the steering column and the tacho in the middle. I personally do not want to take my eye that far off the road to check my revs!

Quote: Originally Posted by Mickey690

1. Get chrome mirror caps after market
2. If you have sat nav, you dont get a temp or oil pressure, and the fuel is by means of a light system ie 8 little orange lights = full, 1 little red light = fill up. I think the only way to get the extra guages is after market ones which replace the two centre vents or one that goes below the toggle switches
3. The visibility pack is a must IMO i could not live without it, and now that you get automatic lights it's even better.

Hope this helps

And the waiting is agony but something you just have to do

1. Exactly or try to get them thrown in by the dealer to sweeten the deal. With the popularity of these cars, dealers are not discounting much, so I'll try to add value with little extras like these thrown in.

2. Do you get temp & oil pressure warning lights?
Some of the aftermarket gauges below the toggle switches do look pretty good. Like these in BonnieScotland's gallery



3. See, I was almost hoping someone would tell me it's useless and I can cut it from the list lately my options list is growing and growing.

Helps a lots, thanks

Quote: Originally Posted by eeney

I went for the Chrono pack because I was told here in Oz the rev counter would be in the middle, as apposed to the speedo in all other countries (gotta love the RTA's obsession with speeding).

I personally preferred the look of the Chrono pack over the Sat Nav, or was it that the Chrono Pack was cheaper . It's very much a personal preference, I'm happy with the Chrono Pack, but I know many people don't like it.

You can always get Sat Nav using a PDA or similar at a later date if the need arises??!!??

Don't get me started about VicRoads mate. If we get into "My VicRoads is worse than your RTA" or visa versa we'll be here all year swapping gripes

You're right, the Chrono instruments do look tasty (and they are cheaper! )

The SatNav's looks suffer by being a square peg in a round hole, but OTOH is integrated cleanly. The only thing against PDA SatNav is that I'm already planning to mount my iPod somwhere in easy reach for me and my passenger and having the PDA in there too might start to look cluttered and messy.

Also with built in nav, you just leave it in the car and it works. With PDA nav I have to make sure I take it with me when I get out of the car and remember not to leave it at home when I want to use it.


Still undecided. Want Nav, want Chrono. Perhaps PDA is the way to go.

Thanks everyone for your input I don't know what the answer is, but thanks for your help.

And I guess I just have to learn to enjoy the agony of waiting. Anticipation is fun



grinner

Anticipation is fun. Anticipation is fun. Anticipation is fun. Anticipation is fun.

[Electra]

Your ride sounds scrumptious!

Go Chrono! I did and have no regrets. They ride on your steering column so if you have adjusted your steering wheel into your lap I imagine that it would be hard to see them! I keep my column up and have no problems. Since the car has a retro feel with the toggle switches and such, what is more retro then gauges vs digital readouts???

As to how you will keep your sanity while you wait...

That is dependant on how much sanity you had to begin with! Some of us have nothing to lose!

[flibmeister]

Quote: Originally Posted by Electra

They ride on your steering column so if you have adjusted your steering wheel into your lap I imagine that it would be hard to see them! !

Well, it wasn't in my lap (I entered and exited the car comfortably without moving the wheel), but I don't doubt that there's a combination of seat height and steering wheel adjustment that might improve things substantially. I just didn't find it in the short time I messed with it, and since I actually like the look of the speedo in the center, the discovery that there's a speed readout in the tach resolved the issue for me. Different strokes for different folks. <g>

This was the optional three-spoke wheel with the controls in it, BTW.

I ordered my MCC this afternoon, from Scottsdale Mini-- they're telling me delivery between mid-April and mid-May.

[SLEEPY_NOKKIE]

for me OEM nav works great .. I don't have to worry about when I park too much cause theft don't usually steal OEM display, unlike the aftermarket unit. + OEM nav can view as onboard computer.

[ALD0]

Get Sat Nav over Chrono anytime!!!

Though it's a pricey difference!!!!!!

[grinner]

Quote: Originally Posted by Electra

Your ride sounds scrumptious!

Go Chrono! I did and have no regrets. They ride on your steering column so if you have adjusted your steering wheel into your lap I imagine that it would be hard to see them! I keep my column up and have no problems. Since the car has a retro feel with the toggle switches and such, what is more retro then gauges vs digital readouts???

As to how you will keep your sanity while you wait...

That is dependant on how much sanity you had to begin with! Some of us have nothing to lose!

Cheers

I went back to the dealer and sat in Minis with and without chrono. With Chrono, the three-spoke sport MFSW does clip the top of the twin gauges a little, but I found it more of an obstacle with the non-Chrono single speedo above the steering column (AUS cars). Because the single gauge is taller, it's more hidden behind the wheel for a guy of my height ( 190cm / 6'3" ).

So does anyone have good or bad experiences of the factory Nav's Australian mapping vs what's available on PDA for Aus? (perhaps I should also ask this in the Aus section)

Thanks guys,
grinner