No engine temperature gauge

[Stormbreaker]

Are any of you new Mini (56) owners disappointed that there's no engine temperature gauge? I haven't got a new Mini yet but I do tend to look at mine on the odd occasion to make sure the engine is warm before accelerating hard.

Why did BMW decide to leave this gauge off the new Mini - is it because there is no room on the big clock? Is there a way of finding out the temperature of the engine from the on-board computer?

Mark.

[GBMINI]

On the R50/53 it doesn't really tell the temp anyway - once the temp gets close to normal the needle is locked at dead center and doesn't indicate temp unless it overheats, when it just jumps to max! So you're not missing much on the R56 ...

[Olly.]

I thought it would but whenever I have been driving one I've never given it a though to be honest, so no i doesn't bother me.

[inomis]

I think OBD II provides coolant temperature and there is at least one onboard OBD II status monitor I know of. Is OBD II provided outside the US?

Your point on not running too hard before warmed up is excellent and I try to do the same thing. Perhaps BMW limits things until that point. Someone needs to do a cold start, hit the rev-limiter as it warms and note the rpms reached.

[popey]

[quote=Someone needs to do a cold start, hit the rev-limiter as it warms and note the rpms reached.[/quote]

Cant see there been too many people up for trying that

(count me out)

[Paul]

There's no "engine cold" limit on the rev limiter.

The only thing "missing" is the coolant temp. guage compared to the R50/53/52, but that's no guide as to whether the oil etc. is warm enough for "flogging it" driving mode.

[Rakey]

don't see what all the fuss is about, never had a engine temp guage on any of my MINI's, so how am I going to miss it

[Martin F]

Well my Saxo VTS which my R56 MCS replaces had both coolant and oil temperature. In that respect (only?) the Saxo was better IMO. And that is why I miss the lack of any temperature indication.

[Ryephile]

It would be nice to have actual water temp and oil pressure gauges. The segmented fuel readout is rather disconcerting IMO too. I'd prefer to see actual information, but from experience the R53's coolant and fuel gauges weren't real information anyway, so we're not missing much on the R56. I don't like the trend nevertheless; bring back real gauges!

[Tigger, Eeyore & Roo]

Those who've driven a car with an oil temperature gauge will probably agree that the temperature of the oil lags way behind the temperature of the coolant anyway.

Having said that, out of the 18 cars that I remember having, only the original Fiat 126 didn't have a temperature gauge and that one was air cooled! I doubt it will be a problem for too many people as so many thrash the engine from cold anyway and knowing the temperature wouldn't make any difference! It will probably be a much bigger problem when the car is a few years old (and a bit more tempermental), when knowing about overheating problems early will be much missed (££££). Waiting for a temperture warning light to come on is like waiting for an oil warning light to come on, really bad practice!

I can't think of a single good reason for leaving it out.

Tigger.

PS: On a car like the Cooper S, I'd like to see an oil pressure and oil temperature gauges as well, but then I'm old fashioned! (and, as I don't fancy the look of the Chrono Pack, a bit of a hypocrite as well )

[wow]

I do not currently have it on my 05 MCS because of the sat nav.
Does not bother me.

[Richard Crofts]

Pity there is nothing at all now as temp guages were a rather sporty thing

Most modern cars don't have anything but a warning indicator now for overheat, Vauxhalls to name but one brand who dispensed with temp guages of any kind quite a while back.

Personally I think when the car is tuned (both R56 and R53) I'd be tempted to fit an oil pressure and oil temp guages.

R

[JG.26]

I think an oil temp gauge is pretty important and wouldn't be without one on my 03 S.

You will be surprised how long it takes the oil to properly warm through, a good 15-20 minutes until it reaches 80 deg f, thats with the sensor fitted in the sump plug. The water temp isn't a good indication to start using the revs.

All MINI's should be fitted with at least an oil temp indicator, but of course BMW thought colourful interior lighting was more important

[Olly.]

Quote: Originally Posted by JG.26 (original)

I think an oil temp gauge is pretty important and wouldn't be without one on my 03 S.

You will be surprised how long it takes the oil to properly warm through, a good 15-20 minutes until it reaches 80 deg f, thats with the sensor fitted in the sump plug. The water temp isn't a good indication to start using the revs.

All MINI's should be fitted with at least an oil temp indicator, but of course BMW thought colourful interior lighting was more important

To be fair though an oil temperature gauge is not standard on the old S so you couldn't really say its a cost saving attempt.

[JG.26]

Quote: Originally Posted by Olly. (original)

To be fair though an oil temperature gauge is not standard on the old S so you couldn't really say its a cost saving attempt.

Reason why I had one fitted.

If I was buying the new S, I would rather have extra gauges that do something useful than colourfull interior lighting