Display in km/h

[jlove]

How can I see my speed in km per hour?

I have a UK-spec MCS and the analogue speedo is only calibrated in m.p.h.; the computer can display the 'current vehicle speed', again it is in m.p.h. As I am using the car in France, I'd like to see the speed in km/h - constant mental arithmetic is doing my head in. It seems unusual not to have the speedo dual-calibrated, my older Mini Cooper was.

In the Owner's Handbook (pp.49), I can find out how to change the Formats and Units of Measure: Fuel Consumption; Distance Covered; Time; Date; Temperature... but not SPEED!

Has anyone cracked this... or is it a case of post-it notes on the speedo?

[spiney]

I had a friend in Canada who was a programmer, and he used to deal with this by thinking in hexadecimal (base 16). 40 mph = 0x40 = 64km/h. It just happens that the approximate 1.6:1 relationship between miles and km is the same as the 16:10 relationship between hex and decimal digits.

Of course, if you are not a programmer this doesn't help you much...

I seem to recall choosing a km based unit for one of the displays like distance or fuel consumption and getting km/h in the tacho speed display as a side effect, but I could be wrong. I'll try it next time I am in the car.

[Harpo]

Doesn't need cracking.

Just do what you have been doing, but with the engine running.

Otherwise, using the audio buttons...

Press 'Menu'
Select 'Config' > Enter
'Dist' is highlighted > Enter
Select 'Km' > Enter
Return

Remember that when Km is selected, you odometer, trip meter and fuel range are all shown in Km.

[South Shore Lad]

took me a while to work this out - can be done though.

But I reckon my R56 is the first car I've had in 30 years of driving that HAS'NT had Kms in smaller digits on the normal speedo alongside MPH.

why !! Surely it wouldn't have added anything to the cost and it's a very useful feature to the many drivers who take their cars across to the continent!

[msh441]

Quote: Originally Posted by Harpo (original)

Doesn't need cracking..with the engine running, using the audio buttons...

Press 'Menu'
Select 'Config' > Enter
'Dist' is highlighted > Enter
Select 'Km' > Enter
Return

Remember that when Km is selected, you odometer, trip meter and fuel range are all shown in Km.

Yep, what he said. Then at least you can display your speed in kph on your RPM gauge right in front of you.

Quote: Originally Posted by South Shore Lad (original)

I reckon my R56 is the first car I've had in 30 years of driving that HAS'NT had Kms in smaller digits on the normal speedo alongside MPH.

No kidding! It's not like the speedo wasn't big enough to accompany some additional numbering!

[Nath316]

Quote: Originally Posted by msh441 (original)

No kidding! It's not like the speedo wasn't big enough to accompany some additional numbering!

Ahh but nowadays with more n more cars having digital diaplays etc they are giving more n more cars the ability to change between the 2

hence speeds without the KMH markings

easiest way to do this is to divide teh miles by 5 and multiply by 8 and vice versa

[minisidewalkman]

Quote: Originally Posted by Nath316 (original)

Ahh but nowadays with more n more cars having digital diaplays etc they are giving more n more cars the ability to change between the 2

hence speeds without the KMH markings

easiest way to do this is to divide teh miles by 5 and multiply by 8 and vice versa

That takes some doing when your driving

[sef]

100kmh is approx 60mph 10kmh is approx 6mph... I work it out on those terms... Or just look at the speedo where kmh and mph is displayed...

[devaisl]

There was loads of confusion here in Ireland a couple of years ago (3??) when the speed was changed from mph to kmph - everybodies cars were still in mph. Some of the oldies were not impressed as you can imagine.....

[jlove]

Well, I've done it! Thanks for the input, especially Harpo.

Just set the Distance to km and the speed also displays in km/h; it's obviously, really. So obvious that the Owner's Handbook does not need to tell you!

Now I can set the cruise on the Autoroute...

[MiniMpi]

That's right Aisling.
Actually fitted a new face to my speedo in my 1998 classic Mini for kph reading.
Was very confusing driving the two cars with different speedo's!
Fergal.

[msh441]

Quote: Originally Posted by minisidewalkman (original)

That takes some doing when your driving

Takes some time when I'm sitting still!

[GLJones]

It would be cool if the speedo (around the nav on mine), not the digital would recalabrate based on the setting kph/mph. It is electonic so it should be easy to do if BMW just programmed it.

[ScoobyDoo]

I just keep one key in MPH and the other in KPH - that way I just pick what key I want for what reading I want.

[jlove]

Having been "VASCAR'ed" driving through a French village yesterday, I'm glad I changed to the km/h reading... I was able to keep a precise steady 50 all the while he was gunning me!

I like the key idea, Scooby, I'll dig out the other one and make it my UK-spec.