This looks like the one many MCS owners have been waiting for (from the official MINIUSA Bulletin):
Aftersales is pleased to announce the release of an auxiliary Gauge Kit for the Mini Cooper S.
These gauges are a must have for every enthusiastic Mini Cooper S Driver. The kit contains a volt meter and a mechanical boost gauge. The boost gauge is specially calibrated to match the stock Mini Cooper S as well as the Mini Cooper S with the John Cooper Works Kit. The custom made gauge pod positions the two gauges, where they are most visible, next to the rev-meter on the steering column, right in view of the driver.
The silver face plate with the black scale and the silver bezel blend perfectly with the MIni interior. The gauges come with a “Cooper S” logo on the face plate and special back lighting to match the other Mini instruments.
Suggested install time 1.5hrs
Mini Auxiliary Gauge Kit part #82 94 0 393 994 MSRP: $325
NOTE: The kit CAN NOT be installed in combination with the optional Chrono Pack(SA547) or the Navigation System (SA609)
Photo via MINI of Peabody. Also a big thanks to Paul C. for the info.
<p>Any idea when we might get pictures?</p>
<p>Any idea if chrome will be available to match the chrome interior package?</p>
<p>Zack – I’m not sure. There no mention of it in the bulletin that I know of.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.peabodyminisports.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.peabodyminisports.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store</a><em>Code=PMS&Product</em>Code=82-94-0-393-994&Category_Code=aux</p>
<p>enjoy</p>
<p>credit goes to kevinR at nam <a href="http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44765" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44765</a></p>
<p>So, when can we expect to see this available at dealerships? ME WANT!</p>
<p>SIGN ME UP!!!!</p>
<p>Blake – here’s a direct link (via MINI of Peabody)</p>
<p><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.peabodyminisports.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/82-94-0-393-994a.jpg">MCS AUX Gauges</a></p>
<p>Seems to be a much better deal than the ProMini version which lists for $475.00.</p>
<p>I wonder the the installation fee is?</p>
<p>Is that Kool or what!</p>
<p>I really dig these OEM instruments. But $425 including installation is a bit steep. We’ll see….</p>
<p>I think it’s $325</p>
<p>“The silver face plate with the black scale and the silver bezel blend perfectly with the MIni interior. “</p>
<p>Huh? I don’t think they match the MINI gages at all! The needles are too bright, the gage face is too white and the gage writting is too black.</p>
<p>This has always been my problem with these kits–great idea, nice physical layout but VERY POOR color matching.</p>
<p>I like the matching font and swanky logo on the faces…</p>
<p>Is it possible to get just the gauges to fit another rack? Or are they going to offer choices besides the volt meter? hmmm /:^?</p>
<blockquote>
<p>I think it’s $325</p>
</blockquote>
<p>I assume Frank was including the hour of installation in the price.</p>
<p>My observations:</p>
<p>The price is reasonable.</p>
<p>I’d like to get a better look at the mounting system for the gauges.</p>
<p>The gauges look bigger than the typical 52mm most people use.</p>
<p>The Cooper S logo looks nice.</p>
<p>The needles don’t match.</p>
<p>I still don’t see the point of a voltmeter, especially when the other auxiliary gauge panel kit (for the center console) also has a voltmeter.</p>
<p>I am already interested, but would be very interested in this if it had an oil pressure or oil temperature gauge instead.</p>
<p>Yet another Mickey Mouse head option, cool!</p>
<p>Cool!</p>
<p>However, for an official MINI part I think it still misses the mark. I liked the ProMini version, but didn’t want to get it because the gauges don’t match the rest of the intrumentation.</p>
<p>I was hoping MINI would come out with their own version, perfectly complementing the interior. Here, the bezels look like they match, and it’s cool the illumination matches (I wonder if they’ll be backlit, like the tach/speedo?) but the two gauges look different from each other (layout? fonts?) as well as from the tach/speedo, and those needles look cheapo. For my money, I was hoping for something more like this:</p>
<p><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.lawrenceotoole.com/mini/images/auxgauges.jpg">Gauges</a>
<em>(excuse the hasty P’shop job)</em></p>
<p>I know it’s just a matter of aesthetics, but visual integration should be the point of difference between aftermarket and factory parts…</p>
<p>I’m not sure when these appeared on the MOP site, as they have always had the ProMini guages and were overlooked.</p>
<p>I would love some guages but only if they match the stock tack, and in my case with a chrome bezel. Not to mention the red needles won’t look right with everything else being orange.</p>
<p>Next time I am at MOP I’ll stop in and see if I can have a look first hand…from the photo it looks like they are installed on a car in the showroom (I’m guessing the $41k MCS that is reported in there right now)</p>
<p>So they’re not perfect, but the price is right. It’s mechanical boost so it should be very easy to install yourself.</p>
<p>How is it that Lawrence’s hasty P’shop job looks like a perfect match, but the actual product does not?</p>
<p>Come on third party guys! If we are going to pay good money for this stuff, it shouldn’t look like I made in in my garage!</p>
<p>I agree 100% Lawrence. Nice 10 minute p’chop job ;)</p>
<p>BTW – I think the reason this is cheaper than the Promini gauges is that MINI decided to use mechanical gauges rather than electrical gauges. Also the Promini version shows Oil Temp and Oil Pressure, which require custom adapter plates for the sensors.</p>
<p>In response to RB’s comment “Seems to be a much better deal than the ProMini version which lists for $475.00.”</p>
<p>It isn’t really comparing apples to apples…the PROMINI gauges features full sweep electronic gauges w/ memory capabilities. This makes installation much easier and also in the case of a boost gauge, allows them to be recalibrated everytime your vehicle is started. Mechanical boost gauges are calibrated at the factory to local atmospheric pressures but depending on your location this could not be accurate. Our boost gauge calibrates each time the vehicle is started. Additionally this set includes a volt meter instead of an oil pressure gauge…the volt meter is dirt cheap where as an oil pressure gauge requires a custom adapter plate to allow for the sending the unit. I’m not sure what the installation for this item is like, but with our gauges kit we include a custom wiring harness that makes the installation very easy and ends up with a very clean looking install. You can pay less for less quality gauges that cost more to install or you buy higher quality gauges that take less time to install….either way in the end you will pay about the same for both of these kits.</p>
<p>Casey, I’m not disputing your point. In fact, I agree with it. However, the main reason I haven’t bought yours (or any others) is that I think for nearly $500, your gauges ought to match those found in the car rather than look like generic aftermarket gauges.</p>
<p>I saw this at MoP on Monday. They have one on display near the Service desks. It’s on the wall with the JCW breaks and ProMINI intakes</p>
<p>I know of one dealer that has the gauges in stock and has already installed one. Installed, they look right at home and not at all out of place. The overall fit and finish is nice and does have a factory look.
I also however, wish there was a version with chrome bezels for cars with the chrome line interior. And the option to choose which gauges you would like to have. I have to agree with the point made by KevinR about the voltmeter not being as terribly useful. But even more than that, is a boost gauge on a supercharged car. There will always be very little difference in boost psi with a supercharger. Looks cool, but not really useful.</p>
<p>It looks pretty good to me, having seen it up close. It mounts behind the steering wheel it looks like. There is a nice plate that is molded to the back of the wheel. Looks good overall, especially the fact that it doesn’t mount to the back of the tach like the other pods do.</p>
<p>I like the pod, but agree with others that the guages should match better. Furthermore, I’d much rather have oil temperature/pressure than volts. That’s a much more useful and critical piece of telemetry for me. Low volts won’t bake the engine, but low oil pressure could sure do some damage.</p>
<p>I agree with most of these comments; the gauges don’t match very well. I’m surprised MINI would allow this. They have always struck me as having a very picky and precise ‘attention to detail’.</p>
<p>Install would be 1.5 hours, parts $325 average install rate !100 an hour. So that would !150 plus 325 = !475 plus tax.</p>
<p>Having already the MINI aux gauges hidden beneath the stereo 😕 i’m keen to have a couple more in a more visable setting. Boost might be neet to see on a weekly basis, or on demand. But I havew a voltage gauge already below. One would think MINI would aim to make their two gauge sets non-redundant. What is the point?</p>
<p>My desired setup: Coolant Temp (the stock is crap) on the bottom with Boost. Oil Pressure on column with Oil Temp.</p>
<p>I always wanted aux oil temperature and compressor boost gauges and love them to be like the new MINI or PROMINI ones. However They just have to look like Lawrence’s photoshoped them and please can there be a chrome option so they fit to the rest of my interior.</p>
<p>Philip</p>
<p>PROMINI gauges don’t even seem to be an option for those of us with 2005 cars (at least, not according to the PROMINI web site). So at least this is something. But at $475, I’d rather more than ‘somthing’.</p>
<p>OUCH, I’m getting spanked.</p>
<p>ProMini, didn’t mean your product was bad I think you guys have high quality stuff. </p>
<p>For me it’s just for fluff not for anything more than that.</p>
<p>I do wish it looked like Lawrence’s quick PS job ……much better. But I still am going to keep my order that I just placed at Assael here in CA.</p>
<p>I don’t think anyone meant harm in their responses RB. In fact big kudos to Casey for clarifying the products so well. I think he did a great job of laying the features out on the table of both products for people to make up their own minds.</p>
<p>Yes, agreed. Sometimes I forget us MINI folk are so passionate. I think I’m just having fun passing time on a slow day.</p>
<p>Sure as hell didn’t mean to bash ProMini’s products.</p>
<p>Try searching on eBay “Cooper gauge” and see what you get. There’s a guy there that’s been building similar looking kits that come in at $290.00 with Boost and Oil Pressure)</p>
<p>I’m sure glad they finally put COOPER S where the driver can see it (twice)! I’m always forgetting what kind of car it is…..</p>
<p>Actually the fact that the Cooper S logo would be in my face twice with this gauge set would probably keep me from buying it.</p>
<p>It would bug me that the vertical numbers don’t match the tach and speedo.</p>
<p>Saw this at the dealer this week. I was told the $325 was for the housing. The gauges were extra. Let’s hope my SA was incorrect.</p>
<p>Personally, I prefer the look of the alta gauge pod.</p>
<p>I actually like the fact that they are not exact copies of the standard gagues. I WANT my aftermarket gagues to look aftermarket darn it!</p>
<p>that is a very nice set. wasn’t to fond of the glow effect, but now i want.</p>
<p>However – what’s with the sparse description? Is that really a selling point on ebay?</p>
<p>suspicious to me.</p>
<p><em>above entry is addressed to dave re: his mention of a gauge set on ebay….</em></p>
<blockquote>I’d much rather have oil temperature/pressure than volts. That’s a much more useful and critical piece of telemetry for me.</blockquote>
<p>Absolutely.</p>
<p>I have to agree with some of the comments – given how long it took Mini to offer this, they should have done a better job.</p>
<p>And once again us Nav owners get nothing – how hard would it be to have a different bracket for nav cars?</p>
<p>In fact – the nav setup could have 3 gauges – the extra one in the middle could be coolant temp!</p>
<p>Now that I think about it – someone in the Philly area did their own gauge pak for a nav car – saw this on a run 2 years ago…</p>
<p><a rel="nofollow" href=http://mini.grazfam.net/img_0162.jpg>Nav Gauges 1</a></p>
<p><a rel="nofollow" href=http://mini.grazfam.net/img_0164.jpg>Nav Gauges 2</a></p>
<p>Maybe there will be a JCW gauge set, with useful gauges….</p>
<p>Interesting but strange IMHO. One of the most important things is the oil temp so you know when your car is properly warmed up before revving it. I added the currently available aux guages under the toggles just for that. They work great and match fine; some people have trouble with the location but I see them without a problem. Anyway, I find it odd that this set does not include oil temp and keeps the volt meter. Overall oil temp, then oil pressure or boost would seem to be the most key info to have.</p>
<p>Also, unless these come with a chromeline option they won’t even look good in many cars. Oh well, guess you can’t please everyone, glad I have my setup, I personally I prefer the speedo in front of the driver anyway :).</p>
<p>regarding the eBay item (which I haven’t bought but have given some thought to) – his feedback is great . . .</p>
<p>I’m with you GMINI. I have the aux gauges under the stereo and would like to get these but the voltage gauge 2x is redundant. How about boost and ANYTHING else? MINI are you out there?</p>
<p>I think a few things… Firstly: I wonder if the color of the pointers is supposed to match the <em>illuminated</em> stock guages. Secondly: If this is actually MINI’s attempt to offer aftermarket parts that have the same level of quality and finish of our beloved MINI’s…then they’re not doing a very good job. Thirdly: If this is the quality of stuff that MINI is going to offer, along side the quality stuff like the JCW kit, then maybe we need to send along a bit of a petition or group letter to MINI letting them know that it’s not ok. The design of the MINI is so strong and complete that these parts don’t fit and are not helping the brand. Examples of ill fitting parts are the blue tooth kit(glowing green in the all orange mini interior), the pod guages that don’t match in font, finish, or quality. These are things we do not/should not expect of the BMW/MINI brand.</p>
<p>Sorry for the long post but it just seems important to start something. I LOVE my car, I get a goofy grin every time I walk out and hop in(even patting the damn thing on the boot for fun!) </p>
<p>Cheers</p>
<p>Alright then. Now all MINI or PROMINI have to do is get the design right, offer a chrome option and a selection of gauges to choose from. Not to forget a price tag not too big…
Let me know. I’m ready to order.
Philip</p>
<p>FYI – PROMINI does offer a set of gauges MINI’s with the nav setup. It’s in the dropdown box on the gauge cluster page. I know I saw pictures of it somewhere, but can’t find them.</p>
<p>The GReddy 60mm warning gauges are a pretty close match. But at ~$300 each…</p>
<p><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.greddy.com/images/60WGEGTS.JPG">http://www.greddy.com/images/60WGEGTS.JPG</a></p>
<p>Oh well, I screwed up the hyperlink. Maybe Gabe can fix it. Please?</p>
<p>I had the greedy 60mm gauges in my turbo-ed 2000 Civic si. Those gauges are awesome! I purchased the electronic EGT, BOOST and Fuel Pressure gauges and they were awesome. Easy to install as they are electronic (which i prefer, they really are easy to wire up) and they also were the peak hold gauges which i love. If you are pushing the envolpe of your car the peak hold feature is worth its weight in gold! You cant stare at all of your gages and watch whats going on while making a “full pull” and watch where you are supposed to keep the nose of the car pointed. At the end of your run… just hit the button and it tells you the highest temp/pressures you reached… priceless i tell you! Priceless! but greedy seemed to think it was worth about $250-300 a gauge… not bad for what you can learn about your car!</p>
<p>Does anyone have a link to eBay or a eBay name to search with? Searching for “cooper gauge” isn’t finding anything like what people here are describing.</p>
<p>Or am I completely blind? That’s been known to happen, too…</p>
<p>SOOO…. Do we have any better pictures yet???</p>
<p>Agreed … A step in the right direction BUT we need more gauge choices and a chrome line option.</p>
<p>All great and helpful comments. I’ve wanted to get some guages since talking to several mechanics concerning heating/over heating. For my hard earned $$ a coolant guage followed with oil temp would be the most valuable. The mechanics I’ve talked to have drawn my attention to the issue that the temp gauge never moves from center once the car is warmed up. Does this seem right after driving the car hard, you stop, and the electric cooling fan goes off. I’m thinking the stock coolant gauge is not telling us what is really going on.</p>
<p>People have said they have seen their temp guages go up before the car overheats.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/showthread.php?p=577262#post577262" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/showthread.php?p=577262#post577262</a></p>
<p>Here are some better pictures!</p>
Saw the gauges in the flesh today. The factory can do better. They’re unmatched to the other gauges and, um, a voltmeter? Please.
I had the dealer aux gauges installed over the Christmas holiday. I think they look OK during the day – but they definitely do not match the other gauge’s needles and markings. In the dark, while the orange back lighting color is consistent with the rest of the dash, overall they are dimmer and the needles are not illuminated (a big difference). It is very hard for me to quickly see where the needles are at night. I switched to white LEDs (SWP part number 114957 – it is actually a little circuit board with 4 LEDs on them) and that now provides the contrast to bette read the needles when it’s dark outside. But now the illumination does not match …. It’s disappointing to spend close to $500 (parts & labor) for gauges that do completely match the rest of the dash and have readability issues (with the orange illumination).
update … after reading what I wrote ~ or meant to write ~ I thought I’d correct a few things:
I meant to say the white LEDs provide the contrast to better read the needles when it is dark outside.
And I meant to say that it’s disappointing to spend close to $500 (parts & labor) for gauges that do not completely match the rest of the dash and have readability issues (with the orange illumination).
I have looked in MotoringFile for instructions on how to install these gauges and have not been lucky. Can someone point me in the proper direction. There is a wire harness that comes with the kit. Knowing where it goes would be helpful. Of course the kit has instructions on how to install the LED lights and has no instructions on how to install the kit itself, go figure.