1st Gen | R52 Convertible JCW MINI DIY R50 Two-Door Hardtop (Cooper) R53 Two-Door Hardtop (Cooper S)
Since we had several requests for the official install PDF for the newly available JCW Shift Indicator we figured it was finally time to produce. So here it is, the official install instructions from MINI in PDF format. But first, for those that need a little background, here’s the official MINI release info explaining the JCW Shift Indicator (all you wanting the PDF – skip to the end):
The MINI Gear Shift Indicator is a feature from the JCW Challenge racing series that is now available for your MINI.
Differently coloured transparent LEDs are illuminated depending on the engine revs; all LEDs flash if the set engine revs threshold is exceeded.The display can be switched off and on at any time using the integrated button, for example when driving at night or on the motorway at high engine revs.
The Shift Indicator features transparent LEDs in a plastic casing and is available in the colours ‘Panther Black’ and ‘White Silver’.
Note: The engine speed threshold can be set between 3500 rpm and 7250 rpm in steps of 250 rpm.
Part numbers:
Panther Black 62 13 0 410 113
White Silver 62 13 0 410 114
The Shift Indicator is available from the following MotoringFile sponsors: Knauz MINI, Morristown MINI, and Patrick MINI. MSRP is $195 but you should be able to find it cheaper as both Knauz and Morristown should offer MotoringFile readers discounts.
Wait, wasn’t this about the install PDF? Right, here you are:
[ JCW Shift Indicator Install PDF ] MotoringFile
Maybe I’m too quick but I get an “Error 404 – Not Found” on the install PDF.
Okay… I’ll ask the stupid question… What’s the advantage of this indicator over the one built into my brain (via my ears)?
>Maybe I’m too quick but I get an “Error 404 – Not Found†on the install PDF.
Yes you’re way to quick 😉 Check again.
I have tried to teach a few people how to drive a stick and at least one of them could never understand the difference between an engine at low revs and one at 5000. In a MINI, it would be tough, but in some of the econo-cars I’ve driven, you didn’t get a whole lot of driver feedback.
Maybe this is a tool for the gadget lovers or the engine tone-deaf?
Excuse me, but isn’t this what the large tachometer is for? LEDs just seem like training wheels for the tach.
Even if I wanted this for it’s cool flashing lights, I’m not sure I would want to ‘drill’ into my dashboard. If I ended up hating it at one point, I’d be kind of stuck with it. I’d rather save the $ for a CAI as an audio indicator.
The difference in tone between 6500RPM and 7000RPM isn’t huge, and when you’re closely watching the bumper of the car in front of you while exiting a tricky double-apex, you’re disinclined to focus on the tach. Yes, it’s right in front of you, but it’s not flashing.
What I don’t like about this setup is that the shift-lights are placed in the middle of the dash. So, unless you’re exiting a right-hand sweeper, you’re unlikely to even notice the flashing lights.
If they were right in front of you, directly over the wheel, then they’d be very, very handy during a long track session.
Interesting. There’s DIP switch configuration for 4, 6 and 8 cylinder engines. Man, I’d like to see a V8 MINI… 🙂
Also, it looks like this thing plugs into the OBD-II port! Weird. That seems a little kludgy to me. But whatever works, I guess.
I’ve had my MINI out to the track with race prepped Ferraris and Porsches. Shift lights are not a bad idea. When those cars come to pass me, I can’t hear my own engine over theirs.
The biggest argument for the shift lights are for track/DE days when you are wearing a helmet and can’t hear the engine, or are otherwise engaged in keeping the car on the road…..lol.
My only complaint about this option is the location. It isn’t real convenient to locate and I have heard it is not very bright on sunny days.
Thank you Gabe 🙂
I see them on WRC and F1 cars but I guess all you pundits and would be MS’s know better.
I wouldn’t put one on unless I was doing a lot of track time but I think it’s kool.
Thanks Gabe
As said before, looks fraggy and unfinished, but to each their own, eh?
When I was racing a Spec Racer in the 1990’s I found a shift light useful when making upshifts in traffic when one could not safely glance at the tach. Also these are useful in autocross for the 1st-2nd shift which comes up very quickly, and again it is usually advisable to keep your eyes on where you want to go.
I’d like to here feedback from those who have installed this unit.
i go by feel…. i dunno i can always feel a difference in the shift lever itself….
steve
Yes I’ll bet.
I thought you were supposed to shift when the engine stopped revving up????
😉
I’ve seen this live and the LED are not very bright at all. This might be as they don’t point towards the driver, but in a straight line towards the middle of the back seats.
The idea is great and the unit fits the dash nicely, it’s just the wrong location …
… and I can tell you a shift indicator is very useful on the track. I hit the revs limiter at least a couple of time when driving the Nordschleife.
I find it interesting that most people aren’t excited about this part… If your going fast enough, you shouldn’t be looking down at the tach and location up on the dash could be good, except it is in the middle of dash unfortunately….I can’t even hear myself think when getting passed by a viper, open exhausted vehicle or whatever, and my helmet is on…. The MINI doesn’t have the loudest exhaust…
Still not sure why they didn’t borrow a page from VDO or other gauge manufactures and put a big red shift light on a pod off the tach so it’s where it needs to be right in your face.
gee I’d like to see a big gear number indicator instead.
It looks kludgy and cheap, it’s in the wrong place, I have to drill multiple holes through my dash, it costs a lot, er – why would anyone want one? Sure – I’d love to have something integrated into the tach directly in my line of site. Can’t figure out for the life of me why they didn’t go that route – except that this solution was probably cheaper to implement/repackage. Looks like someone found a cheap third party solution (4, 6, 8 cylinders!) and packaged it into something that could be bolted in place. What a load of junk.
Dave
Good opportunity for a 3rd party solution me thinks
Have at it Dave, let’s see what you got 😉 Something discreetly integrated into the top of the tach would probably be ideal.
Everyone talks about mounting it to the tachometer, but I can’t see the top of my tach because of the steering wheel. Am I the only one with this problem?
Nope, you’re not…
yeah, i think it’s a good idea in theory, but it’s completely in the wrong place. MINI also introduced a set of gauges that surround the tach (boost and something else???, oil pressure maybe???) those are a good idea and they’re situated in the right place. What was MINI thinkin’???