MotoringFile Exclusive: For 2007, MINI USA will be making some tweaks to the option packages that will add some content and slightly raise prices. They will also add one entirely new package to the line-up. Here’s the run-down:
Sport Package / $1400 (tentative) (now without DSC)
Premium Package / $1400 (tentative): (with DSC)
Cold Weather Package / $300: No changes.
Convenience Package / $1500 (tentative): Here’s where things get interesting. MINI USA has increased the price dramatically on the convenience package but has also upped the options correspondingly. MINI USA will add keyless go (allows you to open locked car without a key, hit the start button and drive) along with the currently available auto-dimming rear-view mirror, auto wipers, auto headlights and universal garage door opener. However the biggest addition to the package will be full bluetooth integration that makes use of the integrated steering wheel and radio controls. This system should be identical in functionality to the new BMW (E90) 3 Series Bluetooth option.
Audio Package / $1500 (tentative): Finally here’s the new option package we mentioned earlier. The Audio Pack will include an upgraded “Hi Fi” stereo (not H/K branded) HD radio and Sirius Radio.
As you would expect from MINI, all options will also be available a la carte so MINI owners will be free to create any combination under the sun.
For our German readers, you can download the entire German Pricing Sheet here.
For my next MINI, my mantra will less is more.
My my god keep me away from the options sheet when I change in the future – it is clear that the new options will add to what was already a great choice!
In the UK there are rumours of a £40,000 car!
Thank heaven for a la carte! I want the “keyless go” but for $1500 I’d go with “keyless no”. Same thing for many other packages based on what’s in the current ones. Choice is one area where MINI is WAY beyond the Japanese and VW alternatives, in the US at least.
Can’t wait to see the base prices!
Wow, looks like the potential is there for an expensive car. It will be a car with better optiosn though it seems.
<blockquote>For my next MINI, my mantra will less is more.</blockquote>
I like the way you think.
In coverting euro’s into GBP £ the chili pack seems to be over £1900. This however does include local German tax at 19%. The cooper is aroung £900 cheaper than the price announced for the UK.
the pricing sheet is very interesting. I like the things contained in the convenience package, and the TV option 🙂
not sure if it was already mentioned somewhere, but option 300 on page 14 of the german pricing sheet says “Notrad” = spare tyre (but then the “MINI Mobility System” is dropped, which means no runflats I guess).
oh well, I have already built a very cool and expensive new MINI..
Are those packages/prices the same for MC and MCS?
– Chad
Wonder if the HD radio will be ala carte.
Finally the tyranny of having to push buttons to unlock doors and turn ignition keys to start the car is at an end! Mankind can finally be free! Wrists rejoice!
Look for the sarcasm, I’m sure you’ll find it.
I’d much rather have a remote start option than do away with keys. I know all the proximity unlocking and push-button start thrills some people, but keyless entry and a coded key are all the complication and convenience I’d ever want in a car. Beyond that seems to be a bit pretentious and asking for trouble. To each their own. I’m with Paul, less is more.
Nice to see full Bluetooth integration finally make its way in. If the next generation iPod is Bluetooth as rumored, that’d be pretty sweet.
oh, just saw that MINI Mobility System does not refer to the runflats. Interesting. Runflats only on the Cooper S, the cooper has a tyre repair kit and a compressor..
i’m with you nathaniel – i think all the wireless “you’re close enough to stat the car stuff” is a wee bit over the top. i know people (myself at the top of the list) love hi-tech, but thart system seems to be – as you put it – asking for trouble!
on another note, despite how little love i have for the new ceter stack, the nav option actually looks great to me. not good,but great.
For $1,500 they better throw in at least a couple years worth of Sirius.
Any news on Canadian packages and pricing?
<blockquote>For my next MINI, my mantra will less is more.</blockquote>
Agreed. That’s the path I went down when I ordered my ’06 MC, and I have no regrets about it at all.
<blockquote>on another note, despite how little love i have for the new ceter stack, the nav option actually looks great to me. not good,but great.</blockquote>
NAV is the one exception I’ll make to the less is more approach, mostly because as you point out it makes a huge improvement in the layout of the center stack.
I assumed the “keyless go” has the option of using the key too. It could be a redundant system and actually add a way to get into your car and start it. Why fumble for keys and buttons if it’s all electronic anyway? I imagine it will be standard on all cars in 10 years or less. It’s probably $50 or less to add and would be worth maybe $200 or so to me now. Hope it comes in that low.
In general I’m with the less is more concept. No Bluetooth or Nav for me, but that’s the beauty of a la carte. If only you could delete the radio and get a flip down double DIN sized MINI designed pod instead!
I’m sure there will be an iPod option, but it isn’t on the German price sheet… or will it still be dealer installed? It would be great if iPod is integrated with the Nav screen and controls.
I think the wizz-bang (keyless go) stuff is great. I built and installed a complete remote start (by keyfob or by phone) alarm and convenience system on my ’03 MCS with manual tranny. Getting past the “oops, I left it in gear” transmission problem as well as temporarily deactivating the clutch sensor and ignition module were all overcome by this shadetree 12-volt electrician. I am certain the fellas in England will have no issues with theirs. I don’t know how you could like bluetooth and not like keyless go. BTW … can you imagine anything handier than being able to begin the defrosting process of your frozen windshield in an airport parking lot as your plane taxis you to the arrival gate? Unfortuantely, I doubt MINI will add any kind of phone interface or remote start as both are usually wasteful on petrol and often used (or overused) in ways which are not socially responsible given our current global conditions.
Less is more indeed.
I’d like to see a “Club Sport” type option: delete A/C,
delete electric windows, delete carpeting, etc, and
save $1k and 50-100 pounds.
This is how I’m guessing the convenience and audio packages will break down a la carte: Hi-Fi stereo $600, HD radio $600, Sirius Satellite radio $500, Keyless go $600, Bluetooth $500, rain sensor/auto headlights $200, auto dimming mirror $200, UGD 200.
Anyone taking bets?
Just looked up Keyless Go for the 3 Series BMW they want $500 for it. So I would guess $350 for the MINI.
<em>Comfort Access
Comfort Access system offers an even greater degree of convenience: keyless access to your car. Simply carrying the remote key in a pocket allows you to unlock the doors by touching the door handle. You can also turn the engine on or off by pressing the Start/Stop button* without first inserting the remote key.
</em>
A big amen, to Paul’s mantra of “less is more”…
With the clarity of hindsight, next time I’d skip the xenon’s [that are giving me warranty problems with the leveling feature] and the sunroof [which is great, but will probably develop problems down the road, adds a lot of weight, and doesn’t allow the sun to be totally blocked].
Order every stinkin’ option and you could have bought an Elise…
-B
where is the “light package” i keep reading so much about in their marketing materials?
“Less is more” is a fantastic mantra and one that I live by in most cases. However my next MINI will probably be “more is more”:
<b>Navigation</b>: For one I must have the Nav. Beyond completing the interior it will be extraordinarily useful day to day. Check.
<b>Sport Package</b>. It’s makes sense considering I’ll want the Xenons and fogs. Plus I get some 17″ wheels and all-season tires for winter. Check.
<b>Convenience Package</b>: Bluetooth intergration is desperately needed since my car is a daily driver so the box gets checked. Yes keyless go is sort of a ridiculous luxury, but what isn’t. And remember this is 2006… I should be able to walk into my car an start it with a button. I should also be able to get out and walk down a moving sidewalk but that’s another story.
<b>Premium Package</b>: I love the sun so a check on this box is a no brainer.
<b>Cold Weather Pack</b>: My wife must have heated seats so check.
<b>Audio Package</b>: I’m on the fence about this one until I hear more.
i’m more or less with Gabe on this one. except i would probably order the Audio package and ala carte the bluetooth dumping the rest of the Convenience Package. i’m not a fan of the car doing things for me like turning on the headlights, dimming the rear view (which i almost never do anyway) or running my wipers for me. i could take or leave keyless go, depends on how much it is whether i’d want it.
is that third picture what the nav will look like like? if so , thats awesome. i love how they integrated the MPH around the screen.
I’m with Gabe also – except you obviously wouldn’t have to walk if the sidewalk was moving for you. Duh.
i’m with you 100 percent gabe. of course you left out the biggest check: the yet to be released JCW kit. see you in 2008!
>i’m not a fan of the car doing things for me like turning on the headlights, dimming the rear view (which i almost never do anyway) or running my wipers for me.
Totally agree… but it helps with resale. If a la carte is about the same as the package I’ll get the package. Only if I can turn off the auto crap 🙂
>is that third picture what the nav will look like like? if so , thats awesome. i love how they integrated the MPH around the screen.
Yup.
For the nav, what goes in the grey areas above and below the LCD? Is it just empty filler plastic?
That’s what it looks like. It would be nice if MINI would create a circular NAV display.
chad – if its anything like the current nav, then yes: filler plastic.
I see that They built the radio into the NAV. I wonder if this NAV is touch screen or did they hide the little selecter knob…
Since Sirius Satellite radio is now a factory option does this mean that it and Nav are no longer mutualy exclusive?
I think the keyless door open and start option is great, unnecessary of course, but great. I’d skip the sunroof and auto AC on my next MINI. The only gotta have options for me are the MFSW, (assuming they haven’t finally made cruise control standard), and front and rear fogs.
Circular nav screen would be nice. But they could also put buttons in there. So you don’t have to touch the screen to change stations or volume. My parents have a DTS and the nav and radio controls are on the same touchscreen. Which means that to change the volume, like when you are pulling up to a tollbooth and need to talk to the attendant, you have to take your eyes off the road, press a button that takes you out of the nav mode, and find the volume control button. This is VERY dangerous at places like say, a toll booth. There’s a reason that older cars had textured buttons with little bumps and ridges on them. So you could operate all the controls by touch. Steering wheel controls alleviate a lot of this problem, but I HATE it when a passenger leans forward from the back seat and starts pressing buttons on my wheel. So annoying…
They could make the top section one HUGE hazard light button. Amazes me how hard it can be to find a hazard light button on some cars. Likewise, make the bottom button a mute for the audio system. Then you just WHAP the speedo and you are in emergency mode.
The current Nav isn’t filler plastic there are indicator lights on the top for things like seat belts, etc. And below is the gas gauge. It looks like the new nav is the same.
Keyless Go… Hmm thought it was a silly option on my 650CiC until I used it. Just like the active headlights on my previous X3, I thought this was a waste until I actually used it. Now, I feel like I am going backwards, retro even, in my MCS using the key to perform all the functions. I’d get this if it means getting into the car after my wife drove it and having everything set to my preferences. Will there be seat/mirror/radio/AC/Nav memory built into the next convenience package like my 6?
Less is more… This is very true. I ordered my 2nd MCS with an eye towards lighter and less electronics. Manual A/C, no Auto anything other than what comes on the car except for the steering wheel controls and that I ordered so I could intergrate an aftermarket bluetooth kit. Resale may be a bit of a pain, but I get to drive the car for a few years the way I want to drive it.
<blockquote>Resale may be a bit of a pain, but I get to drive the car for a few years the way I want to drive it.</blockquote>
Recently I’ve been wondering if the $1700 spent on nav will ever return it’s value in proportion to the rest of the car at resale… I’m thinking it won’t.
Gabe, for those of us whose options are determined by MINIUSA, any word if folding mirrors will be available?
Should I get a second gen. MINI at some point, I will choose none of the option packs – for me they are overpriced, and largely unnecessary. $1500 for the “convenience” and audio packages…you gotta be kiddin’ me!
<blockquote>Since Sirius Satellite radio is now a factory option does this mean that it and Nav are no longer mutualy exclusive?</blockquote>
Craig – they never really were mutually exclusive, at least not electrically. I have both, for example. The only problem was the antenna – when you have the Nav system, you can’t use the OEM SIRIUS antenna… but that problem is easily resolved by using an aftermarket antenna, even with the OEM SIRIUS receiver.
It works great!
Everyone has their own likes and preferences. That is one reason I like how Mini makes options available. (They could do a bit more, i.e. offer 2-spoke SW for US :-)) )
Nav system – I’d only get it because of how ugly the Center Speedo is without it, and it’s good for getting around since the traffic designers in the US have no clue on where to place traffic and direction signs.
Sport package – Don’t need (or want) 17″ wheels, Xenon headlights should be outlawed. They are blinding and numerous studies have shown they do not illuminate down the road any better than halogen lights. They sure do seem to blind on coming traffic (and mirrors in car in front of them) (as people like to tailgate) and shine outwards (to the sides). Fogs, yes definitely, need that in the San Francisco.
Convenience package – Come on folks. How bad have we as humans become that we can’t stick a key in a slot to turn on an engine? Geeze. What a waste. Just think of the poor folks that had to hand crank the engine, and now “we” complain about turning a key?
Premium package – nah.
Cold weather package – Don’t need it. Live in California.
Audio Package – If the standard audio system on the new Mini is as good as on the current Mini, don’t need an upgrade.
What I would get al la Carta –
Auto dim rear view mirror (Because of all the Xenon headlights) don’t want to have to keep reaching up and flipping the lever back and forth. Being in a Mini – Low – and SUV and Trucks blinding me, Auto Dim is a safety feature and in my opinion should be standard.
Fog Lights – Have a lots of that (fog) around here
Mulit function Steering wheel. Again a safety feature
Car alarm – No brainier for me
Sport seats – Comfort and stability.
Chrome package-exterior. My one for fun item. As long as it doesn’t come with/include Chrome Mirror caps. Dislike Chrome Mirror caps.
Ipod adapter – yes.
Of course in the US A/C is standard equipment.
>Gabe, for those of us whose options are determined by MINIUSA, any word if folding mirrors will be available?
Paul – that kind of information sounds like it might be worth a beer. I’m thinking Tommy Nevins after work? 🙂
I would be interested in how keyless go works. Will it only open the door I am closest to? By so doing it won’t unlock a door for a mugger on the other side. Will there be a way to get the passenger door to open at the same time? Like a “shake your hips” or a “turn around twice”.
Hokey pokey anyone?
Folding mirrors? Please? Pretty please?? It would make my MINI look like an annoyed cat every time I have to park between two moon-visible vehicles parked diagonally.
Here’s my 2 cents: the ONLY package I will ever consider necessary for the MCS I plan to order is the JCW kit, for one and only one reason- I have been plagued with the dreaded transmission evils inherent in the CVT ’05 Cooper Convertible. So I MUST have throttle response. If nothing else, better pickup is my biggest issue.
Something similar to the current Cockpit Chrono Pack that gives me more pretty dials and gauges to look at wouldn’t hurt, though…
P.S.- why only Orange and Blue? If my MINI is Chili Red, wouldn’t interior illumination in, say, RED look cool? Granted, it would probably be tough to figure out electronically in there with packing a bunch of LEDs into every corner, but come on… at LEAST make it coordinate with the rest of the car. Just so I can be a pimp with my mood lighting.
I just purchased my MINI S with the HK “upgrade” for $500. The sound was so muddy and unclean, it strained my ears to listen even at low levels. A month later I dropped another $2,000 for a premium stereo, but was worth every penny. Needless to say, my MINI dealer was not at all interested in taking back the HK stereo for a refund of ANY size! The HK speakers look like cheap too, like they’re worth about $100.
Any word on base price for the car? MCS? MC? How about the LSD? That would greatly influence the decisions I make on options. I personally feel like I wouldn’t want to pay more than 25k for a MCS.
<blockquote>Paul – that kind of information sounds like it might be worth a beer. I’m thinking Tommy Nevins after work? :)</blockquote>
That would have been worth a few of pints! … but I just stepped onto the train to go home 🙁
Ralph, not sure where you are getting your information about HID lights. DOT approved HID lights blind no one. If you see an HID system that hurts your eyes odds are its an aftermarket system which is not DOT approved.
I can speak to having a car with halogens and with HIDs right now. And I don’t know if those studies actually exist or what the testers were smoking…there is a huge difference and the HIDS are much better at lighting up the road.
<blockquote>Ralph, not sure where you are getting your information about HID lights. DOT approved HID lights blind no one. If you see an HID system that hurts your eyes odds are its an aftermarket system which is not DOT approved.</blockquote>
I concur. I have HID on my MINI and my wife’s Nissan Murano. I find the cars that have overwattage halogen bulbs to be much more of a nuisance. I would also like to know who decided that HID don’t improve road lighting. The difference is night and day (pun intended). I also like having the automatic headlights. As long as you have the ability to turn them off if you need to. I had the auto wipers on my last MINI, and they were awesome. With my current MINI I often find that slow is too fast and intermittent is too slow. It’s much easier, not to mention safer, if you can just turn them to auto and they wipe when they need to.
<blockquote>P.S.- why only Orange and Blue?</blockquote>
There are several colors (including red). Blue and orange are just the two colors at the ends of the available spectrum.
The Keyless go thing is wonderful when you have your hands full of stuff. My wife has the Intellikey on the Murano, and I love it. I wouldn’t look for power memory seats any time soon, but I don’t see why they couldn’t easily set the system up to remember other personalized settings. I do like the implementation on the Nissan. You have to push a small button on the door handle, and only the button closest to the person with the transponder works.
I would say that most of the cost for the upgraded stereo is based on the fact that it is HD radio. Just like an HDTV used to cost a small fortune when they first came out.
The nav will also be a definate when I get around to buying my next MINI. The nav definately makes the center column look better, and now that I have a poertable nav in my current MINI I don’t know how I ever lived without it.
What is that oval chrome thing below the left-center vent?
Is the audio package the same as the DPSM? I just bought a MCS with this in it for over $2100. It’s worth every penny, but they lowered the price. That wasn’t very nice.
What about the tilting sunroof and the changeable interior light colors? I am particularly interested in the sunroof. What package, if any, will that fall under?
<blockquote>What is that oval chrome thing below the left-center vent?</blockquote>
Button to open the glove compartment. I love it.
>What about the tilting sunroof and the changeable interior light colors? I am particularly interested in the sunroof. What package, if any, will that fall under?
The sunroof falls under the same package as it does now; Premium. The interior lighting cost (and/or if it’s standard) is TBA.
>Is the audio package the same as the DPSM? I just bought a MCS with this in it for over $2100. It’s worth every penny, but they lowered the price. That wasn’t very nice.
The new Hi Fi stereo is not DPSM.
I don’t want the nav in the speedo, but the “knob in space” you get below the CD without the nav is pretty hideous, too.
It appears to me that the era of the $35,000 Mini is not far off. My 2003 with Premium,Sport, and Cold weather $24,000. A 2006 priced the same with premium leather is less than $28,000. Now, all packages have increased in price plus we have new ones. The 2006 GP is beginning to look like a real bargain. BMW is going to make a hefty bundle of money on this new product all at our expense.
Guess they have to start making money off the MINI somehow.
<blockquote> Guess they have to start making money off the MINI somehow. </blockquote>
its not as if they’re losing money currently. you don’t lose money on a car that has an average of 3-9 month wait time and 2k markup
and if MINI’s start creeping into the 35k average i’m going w/ frank stephenson’s fiat 500 as my next car 🙂
> Ralph, not sure where you are getting your
> information about HID lights. DOT approved HID lights
> blind no one. If you see an HID system that hurts
> your eyes odds are its an aftermarket system which is
> not DOT approved.
> I can speak to having a car with halogens and with
> HIDs right now. And I don’t know if those studies
> actually exist or what the testers were smoking…there
> is a huge difference and the HIDS are much better at
> lighting up the road.
Matthew, my girlfriend has a 2006 Lexus LS430 with HID lights. While they do provide improved lighting width wise (side to side) they do not improve or increase lighting down the road. She has had them checked by Lexus and they are aligned correctly. She has had to bring in her field of vision as the HID do not shine light farther down the road. My halogens on my 04’ Mini throw light farther our in front. I will add links to article at the end of my comment regarding HID glare and associated problems.
> I would also like to know who decided that HID don’t
> improve road lighting. The difference is night and
> day
>(pun intended).
MINItron, yes you are correct, the difference is night and day, namely night glare. If you’ve ever had an SUV or CUV (a Nissan Murano) behind you that had HIDs, the blinding glare is terrible. The blinding light on to the outside and rearview mirrors just absolutely horrible.
From USA Today:
> You can blame U.S. road-sign regulations for some of > the HID glare. U.S. signs aren’t universally lighted > and don’t all reflect light the same. In Europe,
> glare seldom is mentioned. European road signs
> routinely and consistently are lighted, so headlights > needn’t beam up and, in fact, are required not to.
> That keeps the light out of other drivers’ eyes.
<a href="http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2001-06-07-xenon.htm" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2001-06-07-xenon.htm</a>
Other articles on HID glare:
Consumers Reports:
<a href="http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/maintenance-accessories/hid-headlights-403/overview/index.htm?resultPageIndex=1&resultIndex=1&searchTerm=Xenon%20Headlights%20study" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/maintenance-accessories/hid-headlights-403/overview/index.htm?resultPageIndex=1&resultIndex=1&searchTerm=Xenon%20Headlights%20study</a>
Halogen Headlights Are A Driver Nuisance
<a href="http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=105269&ran=199150" rel="nofollow ugc">http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=105269&ran=199150</a>
<a href="http://www.dot.gov/affairs/nhtsa5001.htm" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.dot.gov/affairs/nhtsa5001.htm</a>
KTVU TV Consumer reporter has/had and excellent video on how HID lights cause glare and on some cars (Mercedes for one) the HID lights actually give off shorter distance illumination. I tired to get the video to play and it doesn’t.
One intersting bit I got from this: the chrome line exterior for the S no longer includes a chrome grill, only a chrome surround for the lower grill and a chrome numberplate light housing. Looks like anyone going for the S is stuck with the black grill (which I personally like better than the current standard of a body color grill, but I might still go for chrome if it were available -and if I were in the market for an S 🙂 )
<blockquote>oh, just saw that MINI Mobility System does not refer to the runflats. Interesting. Runflats only on the Cooper S, the cooper has a tyre repair kit and a compressor..The standard wheel for the Cooper over here in the Netherlands, and probably also in other European countries, including Germany, has always been 15″, non-runflat. Runflat starts with 16″ wheels and I <i>think</i> that’s always been the minimal size in the US, right?</blockquote>
any thoughts on why they would redesign the s-heavys? gabe, do you know if they’ve changed offset or something?
>its not as if they’re losing money currently. you don’t lose money on a car that has an average of 3-9 month wait time and 2k markup
You should seriously look a buying your MINIs elsewhere if you’re still seeing 2k mark-ups. There are many places in the midwest and northeast that sell for MSRP and even under MSRP.
>and if MINI’s start creeping into the 35k average i’m going w/ frank stephenson’s fiat 500 as my next car 🙂
The base price won’t be dramatically different. MINI would never price them out of their current market. The only think that has changed so far is that they’ve altered some option grouping. But these options are also all available a la carte.
<blockquote>MINItron, yes you are correct, the difference is night and day, namely night glare. If you’ve ever had an SUV or CUV (a Nissan Murano) behind you that had HIDs, the blinding glare is terrible. The blinding light on to the outside and rearview mirrors just absolutely horrible.
I have had my wife’s Murano follow me with her headlights on, and I have met her going the other way, and I have never noticed any unusual glare. The vehicles that I do have a problem with are the full-sized pickups (with halogen lights) who drive around with their huge foglights on. Also particularly troublesome are the little Hondas and whatnot that have super-bright aftermarket halogen bulbs (which are in most cases not road legal).</blockquote>
Ralph, Minitron, et al
I think one key aspect most are missing is that a major benefit of HID is that the beam has a clean edge to it. A normal lamp fades off into darkness. As such, you can make the beam brighter while maintaining the proper concentration and direction. This is why sometimes they can blind you: if a car with HIDs hits a bump or undulation the lamps will momentarily bounce up and flash you. When on proper level ground, however, it’s not an issue. A normal lamp with HID levels of output would be much more blinding because it is more difficult to control the beam, especially vertically.
I drive a vehicle with HIDs and drive in an area where most cars and SUVs have HIDs. I have no problems with them. My problems are misaligned after market fog lamps people seem to love.
As for the USA Today article, it seems like it’s a problem with the direction of the headlights (to light signs) as opposed to the output. In that case it doesn’t matter if it’s HID or not.
i wonder if the navigation system will be touchscreen?
It will not be touchscreen. If you go back to our “Next Generation MINI Revealed” story from a March of ’05 we drop the bombshell on how it will be operated 🙂
Gabe, do you have the specifics on the contents of the US option packages (I’m assuming that some of the design changes for the R56 will make modify them a bit)? Also, any word on the base pricing for the vehicles themselves???
I would like to see a new version of the “sport chrono pkg” this time including boost. Anyone know if one will surface?
And is it my imagination or has the water temp gauge disappeared?