Interior 2nd Gen Most liked posts in thread: Speedometer Faceplate Change?

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  1. rkw

    rkw Well-Known Member

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    #11 rkw, Mar 18, 2012
    I took some photos.

    The speedo pointer pulled straight off. No adhesive.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    This is opposite of my experience with R50/R53 gauges, where the pin stays attached to the motor, and the pointer hub slides off. Here, the pin remains attached to the pointer and slides out at the motor end.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    I tried the same with the tach, but it wouldn't budge at all, even when prying up with a screw driver. I popped off the cap and needle, and still couldn't get the hub piece off. It seems to be the same design and construction as the speedo, but something must be different at the motor end. I've seen others post about having having difficulty with it.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    On the NAM forum, you were interested in reducing the illumination brightness. Here you can see that the gauge face is thin and flexible, and it would be easy to insert tinted film behind the face, even without removing the needle.

    [​IMG]
     
  2. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    #2 Dave.0, Mar 17, 2012
    It may help if you tell people what model car you have......

    I have done both on my r53 and it is easy if you pay attention.
     
  3. SMOG

    SMOG ZOOOOOMMMM
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    #3 SMOG, Mar 17, 2012
    Sorry, I thought by looking at my Gallery it would be obvious.

    Both are R-56's. One an '09 Cooper and one a '11 Cooper "S".
     
  4. Metalman

    Metalman Well-Known Member
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    #4 Metalman, Mar 17, 2012
  5. SMOG

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    #5 SMOG, Mar 17, 2012
  6. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    #6 Dave.0, Mar 17, 2012
    Sorry my fault.:mad2:

    I do not know how easy it is on the R-56's.
     
  7. SMOG

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    #7 SMOG, Mar 17, 2012
    I have looked and many Forums and suppliers and the needles are different in as much as the stem that goes into their respective units.

    If I can just slit the new face (assuming it is a thick vinyl) then it should not to tough to do. Removing the face could be a whole new can of snakes! Stay tuned :D
     
  8. rkw

    rkw Well-Known Member

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    #8 rkw, Mar 18, 2012
    I happen to have a spare set of R56 tach and speedo (purchased off eBay), which I used for developing the InvisiLens product. The R56 speedo needle is more firmly attached than on the R50/R53 instruments, but otherwise it came off without a problem when I pulled up with enough force, using just my fingers. However the R56 tach needle (I don't know if it's just the one I have) is very firmly attached and wouldn't budge even when I tried to pry it up with a screwdriver. I eventually gave up because I was afraid that it would break if I applied more force.
     
  9. SMOG

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    #9 SMOG, Mar 18, 2012
    Could you see the tach needle shaft?

    Did it look like the speedo needle that you managed to get off?

    Did you pull straight off to get the speedo needle off or did you wiggle it a bit?

    Do you think the factory puts some sort of adhesive on the needle stems or are they a taper fit?
     
  10. SMOG

    SMOG ZOOOOOMMMM
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    #10 SMOG, Mar 18, 2012
    Not to worry, some folks have nothing but dead air in their "Galleries" and it would be an easy mistake. I should have posted the model numbers.

    It appears that these guys offer a speedo face is correct for the R-55 and that has the same numbering as the 2011+ R-56's. Their R56 only goes to 150mph.

    http://www.heiler-tachodesign.de/Speedometer-Disc-Mini-R55-MPH-to-KMH
     
  11. SMOG

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    #12 SMOG, Mar 18, 2012
    Excellent explanation and photos!!

    Do you think that there is enough room under the needle, between the needle base and the speedo face, to slip another face on and not have interference??

    Did removing the needle from its base require tools or did it just pull straight up?

    In the photos, is the R-56 on top set and the R-53 is the bottom set of photos?

    Thanks again!!
     
  12. rkw

    rkw Well-Known Member

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    #13 rkw, Mar 18, 2012
    There is 1 to 2 mm space, but it wouldn't work well unless the cutouts for lighting on the two faces match exactly.

    No tools, just fingers as shown.

    All photos are R56. The first 4 are speedo. the others are tach.
     
  13. SMOG

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    #14 SMOG, Mar 18, 2012
    RKW:

    Thanks so much for all the info:Thumbsup:

    It would be great to find a junk tach to try to dismantle for maybe $20, but I am not going to hold my breath.

    Once I get this job done I will Post photos.

    Stephen
     
  14. rkw

    rkw Well-Known Member

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    #15 rkw, Mar 18, 2012
  15. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    #16 Nathan, Mar 19, 2012
  16. SMOG

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    #17 SMOG, Mar 19, 2012
  17. minimark

    minimark Well-Known Member

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    #18 minimark, Mar 19, 2012
    Have you checked out essentialmini.co.UK ?
     
  18. SMOG

    SMOG ZOOOOOMMMM
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    #19 SMOG, Mar 19, 2012
    They appear to show the Gen 1 gauge faces.
     
  19. Metalman

    Metalman Well-Known Member
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    #20 Metalman, Mar 19, 2012
    I assume you aren't going to actually use the eBay R56 tachometer, just to pry on the needle??? If it helps out, I would give you $20.00 for the plastic housing if it's the one that includes the red light bar (anti-thief) and it's not cracked and in good shape???
     
  20. SMOG

    SMOG ZOOOOOMMMM
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    #21 SMOG, Mar 19, 2012
    It does make a difference. So, you are just interested in the housing?

    Send me a PM about contact info and we can work something out.

    I see you have an '09 and as I understand things they all come with the red light bar at the top, just some don't have the light activated because they did not get the alarm function. My '09 has the light bar but it does not actuate because the car did not have an alarm. My '11 looks the same, except the light bar illuminates when the alarm is active.
     
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