ausmini :: View topic - Speedo Accuracy

I'm currently planning to go for my licence in the Mini within the next month, but Mum is convinced I'm going to fail because of the speedo! Has anyone else recently done a licence test in a Mini? The alternative is the instructor's car, an i30 that I struggle to control because it's so modern and sensitive!

Thanks,
Evan.

Speedo needle wavering is often due to a sharp bend in the cable.
I'd fit a new speedo cable first.
But smear grease on the inner (not the top 150mm though).

mini_fanatic wrote:

you're MUCH better off doing the test in the instructors car - you probably won't get a "sympathetic" tester, and they may just take one look at the mini and decide that you're going to fail.

and your mum is right, if the tester can't tell what speed you're doing, how can they tell if you're breaking the speed limit. That's assuming that they can do the mph to kph conversion in their head, and I'd suggest that they can't

they might also decide that the mini is not safe and refuse to get in it...

yep, would be nice to do it in your mini, but you'll get over it

Author:	mini_fanatic [ Fri Aug 10, 2012 7:17 pm ]
Post subject:	Speedo Accuracy
G'day, Just got a question regarding the accuracy of the centre speedo in a Mini. The needle in my red Mini doesn't stay steady, it kind of 'hovers' around the correct speed, but isn't steady. My question is, is this usual? Dad's convinced that they're all like it - 1960s technology - but how steady should the needle be? The needle hangs around the right speed (checked with GPS). I'm currently planning to go for my licence in the Mini within the next month, but Mum is convinced I'm going to fail because of the speedo! Has anyone else recently done a licence test in a Mini? The alternative is the instructor's car, an i30 that I struggle to control because it's so modern and sensitive! Thanks, Evan.

Author:	Morris 1100 [ Fri Aug 10, 2012 7:21 pm ]
Post subject:
The car magazines in the 60s used to praise the accuracy of the Smiths speedos in Minis. But like any sort of accurate bit of machinery they do need regular servicing. Send the speedo to a good instrument repairer and get it cleaned and serviced.

Author:	mini_fanatic [ Fri Aug 10, 2012 7:29 pm ]
Post subject:
Thanks for the quick reply, Morris! Good to know they have the potential to be accurate! Will have to look into speedo places. Anyone have any recommendations? I'm Google'ling at the moment...

Author:	drmini in aust [ Fri Aug 10, 2012 7:45 pm ]
Post subject:
Speedo needle wavering is often due to a sharp bend in the cable. I'd fit a new speedo cable first. But smear grease on the inner (not the top 150mm though).

Author:	TBOT70 [ Fri Aug 10, 2012 7:48 pm ]
Post subject:
yeah i had mine rebuilt/serviced last year and it is almost 100% accurate, only difference i've noticed is when my speedo says 90k my gps (which is accurate been checked on many different vehicles) says 100k but otherwise needle is dead still maybe check your speedo cable connection is still tight, when mine became loose the needle swayed a bit

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Speedo Accuracy https://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=77990	Page 1 of 2

Author:	simon k [ Fri Aug 10, 2012 7:59 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Speedo Accuracy
mini_fanatic wrote: I'm currently planning to go for my licence in the Mini within the next month, but Mum is convinced I'm going to fail because of the speedo! Has anyone else recently done a licence test in a Mini? The alternative is the instructor's car, an i30 that I struggle to control because it's so modern and sensitive! Thanks, Evan. you're MUCH better off doing the test in the instructors car - you probably won't get a "sympathetic" tester, and they may just take one look at the mini and decide that you're going to fail. and your mum is right, if the tester can't tell what speed you're doing, how can they tell if you're breaking the speed limit. That's assuming that they can do the mph to kph conversion in their head, and I'd suggest that they can't they might also decide that the mini is not safe and refuse to get in it... yep, would be nice to do it in your mini, but you'll get over it

Author:	phillb [ Fri Aug 10, 2012 8:00 pm ]
Post subject:
drmini in aust wrote: Speedo needle wavering is often due to a sharp bend in the cable. I'd fit a new speedo cable first. But smear grease on the inner (not the top 150mm though). Yes this is what I found. I always thought my wavering needle had to be the speedo needing servicing. A previous owner had fitted a long clubman cable. I had tried lubing the cable but it didnt help much. I finally got round to replacing it with a new correct cable which takes a much straighter and shorter path. My speedo is now absolutely 100% steady and also very accurate when checked with a GPS. It is way more accurate than my 2000 Mitsubishi which reads 5k fast at 100 kph.

Author:	danny_ [ Fri Aug 10, 2012 8:32 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Speedo Accuracy
simon k wrote: mini_fanatic wrote: I'm currently planning to go for my licence in the Mini within the next month, but Mum is convinced I'm going to fail because of the speedo! Has anyone else recently done a licence test in a Mini? The alternative is the instructor's car, an i30 that I struggle to control because it's so modern and sensitive! Thanks, Evan. you're MUCH better off doing the test in the instructors car - you probably won't get a "sympathetic" tester, and they may just take one look at the mini and decide that you're going to fail. and your mum is right, if the tester can't tell what speed you're doing, how can they tell if you're breaking the speed limit. That's assuming that they can do the mph to kph conversion in their head, and I'd suggest that they can't they might also decide that the mini is not safe and refuse to get in it... yep, would be nice to do it in your mini, but you'll get over it I did my L >P test in my 1993 rover mini about 12 and a half months ago. I passed the test and did quite well, The instructor told me i should buy a new car as the mini had no air bags and such. He did look a little scared when he sat in the mini.

Author:	meeni [ Sun Aug 12, 2012 8:42 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Speedo Accuracy
Quote: I'm currently planning to go for my licence in the Mini within the next month, but Mum is convinced I'm going to fail because of the speedo! Has anyone else recently done a licence test in a Mini? The alternative is the instructor's car, an i30 that I struggle to control because it's so modern and sensitive! Thanks, Evan. I did mine in the instructors car I didn't even know you could do it in your car? How's the instructor supposed to know what your doing is right wrong or otherwise? No offence intended here but if your struggling with an I-30 I'd do a bit more practicing because if you have to drive anything modern and cant drive one of those you will struggle. Also I feel like id fail the test in a mini simply because the test is centred around a modern car, especially the way you need to drive it definately centres around power steering etc.. Also when they ask you were your hazard lights are.. Errr.. Just do it in the i30 mate, then when you pass you can give the mini a caining[/quote]

Author:	niceboy1275 [ Sun Aug 12, 2012 9:02 am ]
Post subject:
I tend to agree here, I did my test in my 85 ford meteor because of the hazards light bit, but 3 years later when my younger brother tried to do his P's in the same ford meteor, the instructor refused to get in the car because it was a 40degree day and the meteor didn't have air con! At the time, both me and my brother didnt even contemplate using dad's leyland mini (family runabout) as we just figured there would be too many things that the instructor might not like about it.

Author:	Fiji [ Sun Aug 12, 2012 11:05 am ]
Post subject:
Lol airbags... did my test years ago inthe old faithful was barely roadworthy instructor got in could see daylight between the door & body wasn't happy looked at the speedo wasn't impressed again. Did stall once whilst trying to downshift to non sincro first up a large hill still got it first go.

Author:	MrFail [ Sun Aug 12, 2012 12:45 pm ]
Post subject:
I did my test (13 years ago) in my old mini. i lived in the country , so it was the police that did it. They were pretty easy.. i got the junior officer as the senior guy wouldn't fit in it. haha. then half way thru my drive my bling gearknob fell off. haha. he just got me to pull over and put it back on. They new that all us country kids had been driving around from the age of 10, so just got me out on the open road doing 100, then said that'll do. I just got knocked for " late braking" (mastercylinder was leaking, so need to pump brakes into corner. and " incorrect gear for speed " ( poor little clubby reved a bit hard at 100). I still passed Pretty funny now that i look back on it

Author:	adamstuart [ Sun Aug 12, 2012 12:53 pm ]
Post subject:
I remember when I was on my L's and I re-registered my mini. I got a very stern look from the lady on the other side of the counter and she said "I hope you are not planning on bringing that for your test" So I did it in the i30 training school car and it was all gravy.

Author:	Arianca tan [ Sun Aug 12, 2012 1:16 pm ]
Post subject:	Drivers licence.
I got my licence in a new mini clubman and it was a driving school car. Hillcrest driving school from memory. But that was in 1978. The reverse park test was a breeze. The first mini I had driven and the start of an addiction.

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