mpg gauge on dash

[xl5]

.....how useless is that thing..mine just goes from side to side like a grandfathers clock pendulum and its never stuck at one point for long....can it be switched off?

[X5Sport]

Not one of BMWs best ideas is it.  When you think of all the other useful gauges that could (and in my view should) have been used in its place!  The X6 doesn't even have a temp gauge just that useless econometer and a fuel gauge.. >:(

Richard

[Reusch]

+1 pain in the arse it bugs the life out of me.

[xl5]

@Richard , so how do we know if there's a problem with the coolant temperature ....do we get flashing lights ?

[X Box]

Yep, never understood why they stick with that gauge. It's useless.

[Don Coffey]

Must be just me, but I actually use the gauge. 

Don

[xl5]

so does your head go side to side when you're driving Don...

[X5Sport]

[quote="xl5"]
@Richard , so how do we know if there's a problem with the coolant temperature ....do we get flashing lights ?
[/quote]

I think it goes 'bong' and a warning light comes on.......then it goes 'bang'... >:(

There might be something in the iDrive but I have not used the function yet.

Richard

[xl5]

ok , so bong,light,bang.....i'll look out for that.. )

[squeaky2]

its the swingometer of doom  )

[petert]

+1 on the mpg gauge - pitiful.  Give me an oil temperature or oil pressure gauge any day.  But then I'm an engineer.
Peter T

[X Box]

[quote="petert"]
+1 on the mpg gauge - pitiful.  Give me an oil temperature or oil pressure gauge any day.  But then I'm an engineer.
Peter T
[/quote]

I want the same although not an engineer I understand mechanical sympathy.

[xl5]

i suppose there's some kind of 'comfort' seeing a coolant temp gauge with the needle steady in the middle..

[Don Coffey]

[quote="xl5"]
i suppose there's some kind of 'comfort' seeing a coolant temp gauge with the needle steady in the middle..
[/quote]

I do agree that a temperature gauge is far more important, and like the F10 you can have all, so no-doubt the new X6 will have it all.

Don

[philip600]

[quote="xl5"]
.....how useless is that thing..mine just goes from side to side like a grandfathers clock pendulum and its never stuck at one point for long....can it be switched off?
[/quote]

Hi, it is basically a vacuum gauge so it will swing up & down while accelerating & changing gear. It will give a more steady reading when going a constant speed.
It is a bit old fashioned but BMW have been fitting them for years, it's supposed to help you drive more economically, you will find if you accelerate at a steady rate instead of hard it will show better mpg.
Plant you foot to the floor & it'll disappear out of sight !!!
As far as I know it can't be turned off but if you drive everywhere with your foot hard down the needle won't be visible as much so it's less annoying