10 replies to this topic

[RWD3M]

HI all,

 

Been a while since I've been here, primarily because our Mini has been proving pretty reliable of late.

 

I've recently been looking at the possibilities of retro-fitting the Oil Temp and Voltmeter gauges as ours only has the single clock above the radio and whilst it seems all the required parts are available, I'd like to know a couple of things before I start.

 

Firstly, can anyone tell me where the oil temp. sender fits and secondly should the wiring harness have all the wiring already in to connect to the 2 gauges and the sender?

 

Thanks in anticipation.

 

Richard.

[Quinlan minor]

Assuming you've got an MPi, you don't say which model, all the necessary kit is already in the car. All you need to do is to pull out the old single-hole dash and put in the three-holer. After you've plugged in the wiring, of course.

[RWD3M]

Ah yes, I should have mentioned. It's an early (Jan 97) MPI.

 

And Thanks! I'd kind of suspected the wiring would be there. Rover were hardly likely to have two different harnesses. But the oil temp sender too?

 

If not, if you have any pointers as to where the oil temp sender goes I'd be grateful.

Edited by RWD3M, 17 July 2026 - 06:59 PM.

[Quinlan minor]

The oil temperature sensor is part of the information required by the ECU. The plug behind the dashboard will be obvious, once you remove the existing one.

[jamesquintin]

Having done this myself you'll need:

https://www.somerfor...voltmeter-97-99

This is the harness that goes from the main loom behind the radio to the 3 clocks, your car has a similar harness but for one clock

 

https://www.minispar...er-for-97on-mpi

This is a new oil temp sender. The ones fitted form factory have all failed by this point. You might be lucky, but if you fit the oil temp guage and the dial only slightly moves, you'll need this,

And for the dash, I just drilled the holes out (after carefully measuring them!)

Q

Edited by jamesquintin, 18 July 2026 - 06:07 AM.

[roblightbody]

If it was me, I'd fit an oil pressure gauge instead.  I've always wondered why they didn't do this originally, presumably a cost saving.

[Midas Mk1]

If it was me, I'd fit an oil pressure gauge instead. I've always wondered why they didn't do this originally, presumably a cost saving.

Oil pressure = worry gauge, and oil temp far reduced warranty claims on MPis.

Two of my cars have oil pressure gauges; to be honest i’d rather not have the stress 😂

[RWD3M]

Thanks for the replies!

 

So in summary, I'll need:

1. Voltmeter

2. Oil temperature gauge (i take your point ref oil pressure gauge @roblightbody)

3. Harness to replace the one for the clock

4. Fascia (unless I take your advice @jamesquintin, which I may well do and save £180!)

5. Sender in case the original has failed. (@Quinlan minor Would I not already know if it had failed given the ECU is relying on information provided by it?)

 

Conveniently (or otherwise!) Somerford Mini is only about a 10 minute walk from me!

[Quinlan minor]

Best bet is to get a three gauge dash complete from a wrecker. Then just swap them over and sell your old one, or keep it in case of return to original.

[RWD3M]

That's not a bad idea.

[Gaz66]

Just out of curiosity where would the most accurate place be for the oil temp sender on an older non injected car?