Speedometer change

[xfactor]

Hi guys,

Searched everywhere to see there is a topic on this item, but haven't found any. Basically, what's involved in changing mph (US) speedometer to a Canadian KM/h speedometer. Not sure if it's a simple plug and play or would there be a change in console and calibration involved.
Thanks,

[sawzall]

You would need to change the gauge cluster, as per (1) in this diagram http://www.trademotion.com/partlocat...layCatalogid=0. I'm not sure,but I believe you will need to have some programming done, as the odometer will need to be updated.

That being said, if you're importing a US car, it will have both KM and Miles on it, so you won't have a problem with the RIV inspection if you leave it alone. (Frankly, I wish the Canadian version would have miles on it as well, for whenever you travel to the US).

[pmeloche]

I never understood the logic of putting bi-unit gauge cluster for the U.S. cars and a metric-only cluster for Canadian cars. My best guess is the size of the U.S. market may demand it but then are there that many americans that drive their cars to Canada?

[Puckmaster]

I wouldn't change it.

[DJDeez]

Originally Posted by Puckmaster

I wouldn't change it.

[xfactor]

Thanks, it wasn't a question of changing it or not, but how? I think I found what I was looking for. Now to decide if I SHOULD? Most likely not.

[Red_light]

don't you have to get the gauge cluster changed by a bmw dealership , when u import a US m3 in order to register it

[Puckmaster]

Nope

[Meff]

Originally Posted by Red_light

don't you have to get the gauge cluster changed by a bmw dealership , when u import a US m3 in order to register it

No - but a Canadian dealer may tell you this to deter you from importing.

There are no costs incurred (work required) to register the car outside of the inspection itself.

[thutchis]

When I imported my 08 M3 manual in March 2009, BMW was forcing the change to Canadian gauge cluster in order to produce the recall clearance letter for RIV. A $2,800 import tax essentially.

I see there are a number of comments about wishing the cluster has both meteoric and imperial speed markings. If anyone is interested in the US cluster, I still have it and could be persuaded to part with it.

[DAlby18]

When I was looking into importing an M3 vert I was told in order to keep the warranty I needed to have a few things changed by BMW themselves (one being the cluster). I was told that it was going to cost roughly $3,500. On top of that I needed to pay 6% Duty, $1000 shipping, $1000 on Levy Tax (Only for vert apparently). $230 for an inspection and some other small charges. In the end I bought the car here.

[Red_light]

so... do you have to change to a Canadian guage cluster ( done by BMW) if your importing a car from the states or is there anyway around this.

[sawzall]

Originally Posted by Red_light

so... do you have to change to a Canadian guage cluster ( done by BMW) if your importing a car from the states or is there anyway around this.

To get the car registered in Canada (i.e. pass the RIV test) you do not need to change the gauge cluster. All you need to do is get your DRL setup, and the gauge already has KM markings on it, so you're good. Make sure that you get a recall letter from the US dealership as Canadian dealerships won't give it to you if you don't change out the cluster (unless you have a really cool dealership service department) and possibly the DRL.

If you are looking to get warranty service in Canada, you will need to comply with your dealership, which means changing the cluster (I don't know of any dealerships who will do warranty service without having the gauge changed first). Also, don't forget that no dealership in Canada (as far as I know) will honour the US free maintenance for cars under warranty.

[HP Man]

I have a US car and my guage cluster is still the original US one. I've had warranty work performed at 3 different BMW dealers in Vancouver and none of them have raised the cluster as an issue.

[sawzall]

Originally Posted by HP Man

I have a US car and my guage cluster is still the original US one. I've had warranty work performed at 3 different BMW dealers in Vancouver and none of them have raised the cluster as an issue.

You're lucky! The dealers in Vancouver probably aren't as anal as the ones in Toronto.

I checked with several dealers out here in the GTA, and they all basically told me to bugger off unless I did the gauge cluster change. That's one of the reasons why I ended up buying my car in Canada....

[xfactor]

Originally Posted by shizzle

You're lucky! The dealers in Vancouver probably aren't as anal as the ones in Toronto.

I checked with several dealers out here in the GTA, and they all basically told me to bugger off unless I did the cluster gauge change. That's one of the reasons why I ended up buying my car in Canada....

Really? I had work done on my imported US car at Parkview without any issue. BMW warranty is North America wide. What did the dealer tell you?

Here's the source:
http://crm.bmw.ca/content/pressRelea...fs.asp?lang=en

[sawzall]

Originally Posted by xfactor

Really? I had work done on my imported US car at Parkview without any issue. BMW warranty is North America wide. What did the dealer tell you?

Here's the source:
http://crm.bmw.ca/content/pressRelea...fs.asp?lang=en

WTF! Parkview was one of the ones that told me they won't do any warranty work without the gauges being changed to KM only. Downtown, Mississauga and T&C were the others I checked with.

At the end of the day, they all said the same thing as your link says, "For a vehicle that is driven average kilometers and serviced on a regular basis, the value of the BMW Canada 4-year/80,000KM No-Charge Scheduled Maintenance program can range from $600 to over $1,000. Any vehicles imported from the U.S. would not benefit from this program."

And if you look at the link in the article, it also has another link: http://crm.bmw.ca/content/pressRelea...fs.asp?lang=en which states, "Canadian specification vehicles are built with a kilometer only instrument cluster, which is written into the Vehicle Order that determines how all control units fitted to a vehicle interact. In certain vehicles, the instrument cluster is the "fingerprint" of the vehicle and must be replaced to ensure compliance. The cost of these modifications may range from several hundred dollars to several thousand dollars depending on the year and model of your BMW. Please ask your BMW Retailer for an estimate."

[GMW]

There's a pending class action suit against BMW Canada for this. Bottom line, you don't need to have cluster changed for any process involving new BMW's. You actually don't need them for anything other than warranty service. Scheduled maintenance is the only thing not carried over from the importation process. This applies across Canada, including Toronto!

I've imported my last 4 BMW's. And a new K1300s. Never trust anything you hear or read until you speak to BMW Canada or an educated Service Manager at your local dealer.

[TailHappyM3]

Originally Posted by shizzle

You're lucky! The dealers in Vancouver probably aren't as anal as the ones in Toronto.

I checked with several dealers out here in the GTA, and they all basically told me to bugger off unless I did the gauge cluster change. That's one of the reasons why I ended up buying my car in Canada....

It's the same thing in Calgary. They will give you a really hard time about booking appointments etc once they know the car is a import and especially if the cluster has not been changed by them. Also, they will not go to bat for you on those 50/50 warranty calls! I know a few people who have had problems because of these politics. However, I have to agree to some extent with the dealers on this.

Resale hurts on the imports too-from past personal experience with a US M3-and combined with the current politics and little savings I'm not sure it's worth importing at all. I've looked at the math many times and the 5% savings or so was just not worth the hassle and headaches to me. Hence, I bought local.

[GMW]

Originally Posted by TailHappyM3

It's the same thing in Calgary. They will give you a really hard time about booking appointments etc once they know the car is a import and especially if the cluster has not been changed by them. Also, they will not go to bat for you on those 50/50 warranty calls! I know a few people who have had problems because of these politics. However, I have to agree to some extent with the dealers on this.

Resale hurts on the imports too-from past personal experience with a US M3-and combined with the current politics and little savings I'm not sure it's worth importing at all. I've looked at the math many times and the 5% savings or so was just not worth the hassle and headaches to me. Hence, I bought local.

i saved $20k before tax on similarly equipped M3. And before the exchange rate applied. Where are you getting 5%? MSRP have a greater spread then that alone. ED in the US is also another option, if you have a US address.

Anyway, my 2cents.

[TailHappyM3]

Originally Posted by GMW

i saved $20k before tax on similarly equipped M3. And before the exchange rate applied. Where are you getting 5%? MSRP have a greater spread then that alone. ED in the US is also another option, if you have a US address.

Anyway, my 2cents.

20K?

I was referring to buying used and after all costs and taxes including duty, import costs, transportation etc....

Canadian car at 60K(private sale!!) would still cost about 57K imported from the US for similar options after all taxes, costs etc. The trick is to buy private sale local and save on those crazy taxes and other costs.

Once you factor in the hit on resale too, those initial savings are much less eventually. I've gone through this before and will never do it again!

[GMW]

Originally Posted by TailHappyM3

20K?

I was referring to buying used and after all costs and taxes including duty, import costs, transportation etc....

Canadian car at 60K(private sale!!) would still cost about 57K imported from the US for similar options after all taxes, costs etc. The trick is to buy private sale local and save on those crazy taxes and other costs.

Once you factor in the hit on resale too, those initial savings are much less eventually. I've gone through this before and will never do it again!

I'm referring to a used 2011.