Km's to miles

[pipwilliams]

Hi, I've recently bought an E Class 220d Cabriolet 14 plate and note that in the bottom left hand side there is a constant Km's read out - the speedo is annotated miles and both trip and mileage recorder are in miles. Is it possible to change the constant read out from Km's to Miles via the on board computer please?

 

[markjay]

Hi, I've recently bought an E Class 220d Cabriolet 14 plate and note that in the bottom left hand side there is a constant Km's read out - the speedo is annotated miles and both trip and mileage recorder are in miles. Is it possible to change the constant read out from Km's to Miles via the on board computer please?

Welcome.

No, it is not possible to do that.

On UK cars, this spot on the instrument cluster is a permanent display of the current speed in km/h.

On non-UK cars, this spot on the instrument cluster displays the ambient temperature. On UK cars, you need to go through the instrument cluster menus to have the ambient temperature displayed, but you cannot have it permanently displayed at all times.

It has been like that for the past 20 years, since MB stopped fitting their cars with speedometers that have two dials, one for mp/h the other for km/h.

It is possible to convert the instrument cluster back from UK to non-UK, however, all that will happen is that the km/h display will be replaced with a permanent ambient temperature display (and you'll need to pay a specialist to do that, because it requires the use of MB STAR diagnostic computer). So, this will obviously not help you much.

You can, however, from the instrument cluster menu, choose to have the current speed displayed (in mp/h) on the central LCD display on the cluster - however, while you have the speed displayed there, you will obviously not be able to use the instrument cluster's LCD for anything else (e.g.navigation instructions, or mpg display).

 

[markjay]

@DSM10000

 

[ALFAitalia]

From DVLA.

All vehicles registered in the UK since 1977 have been required to have a speedometer capable of displaying speeds in kilometres per hour (km/h) as well as miles per hour (mph).

 

[Petrol Pete]

...And if the car is driven in the EU without showing KM/h it is technically illegal...I think.

 

[markjay]

From DVLA.

All vehicles registered in the UK since 1977 have been required to have a speedometer capable of displaying speeds in kilometres per hour (km/h) as well as miles per hour (mph).

'Capable' is the key word here - MB chose to make it a permanent display - taking the spot of the ambient temperature - but there is no requirement to have it displayed permanently - this is MB's choice.

I had a few cars (non-MB) with digital displays, which you can switch between mp/h and km/h, and this satisfies the legal requirement. There's really no need to have it permanently displayed.

When you carry-out the 'UK Delete' mod (i.e. convert the instrument cluster back from UK non-UK), the car is still UK-legal, because it is still capable of displaying the speed in km/h, when you choose it from the instrument cluster menu.

However, as said, doing this will prevent you from using the LCD display in the instrument cluster for anything else, which is probably the reason why MB implemented this UK variant - for convenience. But the car will still be UK-legal even with the non-MB version of the instrument cluster.

 

[markjay]

...And if the car is driven in the EU without showing KM/h it is technically illegal...I think.

See my post above.

 

[pipwilliams]

Welcome.

No, it is not possible to do that.

On UK cars, this spot on the instrument cluster is a permanent display of the current speed in km/h.

On non-UK cars, this spot on the instrument cluster displays the ambient temperature. On UK cars, you need to go through the instrument cluster menus to have the ambient temperature displayed, but you cannot have it permanently displayed at all times.

It has been like that for the past 20 years, since MB stopped fitting their cars with speedometers that have two dials, one for mp/h the other for km/h.

It is possible to convert the instrument cluster back from UK to non-UK, however, all that will happen is that the km/h display will be replaced with a permanent ambient temperature display (and you'll need to pay a specialist to do that, because it requires the use of MB STAR diagnostic computer). So, this will obviously not help you much.

You can, however, from the instrument cluster menu, choose to have the current speed displayed (in mp/h) on the central LCD display on the cluster - however, while you have the speed displayed there, you will obviously not be able to use the instrument cluster's LCD for anything else (e.g.navigation instructions, or mpg display).

Thank so much for the clarification - I did wonder if the clock had been switched and mileage tampered with as the car has a relatively low 75,000 recorded, although the interior and bodywork match the mileage really.