Current gear and change info in dashboard

[Malarith]

I went for a drive in a colleagues 1.6 diesel golf mk6 the other day and his dashboard computer shows what gear he is in and advice on when to change up or down a gear.

Does anyone else have this in their golf mk6 and if so is yours also a 1.6 diesel? I'm curious to know if I can get my golf software upgraded to show this information also or whether its a model specific (diesel) item.

Thanks

[Keithuk]

According to the spec published 01/01/2010 all Golfs are supposed to have this visual gear indicator on the right hand side on the HighLine dash. I went back to the dealer because mine wasn't showing (do a search in this forum for visual gear indicator)



They said its only fitted on the BlueMotion. No the spec sheet says all Golf model made this year. They couldn't enable it, not that I'm that bothered.

It may depend if you have an HighLine not a MidLine dash.

[Malarith]

Much appreciated. I've got a highline computer but the car is a 09 so I might see if I can get a software upgrade. Its more useful to know what gear I'm in as the engine is so quiet, I'm often in 4th when I should be in 5/6th.

[Keithuk]

I've got a highline computer but the car is a 09 so I might see if I can get a software upgrade.

I asked about upgrades and they said there are none available for the highline. I picked mine up on 27th January and they said it was a MY2010 so it could have been built late last year. They said I could have one of last years highlines.

I don't really think they are much use. If the car doesn't accelerate then you're in a too higher gear, apart from high revs in 6th.

You could always ask them.

[SC03OTT]

Put your hand on the gear stick. You can tell what gear you are in then. I'd question why anyone would want to take their eyes off the road and look for a small number on the dash to tell them what gear they are in.

[johnloaderuk]

I have the gear indicator on my Passat, and if you drive exceptionally carefully, on a dead flat road, it indicates you should change up at about 1400 rpm, and down at about 900 rpm (in my 2.0 diesel), which isn't really practical. Use your own judgement, and check the rev counter to see if you feel you are in the correct gear. I'd stop short of saying it's a waste of time, but it's more of a gimick than anything else, and I rarely look at it now.

[Killer]

If I changed up to 5th whenever it said I should then I'd b*gger my engine.

It doesn't account for the fact that the UK has hills ... ups and downs, when 4th is very often better than 5th. If you live in the flat plains of Germany or the flatlands of Linconshire it might be OK, but elsewhere it is a waste of space.

[Keithuk]

@Killer- So you have it on your 2009 Golf S Mk6 1.4 TDi, was it fitted as standard?

[Steve_D]

@Killer- So you have it on your 2009 Golf S Mk6 1.4 TDi, was it fitted as standard?

I picked my Golf up in December 09 and it's got it fitted. Mine was built in week 45 and I remember reading on here that all Golfs were to be fitted with it from a certain build week. Week 43 I think, but I may be wrong about the actual week. A bit of a gimmick really as I feel it tells you to change up far too early - maybe more of a fuel economy aid for tight buggers!

[Steve_D]

.....I'd question why anyone would want to take their eyes off the road and look for a small number on the dash to tell them what gear they are in.

Well apart from the speedo which is a legal requirement, what do you take your eyes off the road for? Do you take your eyes off the road to see what average mpg you are achieving or oil temperature or disance travelled or outside temperature or time of day or current mpg or cruise control speed or miles left in the tank or distance/time travelled or which radio station or CD track you are listening to? I do - they're just driver information aids and that's what an MFD is for.