Technical Upgrading Standard Speedo to Digital

[colinbeaumont]

Hi,

I'm new to the Fiat 500 world. I have just helped my daughter buy a 2014 Fiat 500s. Car seems lovely, REALLY FUN TO DRIVE! The stereo is already upgraded for Apple Carplay so the only thing she doesn't like is the speedo so I'm trying to work out how complicated it would be to upgrade it to one of the digital units. I've seen a few videos where people are saying that they are all cross compatible and that any features not compatible with your car like TPMS just disable themselves. From there it looks like MultiECUScan to change the mileage and run a proxi alignment.

Is that true? Are all Fiat 500 digital speedos compatible or do I need to stick within a couple of years? Is there anywhere you can check which years are supported by which part numbers?

It looks pretty straightforward but just wanting a bit of reassurance before spending £150ish on the gear.

Thanks
Colin

 

[John202020]

@Baglady1990

 

[Baglady1990]

Hi,

I'm new to the Fiat 500 world. I have just helped my daughter buy a 2014 Fiat 500s. Car seems lovely, REALLY FUN TO DRIVE! The stereo is already upgraded for Apple Carplay so the only thing she doesn't like is the speedo so I'm trying to work out how complicated it would be to upgrade it to one of the digital units. I've seen a few videos where people are saying that they are all cross compatible and that any features not compatible with your car like TPMS just disable themselves. From there it looks like MultiECUScan to change the mileage and run a proxi alignment.

Is that true? Are all Fiat 500 digital speedos compatible or do I need to stick within a couple of years? Is there anywhere you can check which years are supported by which part numbers?

It looks pretty straightforward but just wanting a bit of reassurance before spending £150ish on the gear.

Thanks
Colin

Well all you need to do is find a digital speedo with lower mileage than the car …. And one that is up to 2015!! do not even entertain a 2016 as it is not compatible!
MES will allow you to set the correct mileage and a proxi will write the data to the new digital TFT unit
Just one plug to remove on the rear! I’ve included a pic of mine! Much neater!!
Swapped mine 2/3 years ago no issues at all

 

[colinbeaumont]

Well all you need to do is find a digital speedo with lower mileage than the car …. And one that is up to 2015!! do not even entertain a 2016 as it is not compatible!
MES will allow you to set the correct mileage and a proxi will write the data to the new digital TFT unit
Just one plug to remove on the rear! I’ve included a pic of mine! Much neater!!
Swapped mine 2/3 years ago no issues at all

Thanks so much for the advice, that's amazing! I've noticed some advertised for the Abarth on e-bay, would I be right in thinking as long as they are 2014/15 then they would be ok too?

 

[Baglady1990]

Thanks so much for the advice, that's amazing! I've noticed some advertised for the Abarth on e-bay, would I be right in thinking as long as they are 2014/15 then they would be ok too?

They would but you will have the Abarth logo pop up when you get into the car rather than the 500 logo
There will be a few other little things too that are Abarth only but if your not that bothered it’s up to you
Personally id stick to a 500 one

 

[colinbeaumont]

Thanks again, I think I agree, I'll shop around for a 500 one. Right, I'll go do my research on MES now!

 

[decappottabile]

The car decides if the Abarth logo is shown or the regular 500 logo. There are no specific Abarth or regular 500 TFT screens.
When you look at the Hexadecimal string for the Proxi-alignment, you will find that for Abarth models, byte 80=02, byte 81=51, 129 = 80 and 130 = 05.
For the 500, those values will be different. Thats how the TFT knows which logo to show.

Apart from that, value of byte 65 will change the layout of the TFT.
00 = Pop
20 = Lounge
40 = cars with turbo
60 = Abarth

 

[colinbeaumont]

The car decides if the Abarth logo is shown or the regular 500 logo. There are no specific Abarth or regular 500 TFT screens.
When you look at the Hexadecimal string for the Proxi-alignment, you will find that for Abarth models, byte 80=02, byte 81=51, 129 = 80 and 130 = 05.
For the 500, those values will be different. Thats how the TFT knows which logo to show.

Apart from that, value of byte 65 will change the layout of the TFT.
00 = Pop
20 = Lounge
40 = cars with turbo
60 = Abarth

Thanks. Silly question but does anyone know what the values would be for a 500s? I'll have a dig around though.

 

[Baglady1990]

The car decides if the Abarth logo is shown or the regular 500 logo. There are no specific Abarth or regular 500 TFT screens.
When you look at the Hexadecimal string for the Proxi-alignment, you will find that for Abarth models, byte 80=02, byte 81=51, 129 = 80 and 130 = 05.
For the 500, those values will be different. Thats how the TFT knows which logo to show.

Apart from that, value of byte 65 will change the layout of the TFT.
00 = Pop
20 = Lounge
40 = cars with turbo
60 = Abarth

Yes I’d forgotten about that .. I changed mine to a sport the original had a crappy stretched font

 

[decappottabile]

Thanks. Silly question but does anyone know what the values would be for a 500s? I'll have a dig around though.

I think "00" for byte 65 is actually Pop/Lounge and "20" is Sport.
I've been scraping Fiat forums for those MES Hex strings. I'm trying to map the bytes to settings, but so far I have only 10.
So to everyone who happens to have a string, let me know . Please provide as many information as you can. (engine, gearbox, navigation, convertible yes/no, carplay, blue&me...)
I have set it to to "60" (Abarth) although I have a 500 Lounge because it has the Sport mode. (I configured the City button to be a Sport button, making the car more lively)

 

[chris3234]

Also needs to be the same transmission I believe

Can't fit an auto Speedo to a manual car if I remember right

 

[decappottabile]

Also needs to be the same transmission I believe

Can't fit an auto Speedo to a manual car if I remember right

Not sure tbh. But this topic suggests that it shouldn't matter: https://www.fiatforum.com/threads/r...nd-no-automatic-gear-info.494490/post-4641352

 

[GettinBetter]

If I'm reading it right, Typecast boy says in post #6 theyre different.

 

[Baglady1990]

I’d be looking for the closest match possible personally…. I remember buying a facelift TFT in my early days for my 2011 … skool girl error

 

[GettinBetter]

Me too, mines a too late speedo, doesn't recognise the BMC module, so issues. Will sort it later....

 

[Baglady1990]

Me too, mines a too late speedo, doesn't recognise the BMC module, so issues. Will sort it later....

Aw no! Mine actually worked …. Except it showed tps and I couldn’t alter the clock! Re sell I did

 

[GettinBetter]

It's works, but mileage flashes, and the eco scale isn't doing anything. Byte 65 does nothing. MES says incompatible component fitted....
Might change BCM

 

[Baglady1990]

It's works, but mileage flashes, and the eco scale isn't doing anything. Byte 65 does nothing. MES says incompatible component fitted....
Might change BMC

Weird … yeah best just look for a better match ..my 2nd was a 2014 and zero issues

 

[ClassicFiat500]

Hi,

I'm new to the Fiat 500 world. I have just helped my daughter buy a 2014 Fiat 500s. Car seems lovely, REALLY FUN TO DRIVE! The stereo is already upgraded for Apple Carplay so the only thing she doesn't like is the speedo so I'm trying to work out how complicated it would be to upgrade it to one of the digital units. I've seen a few videos where people are saying that they are all cross compatible and that any features not compatible with your car like TPMS just disable themselves. From there it looks like MultiECUScan to change the mileage and run a proxi alignment.

Is that true? Are all Fiat 500 digital speedos compatible or do I need to stick within a couple of years? Is there anywhere you can check which years are supported by which part numbers?

It looks pretty straightforward but just wanting a bit of reassurance before spending £150ish on the gear.

Thanks
Colin

Hi,

I'm new to the Fiat 500 world. I have just helped my daughter buy a 2014 Fiat 500s. Car seems lovely, REALLY FUN TO DRIVE! The stereo is already upgraded for Apple Carplay so the only thing she doesn't like is the speedo so I'm trying to work out how complicated it would be to upgrade it to one of the digital units. I've seen a few videos where people are saying that they are all cross compatible and that any features not compatible with your car like TPMS just disable themselves. From there it looks like MultiECUScan to change the mileage and run a proxi alignment.

Is that true? Are all Fiat 500 digital speedos compatible or do I need to stick within a couple of years? Is there anywhere you can check which years are supported by which part numbers?

It looks pretty straightforward but just wanting a bit of reassurance before spending £150ish on the gear.

Thanks

Hi,

I'm new to the Fiat 500 world. I have just helped my daughter buy a 2014 Fiat 500s. Car seems lovely, REALLY FUN TO DRIVE! The stereo is already upgraded for Apple Carplay so the only thing she doesn't like is the speedo so I'm trying to work out how complicated it would be to upgrade it to one of the digital units. I've seen a few videos where people are saying that they are all cross compatible and that any features not compatible with your car like TPMS just disable themselves. From there it looks like MultiECUScan to change the mileage and run a proxi alignment.

Is that true? Are all Fiat 500 digital speedos compatible or do I need to stick within a couple of years? Is there anywhere you can check which years are supported by which part numbers?

It looks pretty straightforward but just wanting a bit of reassurance before spending £150ish on the gear.

Thanks
Colin

I have a 2014 Abarth Anniversario, I too find not having a Digital speedometer was very annoying so I just went onto Ebay and found a great GPS digital speedo, I found this very accurate & clear its just mounted on top of the dash with the cable discreetly plugged into the usb socket, One of the best additions I have bought for the for under £20 if you need the make & picture of it I will place it on the post.

 

[ClassicFiat500]

I have a 2014 Abarth Anniversario, I too find not having a Digital speedometer was very annoying so I just went onto Ebay and found a great GPS digital speedo, I found this very accurate & clear its just mounted on top of the dash with the cable discreetly plugged into the usb socket, One of the best additions I have bought for the for under £20 if you need the make & picture of it I will place it on the post.