[Price695]

Is it normal for my speedometer to sit below 0 ?If not what can cause this and how can i fix it if its not normal ?

[makrop]

Go faster!

[Price695]

Thanks ... but in all honesty anyone know ?

[harma24]

My guess is that it's parallax. With a needle sitting in front of the dial face, the viewing position can cause the needle to appear in a slightly different position.

If you were shorter, it would not be a problem!

[madmax240]

You must be in reverse.

[BlueGreen86]

It’s parallax. It is common in aviation steam gauges. Nothing is wrong with your car.

[Lucky13]

I just went to the garage and checked mine and it is at the line not below.

[morphomeman]

The more important issue is accuracy while under way.
Check the speedo against the readout on a phone app. Even simple ones like Waze have digital MPH readouts.
Remember, though, that BMW speedometers are notorious for overestimating speed, by a good few MPH once you are up there. So if your speedo needle sits at 75, your phone readout is likely to be 73, even for an 'accurate' reading speedometer.

[Maynard]

More important is whether the needle matches the electronics - if you set cruise at 60 or 120 by the numbers, does the pointer line up exactly?

[harma24]

Originally Posted by morphomeman

So if your speedo needle sits at 75, your phone readout is likely to be 73, even for an 'accurate' reading speedometer.

100% True. Helps minimize speeding tickets though! It's nice knowing that if I am cruising at 10mph above the speed limit, I'm actually only ~8mph above the speed limit and much less likely to be pulled over!

Originally Posted by Maynard

More important is whether the needle matches the electronics - if you set cruise at 60 or 120 by the numbers, does the pointer line up exactly?

With a (near) vertical needle, the effects of parallax are negated as you are looking at the needle straight on (assuming you're not one of those a-holes that drives slumped over to one side). Parallax would only be an issue when the needle is near horizontal and you are looking down on it (like it is at 0kph or 260kph).

[aerobod]

Same speedo from off centre and on centre, showing parallax error when not viewed straight on:

[doccyber]

Well. Mine sits a little bit above. Even when viewed straight on. Waze does say that I'm off by 2 mph. For example 65 on speedo is 63/62 on Waze. I've lived with it.

[morphomeman]

2 mph over at 65 mph is about right for a BMW. I have never owned one with an accurate speedo reading. They are always optimistic. Maybe to massage the owner's ego.