42
IGNITION LOCK STARTING THE ENGINE 0 Steering locked
1 Steering unlocked
2 Ignition switched on
3 Starting the engine0 Steering locked The key can be inserted or removed in this
position only.
To lock the steering:
1. Remove the key
2. Turn the steering wheel slightly to the
left or right until the lock engages.
Vehicles with Continuously Variable
automatic Transmission (CVT):
Do not move the selector lever from posi-
tion "P" until the engine is running.
Your vehicle is equipped with an interlock.
Therefore, the ignition key cannot be
turned to position 0 and removed until the
selector lever is in position "P" (Interlock).<
1 Steering unlocked Individual electrical accessories are ready
for operation.
You will find that it is often easier to turn
the ignition key from position 0 to posi-
tion 1 when you move the steering wheel
slightly to help disengage the lock.2 Ignition switched onAll electrical accessories are ready for oper-
ation.3 Starting the engine
Vehicles with manual transmission:
Step on the clutch when starting the
vehicle. A lockout prevents the engine from
starting if the clutch is not depressed.<
Do not allow the engine to warm up with
the vehicle at a standstill. Move off imme-
diately at a moderate engine speed.
Do not allow the engine to run in
enclosed spaces. The exhaust gases
contain carbon monoxide, an odorless and
colorless, but highly toxic gas.
Breathing the exhaust gases poses an
extreme health risk, and can lead to uncon-
sciousness and death.
Do not leave the vehicle unattended with
the engine running. An unattended vehicle
with a running engine represents a poten-
tial safety hazard. When driving, standing
at idle or when parking, take precautions to
avoid contact between the hot exhaust
system and easily flammable materials
(grass, hay or leaves, for example). Such
contact could lead to a fire, resulting in
serious personal injury and property
damage.<
43
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
STARTING THE ENGINE SWITCHING OFF THE ENGINE StartingWhen starting the engine, do not press the
accelerator pedal.
Do not actuate the starter for too
short a time. Do not turn it for more
than approx. 20 seconds. Release the igni-
tion key immediately when the engine
starts.
Extended starting attempts, characterized
by excessively frequent or long periods
with the starter engaged, can lead to
damage in the catalytic converter.<
If the engine does not start on the first
attempt (the engine is very hot or cold, for
instance):
>Press the accelerator pedal halfway
down while engaging the starter.
Cold starts at extremely low temperatures
(as of approx. +5 7(Ð15 6)):
>Press the accelerator pedal halfway
down while engaging the starter
>For the initial start attempt, allow the
starter to remain engaged somewhat
longer (approx. 10 seconds).
Manual transmission1. Engage the parking brake
2. Put the manual gearshift lever in neutral
3. Press the clutch pedal
4. Start the engine.Continuously Variable automatic
Transmission (CVT)*1. Press the footbrake
2. Put the selector lever in position P or N
3. Starting the engine.
Move the selector lever to position N
and engage the parking brake before
leaving your vehicle with the engine
running.
Do not leave the vehicle with the engine
running. An unattended vehicle with a
running engine represents a potential
safety hazard.<
You should never remove the ignition
key when the vehicle is in motion, as
the steering lock could engage.
When you leave the vehicle, always remove
the ignition key and engage the steering
lock.
When you park on downward slopes,
engage the parking brake.<
Manual transmissionTurn the ignition key to position 1 or 0.Continuously Variable automatic
Transmission (CVT)*Engage selector lever position P, turn the
ignition key to position 1 or 0.
46
CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (CVT)
*
You can drive with a steplessly shifting CVT.
In addition, you can also shift manually.
When you move the selector lever from the
D position to the right into the M/S + Ð
range, the performance-oriented shift
programs of the CVT are engaged. Step-
tronic enters the manual selection mode
and executes the desired shift whenever
you tap the selector lever in the direction
indicated by "+" or "Ð" .
Whenever you want to use automatic
again, just move the selector lever toward
the left to position D.
In positition D, you achieve the
lowest fuel consumption for average
driving.<
Selector lever positions
P R N D M/S + Ð
Range selectionInadvertent engaging of certain selector
lever positions is prevented by a lock.
Press the button on the front side of the
selector lever knob. The lock is released.
While the vehicle is stationary and
before shifting out of P or N, press
the brake pedal in order to disengage the
selector lever lock mechanism (Shiftlock).
If the engine speed is too high when the
vehicle is at a standstill, the selector lever
is also blocked to protect the transmission.
Hold the brake pedal down until starting
off. Otherwise the vehicle will "creep" when
a drive position is engaged.<
To prevent the vehicle from starting
off on its own, always move the
selector lever to position P or N and engage
the parking brake before leaving your
vehicle with the engine running.
Do not leave the vehicle unattended with
the engine running. An unattended vehicle
with a running engine represents a poten-
tial safety hazard.<
If the selector lever is not placed in
position P when the vehicle is parked,
the position display of the selector lever
stays on. This can lead to battery
discharge.<
47
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (CVT)
*
P Park
Select "P" only when the vehicle is
completely stopped. Transmission locks to
prevent rear wheels from turning.R ReverseSelect "R" only when the vehicle is
completely stopped.N NeutralSelect "N" only if your journey is inter-
rupted for a long period.D Drive (CVT driving position)This position is designed for driving under
all normal operating conditions. "Kickdown"In "kickdown", you achieve maximum
acceleration and maximum speed in posi-
tion D.
Press the accelerator pedal past the
increased resistance point at the full-
throttle position.
M/S +
Ð Manual mode and Sport
program
Switch from D into M/S + Ð:
Activates the Sport program and indicates
SD in the gear indicator in the speedo-
meter.
>Press briefly:
CVT shifts from the Sport program to the
manual mode
>Press selector lever briefly towards "+":
Transmission shifts upwards
>Press selector lever briefly towards "Ð":
Transmission shifts back.
1 to 6 appear in the gear indicator.
The transmission will only execute upshifts
and downshifts that will result in a plau-
sible combination of vehicle speed and
engine rpm, for instance, downshifts that
would result in excessive engine speed are
not executed.
Switching from M/S + Ð into the selector
lever positions P, R and N and switching
from manual mode back into the Sport
program is only possible via D.
48
CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (CVT)
*
Available displays
P R N D SD 1 2 3 4 5 6 EP
Electronic transmission control moduleIf there is a malfunction in the transmission
system, EP appears in the display.
All selector lever positions can still be
selected. In positions for driving forward:
The vehicle can now only be driven with a
limited gear selection.
Avoid high engine loads. Proceed to
the nearest MINI center.<
Do not work in the engine compart-
ment when a drive gear (forward or
reverse) is engaged. If you do this, the
vehicle could move.<
Jump-starting and towing, refer to
pages 113, 115.<
49
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
PARKING LAMPS/LOW BEAMS SIGNAL/HEADLAMP FLASHER Switching on the parking lampsTurn to the first position.
The front, rear and side vehicle lighting is
switched on.
One-sided standing lamps, see next
column.Switching on the low beamsTurn to the second position.
With the low beams on and with the igni-
tion switched off, only the parking lamps
will remain on."Follow me home" lampsIf you switch off the engine with the low
beams on, and then switch off the low
beams, they remain lit for approx. one
minute.
You can also have this function acti-
vated.<
Switching on the standing lampsFor parking, you can activate lights on one
side of the vehicle (observe local laws).
In ignition key position 0:
Move the lever into the relevant turn signal
indicator position."Lights on" warningIf the lights have not been switched off and
the ignition key is in position 0, an acoustic
signal sounds for a few seconds when you
open the driver's door to remind you that
the lights have not been switched off.Daytime driving lamps*If you desire, the light switch can be left in
the second position:
When the ignition is switched off, the
external lighting is also switched off.
You can have this function set by
your MINI center.<
1 Turn signal indicator (green indicator
accompanied by periodic clicking sound
from the relay)
2 High beams/Headlamp flasher (blue
indicator lamp)To signal brieflyPress the lever up to but not beyond the
detent.
If the indicator lamp of the indicators
and the clicking from the relay are
both faster than normal: one of the turn
signal indicators has failed.<
53
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
CRUISE CONTROL
*
Starting at about 25 mph (40 km/h), the
vehicle maintains and stores any vehicle
speed that you specify.
Do not use cruise control on twisting
roads, when high traffic density
prevents driving at a constant speed, when
the road surface is slick (snow, rain, ice), or
when the road surface is loose (rocks,
sand).<
To activate the system From ignition key position 1:
Press button 2.
The indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up.
Cruise control is active.To maintain and store speed or to
acceleratePress button 3.
The system maintains and stores the
current vehicle speed. Every time you tap
the button, the speed increases by approx.
1 mph (2 km/h).
Press and hold button 3.
The vehicle accelerates without pressure on
the accelerator pedal. When you release
the button, the system maintains and
stores the current speed.
If, on a downhill gradient, the engine
braking effect is not sufficient, the
controlled speed may be exceeded. Speed
can drop on uphill grades if the engine
output is insufficient.<
To deceleratePress button 4.
If you are already driving with active cruise
control, the speed is decreased by approx.
1 mph (2 km/h) every time you briefly tap
the button.
Press and hold button 4.
With the cruise control active, the system
automatically reduces the throttle opening
to slow the vehicle. When you release the
button, the system maintains and stores
the current speed.
55
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
ODOMETER TACHOMETER FUEL GAUGE 1 Trip odometerTo set to zero:
With ignition key in position 1, press the
button until the trip odometer is at zero.2 Odometer You can activate the displays shown in the
illustration with the ignition key in posi-
tion 0 by pressing the button in the instru-
ment cluster.
Do not operate the engine with the needle
in the red overspeed zone of the gauge.
To protect the engine, the power is reduced
when you approach a certain engine speed
in this sector.
In the speedometerOnce indicator lamp 1 stays on continu-
ously, there are still approx. 2.1 gallons
(8 liters) of fuel in the fuel tank.
Tank capacity: approx. 13.2 gallons
(50 liters).
When you switch on the ignition, the indi-
cator lamp lights up briefly to confirm that
the system is operational.
If the tilt of the vehicle varies (when you
are driving in mountainous areas, for
example), the needle may fluctuate
slightly.
Please refuel early, since driving to
the last drop of fuel can result in
damage to the engine and/or catalytic
converter.<