2002 MINI Hardtop 2 Door light

70
GLOVE COMPARTMENT ASHTRAY/BEVERAGE HOLDER CIGARETTE LIGHTERTo open:
Pull the handle.
The light goes on.
To close:
Fold the door up.
To prevent injury in the event of an
accident, close the glove compart-
ment immediately after use.<
AshtrayThe ashtray is located in one of the
beverage holders in the center console.
In the rear, an ashtray can also be fitted in
the beverage holder at the end of the
center console. Beverage holdersThere are two beverage holders at the front
of the center console. Another is located at
the end of the center console.
From ignition key position 1:
Press the cigarette lighter in.
Remove as soon as the lighter jumps back
out.
Hold or touch the hot cigarette
lighter by the knob only. Holding or
touching it in other areas could result in
burns. flashlights, car vacuum cleaners, etc., up to
a rating of approx. 200 Watts at 12 Volts.
Avoid damaging the socket with plugs of
different shapes or sizes.

72
LOADING CARGOStowing cargo >Load heavy cargo as far forward as
possible Ð directly behind the backrests Ð
and as low as possible
>Cover sharp edges and corners
>Do not pile objects higher than the top
edge of the backrest
>For very heavy loads when the rear seat
is not occupied, secure each safety belt in
the opposite buckle. This provides addi-
tional stabilization for the rear backrests.
Securing the load >For small, light items, secure using the
luggage compartment net
* or elastic
straps
>For large, heavy items, see your MINI
center for load-securing devices
*.
Lashing eyes are provided at the inner
corners of the luggage compartment for
attaching these load-securing devices
>Comply with the information enclosed
with the load-securing devices.

76
BREAK-IN PROCEDURES GENERAL DRIVING NOTES To ensure that your vehicle provides
maximum economy throughout a long
service life, we request that you comply
with the following information: EngineUp to 1,200 miles (2,000 km):
Attempt to constantly vary both vehicle
and engine speed during these initial miles
while remembering to avoid engine speeds
in excess of 4,500 rpm and/or vehicle
speeds of over 95 mph (150 km/h).
Absolutely avoid using the full-throttle or
kickdown position for the accelerator.
Once you have driven 1,200 miles
(2,000 km), both the engine and vehicle
speed can be gradually increased.
You should also comply with these break-in
procedures if the engine has to be replaced
at a later point.
TiresDue to technical factors associated with
their manufacture, tires do not achieve
their full traction potential until after an
initial break-in period. We therefore ask
you to drive with extra care during the first
200 miles (300 km).Brake systemApprox. 300 miles (500 km) must be driven
before the brake pads and rotors achieve
the optimum pad-surface and wear
patterns required for trouble-free opera-
tion and an extended service life.ClutchRoughly 300 miles (500 km) must be driven
before the clutch starts to operate at
optimum efficiency. Remember to engage
the clutch carefully during this initial
period.
Parking the vehicleCondensation forms in the air conditioner
system during operation, and then exits
under the vehicle. Traces of condensed
water under the vehicle are therefore
normal.Brakes
Do not rest your foot on the brake
pedal while driving. Even light but
consistent pedal pressure can lead to high
temperatures, brake wear and possibly
even brake failure.<
Hydroplaning
When driving on wet or slushy roads,
reduce road speed. If you do not, a
wedge of water can form between tires and
road surface. This phenomenon is charac-
terized by a partial or complete loss of
contact between the tires and the road
surface. The ultimate results are loss of
steering and braking control.<

79
OVERVIEW REPAIRSOPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
BRAKE SYSTEMBrake fluid level If the brake fluid level is too low and brake
pedal travel has become longer, there may
be a defect in one of the brake system's
hydraulic circuits.
Proceed to the nearest MINI center.
Higher brake application pressure
may be necessary under these conditions,
there may be slight "pull" to one side, and
brake pedal travel may be longer. Please
remember to adapt your driving style
accordingly. ally, during extended periods when the
vehicle is not used at all, and in operating
conditions where brake applications are
less frequent, there is an increased
tendency for corrosion of the brake rotors
and accumulation of contamination on the
brake pads. This occurs because the
minimal pressure that must be exerted by
the pads to clean the rotors by brake appli-
cations is not reached.
Corrosion on brake rotors is signaled by a
running or pulsation during braking; even
extended subsequent braking will not cure
this phenomenon.
It is a good idea to periodically dry the
brakes with a gentle application when
driving in rain and on wet roads.
Monitor traffic conditions to ensure that
this maneuver does not endanger other
road users. The heat generated in this
process helps dry the brake pads and rotors
to ensure that your brake system will
respond with undiminished efficiency
when you need it.
Extended or steep mountain descents
should be driven in the gear or in the
driving position in which only minimal peri-
odic brake application is required. This
helps avoid placing excessive loads on the
brake system. Stay within the allowable
speed range, refer to page 55.
Do not coast with the clutch pressed
or with the transmission or selector
lever in Neutral. Do not coast with the
engine switched off. The engine provides
no braking effect when the transmisson is
in neutral and there is no power-assist for
braking when the engine is switched off.<
Brake pads
For your own safety: use only brake
pads that the manufacturer has
released for your particular vehicle model.
The manufacturer cannot evaluate non-
approved brake pads to determine if they
are suited for use, and therefore cannot
ensure the operating safety of the vehicle
if they are installed.<

84
TIRE REPLACEMENT WHEEL AND TIRE COMBINATIONS Tire age The date on which the tire was manufac-
tured is indicated by the code on the side-
wall:
DOT ... 1202 indicates that the tire was
manufactured in Week 12 of the year 2002.
The manufacturer of your MINI recom-
mends replacement of all tires Ð including
the space-saver spare tire, after no more
than 6 years. Safety (run-flat) tires*
For replacement, use only safety tires,
as in the event of a flat tire there is no
space-saver spare tire.
You will recognize safety tires by a circular
symbol containing the letters RSC on the
side of the tire, see pages 110, 80.<
The right choiceThe factory-approved normal tires and
safety tires are matched to the vehicle and
have been selected to provide optimum
driving safety and the desired driving
comfort.
Never mount wheels and tires that
have not been specifically approved
by the manufacturer for use on your partic-
ular model. Although other wheels and
tires may theoretically have the same
dimensions, variations in factors such as
manufacturing tolerances can result in
contact between tire and bodywork, ulti-
mately leading to serious accidents. The
manufacturer cannot evaluate non-
approved wheels and tires to determine if
they are suited for use, and therefore
cannot ensure the operating safety of the
vehicle if they are fitted.<
The manufacturer has tested certain tire
brands in each size, categorized them as
safe for use on the road, and approved
them. Contact your MINI center for more
details.
The correct wheel and tire combina-
tion affects various systems that
would otherwise be impaired, e.g. ABS,
ASC+T and DSC.
For this reason, use only tires of the same
manufacture and tread configuration. In
the event of a flat tire, for example,
remount the approved wheel and tire
combination as soon as possible.<
StorageStore tires in a cool, dry place, protecting
them against light whenever possible.
Protect the tires against contact with oil,
grease and fuel.Tire changes between axlesDepending on individual operating condi-
tions, different wear patterns appear on
the front and rear axles. In the interests of
safety and optimized handling characteris-
tics, a change between the axles is not
recommended.

91
OVERVIEW REPAIRSOPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
COOLANT
Do not add coolant to the cooling
system when the engine is hot.
Escaping coolant can cause burns.
To avoid the possibility of damage later on,
never use anything other than factory-
approved, nitrite and amino-free extended-
duty antifreeze with corrosion inhibitor.
Every MINI center is aware of these.
Antifreeze and anti-corrosion agents are
hazardous to health. Always store these
agents in tightly-closed original containers
kept well away from the reach of children.
Extended-duty antifreeze with corrosion
inhibitor contains the flammable
substance ethylene-glycol. For this reason,
do not spill extended-duty antifreeze with
corrosion inhibitor on hot engine parts. It
could catch fire and cause serious burns.<
Comply with the applicable environ-
mental laws regulating the disposal
of extended-duty antifreeze with corrosion
inhibitor.<
The illustration shows an example of the
coolant tank on the MINI COOPER.Checking coolant level Correct coolant level for cold engine
(approx. 68 7/20 6):
Up to the mark "MAX" of the transparent
expansion tank.
Only open the cap of the expansion
tank when the engine has cooled
down. The needle on the coolant tempera-
ture gauge in the instrument cluster must
be no higher than in the first quarter,
otherwise there is a danger of scalding.<
To add coolantMINI COOPER:
1. Slowly open the cap by turning it with
the tab to allow accumulated pressure
toescape.
2. Pull open the cap completely.
3. If the coolant is low, slowly add coolant
until the correct level is reached Ð do not
overfill.
MINI COOPER S:
1. Open the cap by turning it slightly coun-
terclockwise to allow accumulated pres-
sure to escape.
2. Unscrew the cap completely and open.
3. If the coolant is low, slowly add coolant
until the correct level is reached Ð do not
overfill.
The coolant consists of water and
extended-duty antifreeze with corrosion
inhibitor. The mixing ratio of 50 to 50 must
be maintained all the year round due to the
required corrosion resistance. No other
additives are required.
Replace the coolant every 4 years.

94
CARING FOR YOUR VEHICLESuitable car-care products
Use the cleaning and car-care prod-
ucts available at your MINI center.<
Washing your vehicle You can wash your new MINI from the
outset in automatic car washes, though
you should use brushless car washes.
When using steam jets or high-pres-
sure washers, ensure that you keep
the jets sufficiently far away from the
vehicle. If the jet is too close or the pressure
is too high, this can lead to damage or
initial damage that can develop into more
serious damage. Water that enters vehicle
components can lead to damage over the
long term.<
After washing the vehicle, apply the
brakes briefly to dry them, otherwise
water can reduce braking efficiency over
the short term and the brake rotors can
corrode. <
Switch the rain sensor off when
passing through an automatic car
wash, see page 51. Failure to do so could
result in damage caused by undesired
wiper activation.<
Rod antenna
If necessary, before entering a car
wash or garage with elevator ramp
for example, remove the rod antenna. To
do so, grip the rod antenna at the base and
unscrew it from the antenna foot by
turning it to the left.<
Headlamps
When cleaning the headlamps,
please observe the following: do not
clean by wiping with a dry cloth (scratches).
Never use abrasives or strong solvents to
clean the covers. Remove dirt and contami-
nation (such as insects) by soaking with
shampoo and then rinsing with plenty of
water. Always use a deicer spray to remove
accumulated ice and snow Ð never use a
scraper.<
Vehicle paintwork Regular care contributes greatly to driving
safety and value retention.
Environmental influences varying from one
region to the next can affect the vehicle
paintwork. Please base the frequency and
scope of car care on these various influ-
ences.
Care of upholstery Depressions that come about on the uphol-
stery material of the seats in daily use can
be brushed out using a slightly damp brush
against the grain.
The fact that velour lays down is not a
quality defect, but rather is inevitable in
the case of home textiles or clothing mate-
rials.
In the case of strong sunlight and longer
parking periods, cover the seats or all
windows to prevent discoloration.Care of special parts >Light-alloy wheels:
Use wheel cleaner especially during the
winter months, but do not use any
aggressive, acidic, strong alkali or rough
cleansers or steam jets above 140 7
(60 6) (observe the manufacturer's
operating instructions)
>Chrome parts
* such as cooler grille, door
handles, etc.:
Especially if exposed to road salt, care-
fully clean these parts with plenty of
water and possibly with a shampoo addi-
tive. For additional treatment, use
chrome polish

101
OVERVIEW REPAIRSOPERATION CONTROLS DATA INDEX
LAMPS AND BULBSProceed carefully when handling lamps and
bulbs. If you are not familiar with any of
the procedures, consult your MINI center.
Do not touch the glass portion of
a new bulb with your bare hands
since even small amounts of impurities
burn into the surface and reduce the
service life of the bulb. Use a clean cloth,
paper napkin, or a similar material, or hold
the bulb by its metallic base.<
Replacement bulbs are available from your
MINI center.
Whenever working on the electrical
system, switch off the electrical
accessory you are working on or disconnect
the cable from the negative terminal of the
battery. Failure to do this could result in
short circuits.
To prevent injuries and damage, comply
with any instructions provided by the bulb
manufacturer.<
1 Low beams H7 bulb, 55 Watts2 High beamsH7 bulb, 55 Watts
The H7 bulb is pressurized. Therefore,
wear safety glasses and protective
gloves. Failure to observe these precautions
can result in physical injury if the bulb
breaks.<
1. Pull off the cover panel of the corre-
sponding lamp
2. Press the securing wire outwards
3. Fold the securing wire downwards
4. Remove and replace the bulb.
When cleaning the headlamps,
please observe the following: do not
clean by wiping with a dry cloth (scratches).
Never use abrasives or strong solvents to
clean the covers. Remove dirt and contami-
nation (such as insects) by soaking with
shampoo and then rinsing with plenty of
water. Always use a deicer spray to remove
accumulated ice and snow Ð never use a
scraper.<
Xenon lamps* The service life of these bulbs is very long
and the probability of a failure is very low,
provided that they are not switched on and
off an unusual number of times. If one of
these bulbs should nevertheless fail, it is
possible to continue driving with great
caution using the fog lamps, provided
traffic laws in your area do not prohibit
this.
Because of the extremely high volt-
ages involved, any work on the xenon
lighting system should be carried out by
technically-qualified personnel only. Other-
wise, there is a risk of fatal injury.<