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MINI MAINTENANCE SYSTEMThe MINI Maintenance System has been
designed as a reliable means of providing
maximum driving and operating safety,
and as cost-effective for you as possible.
Please bear in mind that regular mainte-
nance is not only necessary for the safety of
your vehicle, but also plays a significant
role in maintaining the resale value of the
vehicle.
Service interval displayWhile conventional systems specify main-
tenance according to fixed distances
driven, the MINI Maintenance System takes
account of the operating conditions of the
vehicle, for distances can be driven in many
different ways:
60,000 miles / 100,000 km short distance
operation can not be equated with
60,000 miles / 100,000 km long distance
operation from a maintenance standpoint.
The condition-based MINI Maintenance
System includes the Engine Oil Service and
Inspections I and II.
Determining the maintenance intervals
according to the actual use of the vehicle
covers every kind of operating situation.
People who drive very little, i.e. much less
than 6,000 miles / 10,000 km per year,
should have the engine oil changed at least
every 2 years since oil deteriorates over
time, regardless of use.
For more information on the service inter-
val display, refer to page 56.
Service and Warranty Information
Booklet for US models, Warranty and
Service Guide Booklet for Canadian
models For additional information on maintenance
intervals and procedures, please refer to
the Service and Warranty Information
Booklet for US models or the Warranty and
Service Guide Booklet for Canadian models.
As a precaution against rust, it is advisable
to have the body checked for damage from
rocks or gravel at the same time, depending
upon operating conditions.
Have your vehicle's maintenance and
repairs performed at your MINI
Dealer. Be sure that all maintenance work
is confirmed in the Service and Warranty
Information Booklet for US models or the
Warranty and Service Guide Booklet for
Canadian models. These entries are your
proof that the vehicle has received regular
maintenance. They are also a requirement
for warranty claims.<
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OVERVIEW REPAIRSOPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
CARING FOR YOUR VEHICLESuitable car-care products
Use the cleaning and car-care prod-
ucts available at your MINI Dealer.<
Washing your vehicleYou can wash your new MINI from the out-
set in automatic car washes. Preference
should be for cloth car washes. If, due to
lack of availability, brush car washes must
be used, modern systems with soft brushes
should be given preference.
When using steam cleaners or high-
pressure cleaners, maintain sufficient
distance to the vehicle and do not exceed a
maximum temperature of 1407/ 606 .
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 compo-
nents 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 cor-
rode.<
Switch the rain sensor off when pass-
ing through an automatic car wash,
refer to page 50. Failure to do so could
result in damage caused by undesired
wiper activation.<
Rod antenna
If necessary, for example before
entering a car wash or a garage with
elevator ramp, 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
rub them dry, and never use abrasives or
strong solvents. 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; 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 upholsteryDepressions 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 qual-
ity defect, but rather is inevitable in the
case of home textiles or clothing materials.
In the case of strong sunlight and longer
parking periods, cover the seats or all win-
dows to prevent discoloration.
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OVERVIEW REPAIRSOPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
CARING FOR YOUR VEHICLE VEHICLE STORAGE Caring for leather* and imitation
leather The leather and imitation leather used by
the manufacturer of your MINI are high
quality products processed using state-of-
the-art methods and will retain their qual-
ity level for many years if cared for prop-
erly.
Regular cleaning and care are necessary, as
dust and road dirt scratch in pores and
creases and lead to heavy wear as well as
premature brittleness of the leather and
imitation leather surface.
This is why you should use a cloth or vac-
uum cleaner to remove dust on a regular
basis.
Since dirt and oil slowly destroy the protec-
tive layer of the leather and imitation
leather, a treatment with a leather care
product is necessary twice a year. This pre-
serves the quality of the leather and pre-
vents electrostatic charging.Cleaning agents can contain hazard-
ous or health-damaging substances.
For this reason, always observe the warn-
ings on the package. For interior cleaning,
always open the doors or windows of the
vehicle.
Do not use any products that are not
intended for cleaning the vehicle.<
Your MINI Dealer will be glad to advise you
on what is important if the vehicle is to be
decommissioned for longer than three
months.
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LAMPS AND BULBS1Low beamsH7 bulb, 55 Watts2High beams H7 bulb, 55 Watts
The H7 bulb is pressurized. Therefore,
wear safety glasses and protective
gloves. If the lamp is damaged there is a
risk of injury.
1. Pull on the tab of the cover of the defec-
tive lamp and open it
2. Press the retaining wire lightly at the
eyelet and at the same time guide it out-
wards
3. Fold the retaining wire down
4. Remove the lamp holder and replace the
lamp
5. Reinsert the lamp holder in the correct
position
6. Fold the retaining wire back up and
catch in place.
Ensure that it is placed in the middle of
the wire connector.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 cau-
tion 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.<
Turn signal indicators, front 21 Watt bulb
1. Open the bonnet
2. Reach into the opening for the turn sig-
nal indicators from above
3. Apply gentle pressure to the bulb holder
while turning it to the left
4. Remove and replace the bulb.Parking lamps and standing lamps 5 Watt bulb
The parking lamps and standing lamps are
integrated in the lamp housing of the turn
signal indicator.
1. Turn the bulb holder to the left and pull
out
2. Remove and replace the bulb.
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CHANGING TIRES: MINI WITH SPACE-SAVER SPARE TIRE
*
Fitting the space-saver spare tire
1. Unscrew the lug bolts and remove the
wheel
2. Remove accumulations of mud or dirt
from the mounting surfaces of the
wheel and hub. Clean the lug bolts
3. Fit the space-saver spare tire
4. Screw at least two lug bolts finger-tight
into opposite bolt holes
5. Screw in the remaining bolts
6. Tighten all the lug bolts firmly in a diag-
onal pattern
7. Lower the vehicle
8. Remove the jack.Tightening the lug bolts Tighten the lug bolts in a diagonal pattern.
As soon as possible, have the secure
seating of the lug bolts, tightening
torque 88.5 lb ft / 120 Nm, checked using a
calibrated torque wrench. Otherwise, a
wheel coming loose can lead to a severe
accident.<
Replace the defective tire as soon as possi-
ble and have the new wheel/tire assembly
balanced.
Driving with the space-saver spare tireDrive cautiously. Do not exceed a speed of
50 mph / 80 km/h.
You must expect changes in vehicle han-
dling such as lower track stability during
braking, longer braking distances and
changes in self-steering properties when
close to the handling limit. These effects
are more pronounced when driving with
winter tires.
Only one space-saver spare tire may
be mounted at one time. Reinstall a
wheel and tire of the original size as soon
as possible.<
Check the tire inflation pressure at
the earliest opportunity and correct it
if necessary.<
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MINI MOBILITY SYSTEM
*
Pumping in liquid sealant
1. Shake the filling canister
2. Screw the filling hose onto the filling
canister
3. Unscrew the dust protection cap from
the valve of the defective tire
4. Screw out the valve core with the valve
remover. The valve remover is located in
a package with the filling hose
Place the valve core and valve
remover only on clean surfaces.<
5. Remove the cap from the filling hose
6. Push the filling hose onto the tire valve
7. Hold the filling canister with the cap
down and squeeze.
Squeeze the entire contents of the canis-
ter into the tire
8. Remove filling hose
9. Screw valve core into the tire valve with
the valve remover.
In the event of a lost or dirty valve
core you will find another valve core
in a package with the filling hose.<
Please remember that the liquid can-
ister must be replaced every four
years if the equipment has not been
used.<
Reinflating the tire1. Screw hose 1 with manometer onto the
tire valve
2. Connect plug 3 to the cigarette lighter
socket in the vehicle interior, refer to
page 74
3. Ignition key in position 1:
Turn on compressor 2
4. Inflate the tires to at least 26 psi /
180 kPa, but not to more than 36 psi /
250 kPa.
To check the current air pressure, shut
off the device for a short time
Do not run the compressor for
longer than 6 minutes, otherwise
the device will overheat and possibly be
damaged.<
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TOWING For towing, use either a tow bar or nylon
ropes or straps that prevent sudden jerking
movements.Towing eyelet The screw-in towing eyelet is stored in the
onboard tool kit; be sure that it remains in
the vehicle at all times. It can be attached
at the front or rear of the vehicle.Access to tow socketsUse a suitable object, e.g. credit card,
screwdriver, to press out the covers from
the recess.
Use only the towing eyelet supplied
with the vehicle and screw it in firmly
until it stops. Use the towing eyelet for
towing on paved roads only. If you do not
follow these instructions, the towing eyelet
could detach itself from the vehicle or the
vehicle could be damaged. Never attach
tie-down hooks, chains, straps, or tow
hooks to tie rods, control arms, or any other
part of the vehicle suspension, as this could
damage the components and possibly lead
to accidents.<
Avoid staggered towing and make
sure that the towing rope is taut
before the vehicle that is towing drives
off.<
Tow bars If the towing eyelets of the two vehicles are
not directly opposite one another, please
note:
>Clearance and maneuvering capability
will be strictly limited in corners
>The inclination of the tow bar generates
lateral force, critical above all if the road
surface is slippery.
Do not tow a vehicle that is heavier
than the towing vehicle; otherwise it
will no longer be possible to control the
vehicle's response.<
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