2004 MINI Hardtop 2 Door tow

76
LOADING CARGO
Avoid overloading the vehicle so that
the permitted load on the tires is not
exceeded. Overloading can lead to over-
heating and damage inside the tires.
Depending on the circumstances, this can
result in sudden air loss.<
Determining cargo limit1. Locate the following statement on your
vehicle's placard:
The combined weight of occu-
pants and cargo should never
exceed XXX kg or YYY lbs, as this could
otherwise result in damage to the vehi-
cle and unstable driving conditions.<
2. Determine the combined weight of the
driver and passengers that will be riding
in your vehicle
3. Substract the combined weight of the
driver and passengers from XXX kilo-
grams or YYY pounds
4. The resulting figure equals the available
amount of cargo and luggage load
capacity.
For example, if the XXX amount equals
1,400 lbs. and there will be four 150 lbs.
passengers in your vehicle, the amount
of available cargo and luggage load
capacity is 800 lbs.:
1,400 lbs. minus 600 lbs. = 800 lbs.
5. Determine the combined weight of lug-
gage and cargo being loaded on the
vehicle. That weight may not safely
exceed the available cargo and luggage
load capacity calculated in Step 4
6. If your vehicle will be towing a trailer,
load from your trailer will be transferred
to your vehicle. Consult the manual for
transporting a trailer to determine how
this may reduce the available cargo and
luggage load capacity of your vehicle.

77
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
LOADING CARGOStowing cargo >Place heavy cargo as far forward as possi-
ble, directly behind the backrests, 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 cargo when the rear seat
is unoccupied, fasten each safety belt in
the opposite buckle. This provides addi-
tional stabilization for the rear backrests.
Securing the load >Secure smaller and lighter items using
the cargo area net
* or elastic straps
>For large, heavy items, see your MINI
Dealer for load-securing devices
*. Lash-
ing eyes are provided at the inner corners
of the cargo area for attaching these
load-securing devices.
Comply with the information enclosed
with the load-securing devices.

78
ROOF-MOUNTED LUGGAGE RACK
*
Always position and secure the load
carefully. If you do not, it can endan-
ger the passengers during braking or eva-
sive maneuvers.
Do not exceed the permissible gross weight
and axle load, refer to page 134; otherwise
the vehicle's operating safety is no longer
assured and it will not be in compliance
with the certification regulations.
Do not stow heavy or hard objects in the
passenger compartment without first
securing them. Otherwise they would be
thrown around during braking and evasive
maneuvers and endanger the occupants.<
When loading a roof-mounted lug-
gage rack, ensure that there is suffi-
cient space for the movement of the glass
sunroof and that no objects protrude into
the swiveling area of the tailgate, as other-
wise damage can occur.<
Do not secure the roof-mounted lug-
gage rack to the trim panels/strips:
the lack of a secure hold could lead to dam-
age or accidents.<
Special roof-mounted luggage racks
for your MINI are available as acces-
sories from your MINI Dealer.<

84
REFUELING
Always switch off the engine before
refueling. If you do not, fuel cannot
be filled into the tank and the SERVICE
ENGINE SOON lamp may come on.<
1. Open the fuel filler door
2. Turn the gas cap counterclockwise
3. Put the gas cap in the bracket attached
to the fuel filler door.
Always observe all applicable precau-
tions and regulations when handling
fuels. Never carry spare fuel containers in
your vehicle. Whether empty or full, these
containers can leak, cause an explosion,
and lead to fire in the event of a collision.<
Unlocking manually In the event of an electrical malfunction,
the gas cap can be unlocked manually.
1. Remove the side trim panel on the left-
hand side of the cargo area.
Remove the first aid pouch
2. Pull the white lever toward the rear.
The central locking system releases the
gas cap
3. Open the fuel filler door.
Simple and environmentally friendly
Always observe all safety precautions
posted at the service station when
handling fuel.<
When refueling, insert the filler nozzle
completely into the filler pipe. Pulling the
nozzle out of the pipe during refueling:
>Results in premature pump shutoff
>Will reduce the effect of the fuel vapor
recovery system on the pump.
As long as the filler nozzle is used properly,
the fuel tank is full whenever the nozzle
shuts off the first time.

91
OVERVIEW REPAIRSOPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
TIRE CONDITION Tire tread Inspect your tires frequently for tread wear,
signs of damage and for foreign objects
lodged in the tread. Check the tread depth.
The tread depth should not fall below
1/8 in / 3 mm.
Below 1/8 in / 3 mm tread pattern depth,
there is an increased risk of hydroplaning,
even at relatively moderate speeds and
with only small amounts of water on the
road.
Below a tread depth of 1/6 in / 4 mm, win-
ter tires display a perceptible decrease in
their ability to cope with winter driving
conditions, and should be replaced in the
interest of safety.Wear indicators in the tread-groove base,
arrow, are spread around the circumfer-
ence of the tire and are marked on the side
wall of the tire with TWI, Tread Wear Indi-
cator. The indicators in the tread indicate at
1/16 in / 1.6 mm tread depth that the
legally permitted wear limit has been
reached.
Tire damage
Unusual vibrations while driving can
indicate tire damage or other dam-
age to the vehicle. This may be caused, for
example, by driving over a curb. This is also
true for abnormalities in the vehicle's han-
dling characteristics, such as a pronounced
tendency to pull to the left or right. Should
this occur, respond by immediately reduc-
ing your speed. Proceed carefully to the
nearest MINI Dealer or professional tire
center, or have the vehicle towed there to
have its wheels and/or tires inspected or
controlled. Tire damage – up to and includ-
ing blowouts – can endanger the lives of
both the vehicle occupants and other road
users.<

98
WASHER FLUID ENGINE OILHeadlamp* and windshield washer
system The capacity of the headlamp washer sys-
tem is approx. 2.6 quarts / 2.5 liters, that of
the windshield washer system approx.
2.1 quarts / 2.0 liters.
Fill with water and, if required, with anti-
freeze, according to manufacturer's recom-
mendations.
We recommend that you mix the
washer fluid before adding it to the
reservoir.<
Antifreeze agent for the washer sys-
tems is flammable. Always keep it well
away from sparks and open flames, and store
it in tightly closed containers well out of the
reach of children. Always observe the instruc-
tions for use provided on the container.<
The illustration shows as an example the
dipstick of the MINI COOPER.Measuring the oil level1. Park the vehicle on a level surface
2. Switch the engine off after it has
reached normal operating temperature
3. Pull the dipstick out after approx.
5 minutes and wipe it off with a lint-free
cloth, paper towel, or similar material
4. Carefully push the dipstick all the way
into the guide tube and pull it out again.
The oil level must be between the two
marks on the dipstick.
As with fuel economy, oil consumption is
directly influenced by your driving style and
vehicle operating conditions.
The oil volume between the two notches –
MIN, MAX – on the dipstick corresponds to
approx. 1.1 quarts / 1 liter. Do not fill
beyond the upper notch on the dipstick.
Excess oil will damage the engine.

110
ONBOARD TOOL KIT WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES The picture shows as an example the tire
change set with onboard tools for vehicles
with the space-saver spare tire.
Depending on the level of equipment
options, your MINI is fitted with a special
onboard tool kit stored at the locations
described below:
Storage locationMINI Mobility System with tire change set
and onboard tools:
>In the cargo area under the floor mat.
Tire change set and onboard tools for Run
Flat tires:
>Tire change set:
In the cargo area in a separate pouch,
refer to page 123
>Onboard tool kit:
on the left-hand side of the cargo area
behind the side trim panel.
Tire change set with space-saver spare tire:
>In the cargo area under the floor mat.
Windshield wiper1. Rotate the wiper arm completely out
from the windshield
2. Set the wiper blade at an angle
3. Press the securing spring, arrow
4. Unhook the wiper blade towards the
windshield
5. Pull the wiper blade past the wiper arm
toward the top
6. Insert the new wiper blade
7. Press into position until you hear it
engage.

113
OVERVIEW REPAIRSOPERATION CONTROLS DATA INDEX
LAMPS AND BULBSSide turn signal indicators 5 Watt bulb
1. Press lamp toward vehicle tailgate and
remove
2. Remove and replace the bulb.Side marker lamps3 Watt bulb
Side marker lamps in the wheelhouse pan-
eling of the bumper.
Please contact a MINI Dealer in case of a
malfunction.
Fog lamps*H11 bulb, 55 Watts
Please contact a MINI Dealer in case of a
malfunction.
Tail lampsRear lamp 3: bulb 21/5 Watts
Other bulbs: 21 Watts
1Rear fog lamp
*
red
2Turn signal indicator yellow
3Rear lamp red
4Rear lamp/Brake lamp red