
65
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
TACHOMETER
SERVICE INTERVAL DISPLAY
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.
Remaining distance for serviceThe distance remaining before the next
scheduled service is displayed in miles
/
kilometers for a short period with the igni
-
tion key in position 1 or higher. The display
also indicates whether an engine oil service
and/or an inspection is due.
The onboard computer bases its calcula
-
tions of the remaining distance on your
driving style in the period immediately pre
-
ceding your data request. The remaining
distance display counts backwards in steps
of 35
miles / 50
km to the next service. A
flashing message and a minus sign in front
of the display that again begins counting
forwards mean that the service interval has
been exceeded.
Please schedule an appointment with your
MINI Dealer or a workshop that has spe
-
cially trained personnel working in accor
-
dance with the specifications of your MINI
manufacturer.For more information on the service inter
-
val display, refer to page
112
.
ProCarManuals.com

68
ALL SEASON TRACTION CONTROL (ASC)
*
The conceptThis system optimizes driving stability and
traction, especially when just starting off,
when accelerating or when cornering. ASC recognizes the danger present in trac
-
tion loss and will increase driving stability
and traction by reducing the engine's out
-
put and, if necessary, by applying the
brakes to the front wheels. ASC is operational each time you start the
engine. It contains the following functions:>Antilock Brake System (ABS)>Cornering Brake Control (CBC)>Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD).
The laws of physics cannot be repealed, even with ASC. An appropri
-
ate driving style always remains the
responsibility of the driver. Avoid using the
additional safety margin provided by the
system as an excuse for taking unnecessary
risks.
Do not make any modifications to the ASC
system. Allow only authorized technicians
to perform service procedures on the
ASC.<
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp will go out shortly after the ignition has been
switched on, refer to pages
17, 18
.
If the indicator lamp flashes:
ASC controls the drive and braking forces.The indicator lamp stays lit:
The system is defective or was turned off
using the button. Have the system checked
as soon as possible.
To switch off the ASCBriefly press the switch.
The indicator lamp stays lit.When driving with snow chains or to 'rock
free' in snow, it can be helpful to switch off
the ASC for a brief period.
To maintain vehicle stability, always drive with the ASC switched on
whenever possible.<
To switch the ASC back onBriefly press the switch once again.
Indicator lamp goes out.
ProCarManuals.com

69
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
DYNAMIC STABILITY CONTROL (DSC)
*
The conceptThis system optimizes driving stability and
traction, especially when just starting off,
when accelerating or when cornering. It
also maintains driving stability even in crit
-
ical driving situations.DSC recognizes unstable vehicle conditions,
such as understeering or oversteering, and,
as far as is possible within the laws of phys
-
ics, helps keep the vehicle on a steady
course by reducing the rpms and by brake
applications to the individual wheels.The DSC is operational every time you start
the engine. It contains the following func
-
tions:>All Season traction Control (ASC)>Antilock Brake System (ABS)>Cornering Brake Control (CBC)>Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD).
The laws of physics cannot be repealed, even with DSC. An appro
-
priate driving style always remains the
responsibility of the driver. Avoid using the
additional safety margin provided by the
system as an excuse for taking unnecessary
risks.
Do not make any modifications to the DSC
system. Allow only authorized technicians
to perform service procedures on the
DSC.
switched on, refer to pages
17, 18
.
If the indicator lamp flashes:
DSC controls the drive and braking forces. The indicator lamp stays lit:
The system is defective or was turned off
using the button. Have the system checked
as soon as possible.
To switch off the DSCBriefly press the switch.
The indicator lamp stays lit.When driving with snow chains, it may be
effective to switch off the DSC for a brief
period.
To maintain stability, always drive with the DSC switched on whenever
possible.<
To switch the DSC back onBriefly press the switch once again.
Indicator lamp goes out.
ProCarManuals.com

73
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
AIRBAGSProtective effectThe front airbags supplement the safety
belts by providing additional protection for
the driver and front passenger in the event
of a frontal collision in which the protec
-
tion afforded by the belts alone may no
longer be sufficient. When needed, the
head and side airbags help to furnish pro
-
tection in the event of side impact. Each of
the side airbags is designed to help support
the seat occupant's upper body. The corre
-
sponding side/head airbag in the MINI Con
-
vertible or the head airbag in the MINI sup
-
ports the head.The airbags are designed to not be trig
-
gered in certain types of collisions, e.g. in
minor accidents, certain kinds of vehicle
rollover and rear impact.For information on the ideal seating posi
-
tion, refer to page
41.
Do not apply adhesive materials to the cover panels of the airbags, cover
them or modify them in any other way. Do
not fit covers, cushions or other items to
the front seats that have not been specially
approved for seats with side airbags. Do
not hang clothing, e.
g. jackets, over the
backrests.
Do not attempt to remove the airbag
restraint system from the vehicle. Do not
touch the individual components directly
after the system has been triggered, as oth
-
erwise there is a danger of burns. In the
event of malfunctions, deactivation or
deployment of the airbag restraint system,
have the system checked, repaired or disas
-
sembled only by a MINI Dealer or a work
-
shop with specially trained personnel work
-
ing in accordance with the specifications of
the MINI manufacturer and having the nec
-
essary permits for handling explosive
devices. Unprofessional attempts to service
the system could lead to failure in an emer
-
gency or undesired airbag activation, either
of which could result in personal injury.
vided on the sun visors.Airbag system operational
The warning lamp in the display elements shows the status of the
entire airbag system and the seat
belt tensioners starting from ignition key
position 1. The warning lamp goes out after
several seconds.
Airbag system malfunctioning >The warning lamp does not come on
starting from ignition key position
1
>The warning lamp stays lit>The warning lamp lights up while driv
-
ing.
In the event of a malfunction, have the airbag system checked immedi
-
ately. Otherwise, there is a risk that the sys
-
tem will not function as intended in
response to a severe impact occurring
within the system's normal triggering
range.<
ProCarManuals.com

OVERVIEW
CONTROLS
OPERATION, CARE, MAINTENANCE
OWNER SERVICE PROCEDURES
INDEX TECHNICAL DATA
91
OVERVIEW REPAIRSOPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
Operation
ProCarManuals.com

92
BREAK-IN PROCEDURES To ensure that your vehicle provides maxi
-
mum economy throughout a long service
life, we request that you comply with the
following information: EngineUp to 1,250
miles
/ 2,000
km:
Drive at varying engine and road speeds,
but do not exceed the following engine or
road speeds:4,500
rpm or
95 mph
/ 150
km/h.
Comply with the local speed limits.Absolutely avoid putting the accelerator in
full-throttle or kickdown position.After having driven 1,250
miles
/ 2,000
km,
engine and road speeds can be gradually
increased.
TiresDue to technical factors associated with
their manufacture, tires do not achieve
their full traction potential until after an
initial break-in period. Therefore drive care
-
fully 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 pat
-
terns required for trouble-free operation
and an extended service life.ClutchRoughly 300
miles
/ 500
km must be driven
before the clutch starts to operate at opti
-
mum efficiency. Remember to engage the
clutch carefully during this initial period.After a part replacementYou should again comply with these break-
in procedures if parts mentioned above
have to be replaced later in the vehicle's
life.
ProCarManuals.com

94
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 door2. Turn the gas cap counterclockwise3. 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.<
Observe the following when refueling
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.Closing the gas cap1. Put on gas cap 2. Turn gas cap clockwise until it clicks3. Close fuel filler door.
Close the gas cap carefully after
refuelling until a click is heard.
While closing, be sure not to squeeze the
strap which is fastened to the cap.<
US models only:
The warning lamp
* comes on.
The gas cap is not correctly closed
or missing. Check if the gas cap is
correctly closed.
Fuel tank volumeApprox. 13.2
gallons
/ 50
liters, of which
approx. 2.1
gallons
/ 8
liters are reserve
capacity.
Do not drive until the fuel tank is totally empty. Otherwise engine
operations are not guaranteed and damage
could occur.<
Fuel specification The engine uses lead-free gasoline only.Required fuel Premium Unleaded Gasoline,
Minimum Octane Rating: 91.Minimum Octane Rating corresponds to
the Anti Knock Index (AKI) and is deter
-
mined according to the so-called (R+M)/2
method.
ProCarManuals.com

97
OVERVIEW REPAIRSOPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE Information for your safetyIt is not merely the tire's service life, but
also driving safety and driving comfort that
depend on the condition of the tires and
the maintenance of the specified tire pres
-
sure.
Check tire inflation pressures regu
-
larly and correct them if necessary,
including the space-saver spare tire: at
least twice a month and before long jour
-
neys. Failure to observe this precaution can
result in incorrect tire pressures, which
cause unstable handling response as well
as tire damage, and can ultimately lead to
an accident.
Do not drive with deflated, i.e. flat, tires
except if Run Flat tires are fitted. A flat tire
greatly impairs steering and braking
response, and can lead to complete loss of
control over the vehicle.
-
mum of 1.25
miles / 2
km or when the
vehicle has been parked for at least 2
hours.
Warm tires have higher pressures.
After correcting the tire inflation pressure,
reinitialize the Flat Tire Monitor, refer to
page
71.
Tire inflation pressures for original tiresThe tire inflation pressures for your stan
-
dard tires are shown on the driver's-side
door post, visible when the door is open.Tire inflation pressures for other tire
sizesIn the following tire pressure table, all pres
-
sures are given for the specified tire sizes at
ambient temperature.
In order to determine the correct inflation pressures for your tires,
refer to the values for the tire size in ques
-
tion.<
Checking the inflation pressure on the space-saver spare tireBehind the bumper there is a valve exten
-
sion accessible from the outside for check
-
ing the inflation pressure.Tire sizeThe tire inflation pressures apply to the tire
sizes approved and the tire brands recom
-
mended by the manufacturer of your MINI
or MINI Convertible. Your MINI Dealer will
be glad to advise you.
ProCarManuals.com