3OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATION CONTROLS DATA INDEX
Driving:Ignition lock
51
Starting the engine
51
Switching off the engine
52
Parking brake
53
Manual transmission
53
Continuously Variable automatic
Transmission (CVT)
54
Parking lamps/Low beams
57
signal/Headlamp flasher
58
Instrument lighting
58
Fog lamps
58
Interior lamps
59
Washer/wiper system
59
Cruise control
61
Everything under control:Odometer
63
Clock
63
Fuel gauge
63
Coolant temperature gauge
64
Tachometer
65
Service interval display
65
Onboard computer
66
Technology for safety and driving
convenience:All Season traction Control (ASC)
68
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
69
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
70
Flat Tire Monitor
71
Airbags
72
Park Distance Control (PDC)
74
Controlling the climate for pleasant
driving:Air conditioning system
75
Automatic climate control
78
Interior conveniences:Glove compartment
81
Ashtray, drinks holders
81
Cigarette lighter, 12 V power supply
82
Integrated universal remote control
83
Loading and transporting cargo:Luggage compartment in the MINI
85
Luggage compartment in the MINI Convertible
86
Loading cargo
86
Roof-mounted luggage rack
89
OPERATION, CARE, MAINTENANCESpecial operating instructions:Break-in procedures
92
General driving notes
93
Refueling
94
Brake system
96
Wheels and tires:Tire inflation pressure
97
Tire coding
99
Tire condition
100
Run Flat tires
101
New wheels and tires
102
Snow chains
104
29
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
TAILGATE To open from the outside Push the button in the strip handle and
open the tailgate.For information on unlocking via the cen
-
tral locking system, refer to page
26.
To close
To avoid injuries, as with all closing procedures be sure that the travel
path of the tailgate is clear when it is
closed.
Drive the vehicle only when the tailgate is
completely closed. Otherwise, exhaust
fumes could penetrate the interior of the
vehicle.
well as the folding roof on the MINI Con
-
vertible
2. Sharply increase the air supply for the
heater, the air conditioning or the auto
-
matic climate control, refer to page
75
or 78.
Handle recesses on the MINIThe handle recesses in the interior trim
panel of the tailgate make it easier to pull it
down.
48
VEHICLE MEMORY
TRANSPORTING CHILDREN SAFELY
>Setting units for outside temperature
and fuel consumption display, refer to
page
66
>Setting units for display of temperatures
specified for automatic climate control
system, refer to page
80
>Volume control PDC, refer to page
74
>Acoustic alarm for starting PDC activa
-
tion, refer to page
74.
This symbol alerts you to Vehicle Memory functions in the Owner's
Manual.
ate slightly differently from the descrip
-
tions used in this Owner's Manual. If you
decide to sell your vehicle one day, please
remember to have the memory functions
reset to their default configuration.<
The proper place for childrenChildren should always sit in the rear:Accident research shows that the safest
place for children in a vehicle is in the rear
seat.Older children should be tightly secured
with a safety belt, after they have out
-
grown a booster seat that is appropriate for
their age, height and weight.
A child sitting in the rear seat and not properly restrained may place his or
her head on or near the airbag, if so
equipped. For example, a child – even
though belted in – may fall asleep with his
or her head against the side airbag. It may
be difficult for a driver to ensure that chil
-
dren in the rear seat will remain properly
positioned at all times and do not place
their heads on or near the side airbag.
Therefore, we recommend that the rear
side airbags, if provided, be deactivated if
you plan to transport children in the rear
seat.
years of age and
children less than 5
ft / 150
cm tall
should always ride in the rear and the
restraint systems should be secured with
the vehicle's safety belts.
system that has first been properly
restrained. We strongly urge you to care
-
fully read and comply with the instructions
for installation and use provided by the
child-restraint's manufacturer whenever
you use such a device.All rear seating positions in your vehicle
meet the recommendations of SAE
J1819,
an industry-recommended practice for
securing child-restraint systems in motor
vehicles.
Exception for the front passenger seat
Should it one day be necessary to use a child-restraint system on the front
passenger seat, the airbags on the front
passenger side must be deactivated. Other
-
wise, there is a significant risk of injury to
children if the airbags deploy, even if they
are seated in a child-restraint system. Have
the front passenger airbags permanently
deactivated only by your MINI Dealer or a
workshop that has specially trained per
-
sonnel working in accordance with the
specifications of the MINI manufacturer.<
78
1 Air onto the windshield and onto the
side windows2 Air for the upper body area
80
3 Air for the front and rear footwells4 Rear window defroster and windshield
heating
* 79
5 Interior temperature sensor, please keep
clear and unobstructed6 Recirculated air mode
79
7 Air conditioning
76
8 Automatic air distribution and
volume
79
9 Defrosting and demisting the windshield
and side windows
80
10 Temperature
79
11 Display for air temperature and air
volume
79
12 Air volume/Blower, switching air con
-
ditioner on/off
79
13 Individual air distribution
80
AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL
*
79
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL
*
Automatic air distribution and volume
Automatic program (AUTO):
Indicator lamp lights up.
Automatic adjustment of the air distribu
-
tion and volume, and adaptation of the
specified temperatures to external influ
-
ences, i.e. outside temperature and sun
-
light.In the automatic program (AUTO), the air
conditioning is activated automatically. To
create a pleasant air climate, the air tem
-
perature coming from the vents in the
upper body area is lower than the air tem
-
perature in the footwell.Air volume/Blower
Switching automatic climate control
off/on
Air volume/Blower.
Press the left or right half of the
button. The air volume varies. Automatic
adjustment of the air volume is deacti
-
vated.Switching air conditioner on/off.
Press the left half of the button while the
blower is at the lowest setting. The blower,
heating and air conditioning are switched
off. All displays go out.
Switch the automatic climate control back
on by pressing any button.Air conditioning
Indicator lamp lights up.
The air is cooled and dehumidified
and, depending on the temperature set
-
ting, rewarmed.In the automatic program (AUTO), the air
conditioning is activated automatically. After the engine has started, the wind
-
shield can temporarily fog over. In the air
conditioning mode, there is less condensa
-
tion on the windows.
When the air conditioning is on, con
-
densation is formed which then exits
under the vehicle. Traces of condensed
water on the ground are therefore nor
-
mal.
-
cle is blocked. indicator lamp lights
up.
The air within the vehicle is recirculated.In the automatic program (AUTO) in hot
weather conditions, the recirculated air
mode is activated temporarily to enable
faster cooling.
The indicator lamp for the recirculated air
button is not lit.
The recirculated air mode should not be constantly used over a longer period of
time, as the air quality in the vehicle's interior
will otherwise gradually deteriorate. If the
windows fog up in the recirculated air mode,
turn the recirculated air mode off and if nec
-
essary increase the air supply.
<
Rear window defroster and windshield
heating*
Indicator lamp lights up.
As long as the indicator lamp is lit,
the window heater is operating.
The heater switches off automatically after a
short time. Temperature
Tap or turn the wheel in the appro
-
priate direction to change the tem
-
perature step by step.The figures in the display provide a
general indication of interior temperature.
When you start the vehicle, the system
ensures that the selected temperature is
achieved as quickly as possible and then main
-
tained.
80
AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL
*
Permanent heating with maximum power output at temperature selec
-
tion HI. Permanent cooling at LO. With the
setting at HI, the recirculated air mode can
-
not be switched on.
Indicator lamp lights up.
Ice and condensation are rapidly removed
from the rear window, windshield and side
windows.Condensation is removed from the win
-
dows more quickly when the air condition
-
ing is also activated.
The rear window defroster/windshield
heating are switched on automatically.
They can be switched off again via the
respective button.Individual air distribution
Combine the air distribution your
-
self. Automatic adjustment of the
air distribution is deactivated.
It is not possible to distribute air
simultaneously toward the win
-
dows and toward the upper body area.
You can switch the unit from 7 to 6 by pressing the buttons for air
conditioning and air distribution toward
the footwell at the same time.<
Microfilter/Activated-charcoal filterThe microfilter removes dust and pollen
from the incoming or recirculated air. The
activated-charcoal filter provides addi
-
tional protection by filtering gaseous pol
-
lutants from the outside air.
Your MINI Dealer replaces this combined
filter as a standard part of your scheduled
maintenance. A substantial reduction in
the air supply indicates that the filter must
be replaced before scheduled maintenance.
Draft-free ventilation Air supply for the upper body area:Button
1: air outlets can be opened and
closed by turning.
The points indicate the position in each
case.Vent
2: change the direction of the airflow
by swiveling.
81
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
GLOVE COMPARTMENT
ASHTRAY, DRINKS HOLDERS
To 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.<
VentilationTurn the rotary switch to a horizontal posi
-
tion:The vents are open.Turn the rotary switch to a vertical position,
arrow:The vents are closed.
Depending on the temperature set
-
ting of the air conditioning or the
automatic climate control, high tempera
-
tures may result in the glove compart
-
ment.<
AshtrayThe ashtray is located in one of the bever
-
age holders in the center console.In the rear, an ashtray can also be fitted in
the beverage holder at the end of the cen
-
ter console.Beverage holders There are two beverage holders at the front
of the center console. Another is located at
the end of the center console in the rear.
Do not place any glass containers in the beverage holders, as this
increases the risk of injury in the event of
an accident.<
99
OVERVIEW REPAIRSOPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
TIRE CODINGKnowing the tire code on the tire's sidewall
makes it easier for you to choose and iden
-
tify the correct tires.Tire sizee.g. 205/45
R 17 84 V
Nominal width in mm Cross-sectional
ratio in % Radial belt construction Rim diameter in inches Load index,
not on ZR tiresSpeed code letter,
in front of the R on ZR tiresSpeed code letters:Q = up to 100 mph / 160
km/h
T= up to 118
mph
/ 190
km/h
H= up to 131
mph
/ 210
km/h
V= up to 150
mph
/ 240
km/h
W= up to 167
mph
/ 270
km/h
Tire Identification NumberTires with DOT codes meet the guidelines
of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
DOT code:e.g. DOT xxxx xxx 2704Manufacturer's code
for tire make Tire size and
tire version Tire age Tire ageThe date on which the tire was manufac
-
tured is indicated by the code on the side
-
wall:
DOT...2704 indicates that the tire was man
-
ufactured in Week 27 of the year 2004.The manufacturer of your vehicle recom
-
mends replacing all tires after 6
years at
the latest, even if a tire service life of
10
years is possible.
Uniform Tire Quality GradingQuality grades can be found where applica
-
ble on the tire sidewall between tread
shoulder and maximum section width.
For example:Treadwear 200 Traction AATemperature A
DOT quality gradesTread wear Traction AA A B C Temperature A B C
All passenger car tires must conform to Federal Safety Requirements in
addition to these grades.<
Tread wearThe tread wear grade is a comparative rat
-
ing based on the wear rate of the tire when
tested under controlled conditions on a
specified government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear
one and one-half, 1
γ, times as well on the
government course as a tire graded 100.
The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart significantly
from the norm due to variations in driving
habits, service practices and differences in
road characteristics and climate.