2008 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE Owners Manual

95
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
LUGGAGE COMPARTMENT IN THE MINI CONVERTIBLE LOADING CARGO2. Pull the lever to release the catch
3. Fold the backrest forward.
When folding the backrest back into
its original position, always ensure
that the catch engages securely. A loose
backrest might fail to prevent cargo from
entering the passenger compartment dur-
ing sudden braking or evasive maneuvers,
posing a potential hazard to occupants.<
Avoid overloading the vehicle so that
the permissible carrying capacity of
the tires is not exceeded. Overloading can
lead to overheating and damage inside the
tires. Depending on the circumstances, this
can result in sudden air loss.<

96
LOADING CARGODetermining 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. Subtract the combined weight of the
driver and passenger 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 YYY 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.
Cargo and luggage load capacityThe permissible load is the sum of the occu-
pants' weights and the weight of the cargo.
The greater the weight of the occupants,
the less cargo can be transported.

97
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
edges of the backrests.
For very heavy cargo when the rear seat is
unoccupied, fasten each safety belt in the
opposite buckle. This provides additional
stabilization for the backrests.
Securing the loadAs an example, the illustration shows the
luggage compartment of the MINI.
>Secure smaller and lighter items using
the luggage compartment net
* or elas-
tic straps
>Secure larger and heavier items with
load-securing devices
*. Lashing eyelets
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.

98
LOADING CARGO ROOF-MOUNTED LUGGAGE RACK
*
Always position and secure the load
as described above. If you do not, it
can pose a danger to the passengers during
braking and evasive maneuvers, for exam-
ple.
Do not exceed the permissible gross weight
and axle load, refer to page155 ff; other-
wise the vehicle's operating safety is no
longer assured and it will not be in compli-
ance 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 on the MINI, make sure
that there is sufficient space for the move-
ment of the glass sunroof and that no
objects protrude into the swiveling area of
the tailgate; otherwise damage can occur.
Do not secure the roof-mounted luggage
rack to the MINI's trim strips or to the MINI
Convertible top. Otherwise, the lack of a
secure hold could lead to damage or acci-
dents.<
Special roof-mounted luggage racks
for your MINI are available as acces-
sories from your MINI Dealer.<

99
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX

100

OVERVIEW
CONTROLS
OPERATION, CARE, MAINTENANCE
OWNER SERVICE PROCEDURES
INDEX TECHNICAL DATA
101
OVERVIEW REPAIRSOPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
Operation

102
BREAK-IN PROCEDURES GENERAL DRIVING NOTESMoving parts need to be given some time
until they can interact smoothly with one
another. To ensure that your vehicle pro-
vides maximum economy throughout a
long service life, we request that you com-
ply with the following information:EngineComply with the local speed limits.
Up to 1,250 miles/2,000 km:
Drive at varying engine and road speeds,
but do not exceed the following:
4,500 rpm or
95 mph / 150 km/h.
Absolutely avoid putting the accelerator in
full-throttle or kickdown position.
After 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.
Interior mirror, automatic dimming*While the vehicle is being driven forward,
these mirrors dim light through an infi-
nitely variable range depending on the
light's incidence. Two photocells in the
interior rearview mirror serve this purpose.
One is positioned on the underside of the
mirror frame, while the other is slightly off-
set on the back of the mirror.
In order for the photocells to work opti-
mally, keep them clean and do not cover
the area between the interior rearview mir-
ror and the windshield. Do not place stick-
ers or toll tags on the windshield in front of
the mirror.