2008 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE tow

83
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMAir volume/Blower
You can select blower speeds
from 1 to 4. Position 0: blower is
switched off.
The heating, ventilation and air
conditioning operate in position 1 or
higher.
Temperature
Turn to the right, red, to increase
the temperature.
Turn to the left, blue, to decrease
the temperature.
Air distribution
Air distribution towards upper
body region , upper body
region and footwell , footwell
, footwell and windows ,
and windows .
Intermediate positions are possible, refer to
illustration and overview on page82.
Rear window defroster
The LED is lit when the rear win-
dow defroster is on.
The heater switches off auto-
matically after a short time.
Windshield heating*
The LED is lit when the wind-
shield heating is on.
The windshield heating switches
off automatically after a short time.
Cooling function
The LED is lit when the cooling
function is on.
The air is cooled and dehumidi-
fied and, depending on the temperature
setting, rewarmed.
Depending on the weather, the windshield
can fog up temporarily after the engine is
started.
When the cooling function is on, con-
densation forms which then exits
under the vehicle. Traces of condensed
water on the ground are therefore nor-
mal.<
Recirculated air mode
The LED is lit when the recircu-
lated air mode is on. Supply of
outside air into the vehicle is
blocked.
The air within the vehicle is recirculated.
If the windows fog up in the recircu-
lated air mode, turn the recirculated
air mode off and, if necessary, increase the
air supply. The recirculated air mode should
not be used constantly over a longer period
of time; otherwise the air quality in the
vehicle's interior will gradually deterio-
rate.<

87
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL
*
setting at HI, the recirculated air mode can-
not be switched on. The LED is lit when the function is
on.
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 cooling func-
tion 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 6 to
7 by pressing the buttons for the
cooling function 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 ventilationButton 1: air outlets can be opened and
closed by turning.
The points indicate the position in each
case.
Nozzle 2: change the direction of the air
flow by swiveling.

93
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
LUGGAGE COMPARTMENT IN THE MINILuggage compartment coverWhen the tailgate is opened, the luggage
compartment cover is also raised.
Never place any heavy or hard objects
on the luggage compartment cover;
otherwise occupants could be injured dur-
ing braking maneuvers.<
RemovalTo load bulky luggage, the compartment
cover can be removed.
1. Remove the retaining straps on the tail-
gate
2. Pull the luggage compartment cover out
towards the rear.
Foldable rear backrest1. Pull lever
2. Fold the rear backrest forwards.
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.<

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.<

106
REFUELINGThis gasoline is highly recommended.
However, you may also use gasoline with
less AKI. The minimum AKI rating is 87.
If you use gasoline with this minimum AKI
rating, the engine may produce knocking
sounds when starting at high outside tem-
peratures. This has no effect on the engine
life.Use high-quality brandsField experience has indicated significant
differences in fuel quality: volatility, com-
position, additives, etc., among gasolines
offered for sale in the United States and
Canada. Fuels containing up to and includ-
ing 10 % ethanol or other oxygenates with
up to 2.8 % oxygen by weight, that is, 15 %
MTBE or 3 % methanol plus an equivalent
amount of co-solvent, will not void the
applicable warranties with respect to
defects in materials or workmanship.
The use of poor-quality fuels may
result in driveability, starting and
stalling problems especially under certain
environmental conditions such as high
ambient temperature and high altitude.
Should you encounter driveability prob-
lems which you suspect could be related to
the fuel you are using, we recommend that
you respond by switching to a recognized
high-quality brand such as gasoline that is
advertised as Top Tier Detergent Gasoline.
Failure to comply with these recommenda-
tions may result in unscheduled mainte-
nance.<
Manual release with the MINIIn the event of an electrical malfunction,
the fuel filler door can be unlocked manu-
ally.
1. Remove the side trim panel on the left-
hand side of the luggage compartment
2. Pull the white lever toward the rear.
The fuel filler door is released
3. Open the fuel filler door.

107
OVERVIEW REPAIRSOPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
REFUELINGManual release with the MINI
ConvertibleIn the event of an electrical malfunction,
the fuel filler door can be unlocked manu-
ally.
1. Remove the cover of the side trim panel
on the left-hand side, see arrow 1
2. Pull the green strap toward the rear, see
arrow 2.
The fuel filler door is released
3. Open the fuel filler door.