2008 MINI Hardtop 2 Door Owner's Manual

ReferenceAt a glance Controls Driving tips Mobility
79
To play audio tracks over the vehicle's loud-
speaker system, connect the iPod to ports 1 and
2.
The iPod's menu structure is supported by the
USB-audio interface.
USB device
To play audio tracks over the vehicle's loud-
speaker system, connect the USB device to
port2.
Notes
Do not expose the audio device to
extreme environmental conditions, e. g.
very high temperatures, refer to the operating
instructions of the audio device. Otherwise the
audio device may become damaged, which
could compromise safety while driving.<
>The USB-audio interface supplies the con-
nected audio devices with power, provided
that this is supported by the audio device.
Therefore, do not connect the USB audio
device to the power socket in the vehicle
during operation.
>Do not forcibly connect the plug to the USB
interface.
>Do not connect devices such as fans or
lamps to the USB-audio interface.
>Do not connect USB hard disks.
>Do not use the USB-audio interface to
charge external devices.
Storage compartments
In the vehicle interior
Depending on your vehicle's equipment, you
will find storage compartments in the doors,
next to the rear seats and in the center console
*.
Nets
* are located in the passenger footwell and
on the backs of the front seat backrests.
Storage compartment on the front
passenger side*
Opening
Briefly press the bottom edge of the cover.
Closing
Push the cover back into its original position.
To prevent injury in the event of an acci-
dent, close the storage compartment after
use while the vehicle is being driven.<
Clothes hooks
There are clothes hooks on the grab handles in
the rear passenger compartment.
Items of clothing hung from the hooks
must not obstruct the driver's view. Do not
hang heavy objects from the hooks, otherwise
they could endanger the car's occupants, e.g. in
case of heavy braking or sudden swerving.<
In the cargo bay
Depending on your vehicle's equipment, you
have the following storage options:
>Umbrella holder
* under the loading sill in
front of the warning triangle.
>Hooks, e.g. for shopping bags or carrying
bags, on the left and right sides of the cargo
bay.
>Storage compartment under the level load
floor
*
>Removable box with lid* under the level
load floor, e.g. for wet or dirty items
>Storage compartment in the splitdoor

Practical interior accessories
80
Cup holders and ash-
tray*
Cup holders
Two cup holders are located in the front of the
center console, another is in the rear at the back
of the center console.
In the MINI Clubman there are two additional
cup holders in the armrests in the rear.
Do not place glass containers in the cup
holders, as this increases the risk of injury
in the event of an accident.<
Ashtray*
The ashtray is located in one of the cup holders
in the center console.
Emptying
Remove the entire ashtray.
Lighter
With the engine running or the ignition switched
on, press in the cigarette lighter.
The lighter can be pulled out as soon as it pops
back out.Hold or touch the hot cigarette lighter by
the knob only. Holding or touching it in
other areas could result in burns.
When leaving the car, always remove the key so
that children cannot operate the cigarette
lighter and burn themselves.<
Connecting electrical
appliances
In your MINI, you can use electrical devices such
as a flashlight, car vacuum cleaner, etc., up to
approx. 200 watts at 12 volts, as long as one of
the following sockets is available. Avoid damag-
ing the sockets by attempting to insert plugs of
unsuitable shape or size.
Cigarette lighter socket
Remove the lighter* or cover from the socket.
Power socket in cargo bay
By way of example, the illustration shows the
cargo bay in the MINI.
Pull out the cover.

ReferenceAt a glance Controls Driving tips Mobility
81

At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
Reference Driving tips

Things to remember when driving
84
Things to remember when driving
Break-in period
Moving parts need breaking-in time to adjust to
each other. Please follow the instructions below
in order to achieve the optimal service life and
economy of operation for your vehicle.
Engine and differential
Always obey all official speed limits.
Up to 1,200 miles/2,000 km
Drive at varying engine and road speeds, but do
not exceed the following:
>Gasoline engine
4500 rpm or 100 mph/160 km/h
Avoid full-throttle operation and use of the
transmission's kick-down mode.
After driving 1,200 miles/2,000 km
Engine and vehicle speeds can be gradually
increased.
Tires
Due to technical factors associated with their
manufacture, tires do not achieve their full trac-
tion potential until after an initial break-in
period. Therefore, drive cautiously during the
first 200 miles/300 km.
Brake system
Brakes require an initial break-in period of
approx. 300 miles/500 km to achieve optimized
contact and wear patterns between brake pads
and rotors. Drive cautiously during this break-in
period.
Clutch
The function of the clutch reaches its optimal
level only after a distance driven of approx.
300 miles/500 km. During this break-in period,
engage the clutch gently.
Following part replacement
The same break-in procedures should be
observed if any of the components mentioned
above have to be renewed in the course of the
vehicle's operating life.
General driving notes
Close the tailgate
Drive the vehicle only when the tailgate is
closed. Otherwise, exhaust fumes could
penetrate the interior of the vehicle.<
If special circumstances make it absolutely nec-
essary to drive with the tailgate open:
1.Close all windows and the glass sunroof.
2.Switch off the recirculated-air mode and sig-
nificantly increase the air flow rate of the air
conditioner or automatic climate control,
page72 or73.
Hot exhaust system
In all vehicles, extremely high tempera-
tures are generated in the exhaust sys-
tem. Do not remove the heat shields installed
adjacent to various sections of the exhaust sys-
tem, and never apply undercoating to them.
When driving, standing at idle and while park-
ing, take care to avoid possible contact between
the hot exhaust system and any highly flamma-
ble materials such as hay, leaves, grass, etc. Such
contact could lead to a fire, with the risk of seri-
ous personal injuries and property damage. Do
not touch hot exhaust tail pipes. Otherwise
there is a risk of burns.<
Hydroplaning
When driving on wet or slushy roads,
reduce road speed. If you do not, a wedge
of water can form between tires and road sur-
face. This situation, known as hydroplaning, can
cause partial or complete loss of tire contact

ReferenceAt a glance Controls Driving tips Mobility
85
with the road surface, so that the car cannot be
steered or braked properly.<
The risk of hydroplaning increases with declining
tread depth on the tires, refer also to Tread
depth on page103.
Driving through water
Drive through water on the road only if it is
not deeper than 1 ft/30 cm, and then only
at walking speed at the most. Otherwise, the
vehicle's engine, the electrical systems and the
transmission may be damaged.<
Parking brake on inclines
On inclines, do not hold the vehicle with
the clutch; use the parking brake. Other-
wise greater clutch wear will result.<
For information on driving off using Hill Start
Assist
*, refer to page59.
Braking safely
Your MINI is equipped with ABS. If you are in a
situation which requires full braking, it is best to
brake using maximum brake pressure. Since the
vehicle maintains steering responsiveness, you
can still avoid possible obstacles with a mini-
mum of steering effort.
The pulsation of the brake pedal, together with
the sound of hydraulic regulation, indicates that
ABS is actively taking effect.
Driving in wet conditions
When roads are wet or there is heavy rain, briefly
exert gentle pressure on the brake pedal every
few miles. Monitor traffic conditions to ensure
that this maneuver does not endanger other
road users. The heat generated in this process
helps dry the pads and rotors to ensure that
Then full braking force will be immediately avail-
able when it is needed.
Hills
To prevent overheating and the resulting
reduced efficiency of the brake system,
drive long or steep downhill gradients in the
gear in which the least braking is required. Even
light but consistent brake pressure can lead to high temperatures, brake wear and possibly
even brake failure.<
You can increase the engine's braking effect by
shifting down, all the way to first gear if neces-
sary. This strategy helps you avoid placing
excessive loads on the brake system. Downshift-
ing in manual mode of the automatic transmis-
sion, page42.
Never drive with the clutch held down,
with the transmission in neutral or with
the engine switched off; otherwise, engine brak-
ing action will not be present or there will be no
power assistance to the brakes or steering.
Never allow floor mats, carpets or any other
objects to protrude into the area around the
pedals, otherwise pedal function could be
impaired.<
Corrosion on brake rotors
When the vehicle is driven only occasionally,
during extended periods when the vehicle is not
used at all, and in operating conditions where
brake applications are less frequent, there is an
increased tendency for corrosion to form on
rotors, while contaminants accumulate on the
brake pads. This occurs because the minimum
pressure which must be exerted by the pads
during brake applications to clean the rotors is
not reached.
Should corrosion form on the brake rotors, the
brakes will tend to respond with a pulsating
effect that even extended application will fail to
cure.
When the vehicle is parked
Condensation forms while the automatic climate
control is in operation, and then exits under the
vehicle. Traces of condensed water under the
vehicle are therefore normal.
In the MINI Cooper S, the coolant pump may
continue to run for some time after the engine is
switched off. This will generate noise in the
engine compartment.

Things to remember when driving
86
Before driving into a car wash
Avoid car washes with tracks higher than
4 in/10 cm, otherwise the chassis could be
damaged.<
For general information about vehicle care for
your MINI, refer to the chapter beginning on
page112.
With convenient access and automatic
transmission
Insert the key into the ignition lock.
The engine can be switched off when the selec-
tor lever is in position N. Refer also to page27.
Cargo loading
To avoid loading the tires beyond their
approved carrying capacity, never over-
load the vehicle. Overloading can lead to over-
heating and increases the rate at which damage
develops inside the tires. The ultimate result can
assume the form of a sudden blow-out.<
Avoid fluid spills in the cargo bay as they
could damage the vehicle.<
Cargo bay cover
Do not place any objects on the cover,
otherwise they could endanger the car's
occupants, e.g. in the case of braking or sudden
swerving.<
MINI
When you open the tailgate of the MINI, the
cargo bay cover is raised.
To load bulky luggage, the cover can be
removed.1.Unhook the lift straps from the tailgate.
2.Pull the cover out of the holders toward the
rear.
MINI Clubman
In the MINI Clubman, the cargo bay cover can be
locked in the intermediate positions 1to3.
To load bulky luggage, the cover can be
removed.
1.Pull on the handle, arrow1, to detach the
cargo bay cover.
2.Lift the cargo bay cover up out of the hold-
ers, arrows 2.
Expanding the cargo bay
The rear set backrest is split. Both sides can be
folded separately to expand the cargo bay.