2009 MINI Clubman light

Technology for driving comfort and safety
70
Technology for driving comfort
and safety
Park Distance
Control PDC*
The concept
PDC assists you with parking backwards. Acous-
tic signals and a visual indicator
warn you of the
presence of an object behind the vehicle. To
measure the distance, there are four ultrasonic
sensors in either bumper.
These sensors have a range of approx.
6.5ft/2m. However, an acoustic warning
does not sound until an object is approx. 24 in/
60 cm from the rear corner sensors, or approx.
5 ft/1.50 m from the rear center sensors. PDC is
a parking aid that can indicate objects when
they are approached slowly, as is usually the
case when parking. Avoid approaching an
object at high speed, otherwise physical circum-
stances may lead to the system warning being
issued too late.<
Automatic mode
With the engine running or the ignition switched
on, the system is activated automatically after
approx. 1 second when you engage reverse gear
or move the automatic transmission selector
lever to position R. Wait this short period before
driving.
Acoustic signals
As the distance between vehicle and object
decreases, the intervals between the tones
become shorter. If the distance to the nearest
object falls to below roughly 1 ft/30 cm, then a
continuous tone sounds.
If the distance remains constant, e.g. when driv-
ing parallel to a wall, the acoustic signal stops
after approx. 3 seconds.
Malfunction
Indicator lamp comes on: PDC is mal-
functioning. A message appears on the
Control Display. Have the system
checked.
To avoid this problem, keep the sensors clean
and free of ice or snow in order to ensure that
they will continue to operate effectively. When
using a high-pressure cleaner, do not direct the
jet toward the sensors for lengthy periods and
only spray from a distance of at least 4 in/10 cm.
PDC with visual warning
To have the system show distances to objects on
the Control Display. The contours of distant
objects are shown on the Control Display even
before the acoustic signal sounds.
Onboard monitor, for operating principle refer
to page16.
1.Press the button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Move the MINI joystick to highlight "Setup"
and press the MINI joystick.
3.Select "Settings".
4.Select "Vehicle and tires".

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5.If necessary, move the highlight marker to
the uppermost field. Select "PDC" .
6.Select "PDC display on".
The PDC display is activated. It is shown on
the Control Display as soon as PDC is activated.
The setting is stored for the remote control
in use.
System limitations
Even with PDC, final responsibility for esti-
mating the distance between the vehicle
and any obstructions always remains with the
driver. Sensors, too, have blind spots in which
objects cannot be detected. Moreover, ultra-
sonic detection can reach its physical limits with
objects such as trailer tow bars and couplings,
thin and wedge-shaped objects, etc. Low
objects already indicated, such as curbs, may
enter the sensors' blind spots before or after a
continuous audible signal is given. Higher, pro-
truding objects, such as wall ledges, may not be
detectable. Therefore, always drive cautiously,
otherwise there is a risk of personal injury or
property damage. Loud sound sources outside
or inside the car can drown out the PDC signal.<
Driving stability
control systems
Your MINI has a number of systems that help to
maintain the vehicle's stability even in adverse
driving conditions.
The laws of physics cannot be repealed,
even with driving stability control systems.
An appropriate driving style always remains the
responsibility of the driver. Therefore do not reduce the additional safety margin by engaging
in hazardous driving thereby running the risk of
an accident.<
Antilock Brake System ABS
ABS prevents locking of the wheels during brak-
ing. Safe steering response is maintained even
during full braking. Active safety is thus
increased.
Braking safely, refer to page97.
Among others, ABS includes the following
functions:
>Cornering Brake Control CBC
>Electronic brake-force distribution EBV
>Brake Assist
Cornering Brake Control CBC
Driving stability and steering characteristics are
further enhanced while braking in turns or dur-
ing a lane change.
Electronic brake-force distribution EBV
The system controls the brake pressure in the
rear wheels to ensure stable braking behavior.
Brake Assist
Rapidly depressing the brake causes this system
to automatically develop maximum braking
force. Thus, the system helps keep braking dis-
tance to a minimum. At the same time, all the
benefits provided by ABS are exploited.
Do not reduce the pressure on the brake for the
duration of the full braking application.
Dynamic Stability Control DSC
DSC prevents the driving wheels from losing
traction when you pull away from rest or accel-
erate. The system also recognizes unstable driv-
ing conditions, for example if the rear of the car
is about to swerve or if momentum is acting at
an angle past the front wheels. In these cases,
DSC helps the vehicle maintain a safe course
within physical limits by reducing engine out-
put and through braking actions at the individ-
ual wheels.

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Deactivating both DTC and DSC
Press the button for at least 3 seconds: the DSC
indicator lamps in the display elements come
on. The Dynamic Traction Control DTC and
Dynamic Stability Control DSC are both deacti-
vated. There will be no more stabilizing inter-
ventions.
Interventions (differential lock
*) in braking
occur to improve propulsion when drive wheels
are rotating unevenly, even when the DSC is
deactivated.
Activating DSC
Press the button again: the indicator lamps
go out.
Hill Start Assist
Hill Start Assist aids you in comfortably driving
off on inclines. It is not necessary to use the
parking brake for this.
1.Hold the MINI with the brake.
2.Release the brake and immediately
drive off.
Hill Start Assist holds the car in place for approx.
2 seconds after the brake is released.
Depending on the load and gradient, the
vehicle can roll backward slightly during
this period. After you release the brake, immedi-
ately start driving since the hill start assist only
holds the vehicle for about 2 seconds, and it will
start to roll backwards.<
Sport button*
Pressing the button causes your MINI to respond
even more sportily.>Engine responds more spontaneously to
movements of the accelerator.
>Steering response is more direct.
With automatic transmission:
>More rapid gear shifting in Sport program.
Activating the system
Press the SPORT button.
The LED lights up.
SPORT is briefly displayed in the tachometer.
Deactivating the system
>Press the SPORT button again.
>Switch off the engine.
Flat Tire Monitor FTM
The concept
The Flat Tire Monitor detects pressure loss in a
tire by comparing the rotating speeds of the
individual tires while moving.
If a tire loses pressure, its rolling circumference
changes, and this in turn alters the speed of
rotation. This change is detected and is reported
as a flat tire.
Functional requirement
In order to assure the reliable reporting of a flat
tire, the system must be initialized for the cor-
rect tire inflation pressure.
Each time you correct the pressure in a
tire, or change a wheel or tire, the system
must be reinitialized.<

Technology for driving comfort and safety
74
System limitations
The Flat Tire Monitor is unable to warn the driver
of sudden, severe tire damage caused by exter-
nal factors, nor can it identify the gradual loss of
pressure that will inevitably occur in all four tires
over a lengthy period of time.
In the following situations, the system could be
delayed or malfunction:
>System has not been initialized
>Driving on snowy or slippery road surface
>Performance-oriented style of driving: slip in
the drive wheels, high lateral acceleration
>Snow chains are attached
When the vehicle is driven with a space-saver
spare tire
*, page183, the Flat Tire Monitor can-
not function.
Initializing the system
The initialization is completed during driv-
ing, which can be interrupted at any time.
When driving resumes, the initialization is con-
tinued automatically.
Do not initialize the system if you are driving
with snow chains or a space-saver spare tire
*.<
Using the button in the turn
indicator lever
1.Start the engine, but do not start driving.
2.Briefly press the button in the turn indicator
lever repeatedly until "SET/INFO" is dis-
played.
3.Press and hold the button until the display
changes.4.Briefly press the button repeatedly until the
corresponding symbol and "RESET" are
displayed.
5.Press and hold the button until the display
changes.
6.Start driving.
Initialization is completed while the car is on
the move, without any feedback.
Using the onboard monitor
Onboard monitor, for operating principle refer
to page16.
1.Press the button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Move the MINI joystick to highlight "Setup"
and press the MINI joystick.
3.Select "Settings".
4.Select "Vehicle and tires".

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5.If necessary, move the highlight marker to
the uppermost field. Select "FTM".
6.Start the engine, but do not start driving.
7.Select "Reset".
8.Select "Yes".
9.Start driving.
The initialization is completed during
driving.
Indication of a flat tire
The warning lamps come on in yellow
and red. A message appears on the
Control Display. An acoustic signal also
sounds. There is a flat tire or substantial
loss of tire pressure.
1.Reduce speed and stop the vehicle with cau-
tion. Avoid sudden braking and steering ma-
neuvers.
2.Check whether your vehicle is equipped
with normal tires or Run-Flat Tires.
The symbol identifying Run-Flat Tires
is a circle with the letters RSC on the
sidewall, refer to Run-Flat Tires, page164.<
Normal tires
1.Determine which tire is damaged.
If this cannot be determined, contact
your MINI Dealer.<
2.Repair the flat tire, refer to page180, or
change the damaged tire, refer to page182.
Run-Flat Tires*
1.Cautiously reduce speed to below 50 mph
or 80 km/h. Avoid sudden braking and
steering maneuvers. Do not exceed a speed
of 50 mph or 80 km/h.
Do not continue driving if the vehicle is
not equipped with Run-Flat Tires,
page164, otherwise a serious accident
could result.<
2.At the next opportunity, check the air pres-
sure in all four tires.
If all four tires are inflated to the cor-
rect pressures, the Flat Tire Monitor
might not have been initialized. The system
must then be initialized.<
3.In the event of complete tire pressure loss,
0 psi/0 kPa, you can estimate the possible
distance for continued driving on the basis
of the following guidelines:
>With a light load:
1 to 2 persons without luggage:
approx. 155 miles/250 km
>With a medium load:
2 persons, cargo bay full, or 4 persons
without luggage:
approx. 94 miles/150 km
>With a full load:
4 persons, load compartment full:
approx. 30 miles/50 km
Drive cautiously and do not exceed a
speed of 50 mph or 80 km/h, otherwise an
accident may occur. In the event of pressure
loss, vehicle handling changes. This includes
reduced tracking stability in braking, extended
braking distance and altered natural steering
characteristics.
If unusual vibration or loud noises occur during
the journey, this may be an indication that the

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Using the button in the turn
indicator lever
1.Start the engine, but do not start driving.
2.Briefly press the button in the turn indicator
lever repeatedly until "SET/INFO" is dis-
played.
3.Press and hold the button until the display
changes.
4.Repeatedly press the button briefly until the
symbol for Tire Pressure Monitor and
"ACTIVE" are displayed.
The Tire Pressure Monitor can be reset using
"RESET".
5.Press and hold the button until "RESETTING"
appears.
6.Start driving.
After driving a few minutes, the set inflation
pressures in the tires are accepted as the tar-get values to be monitored. The system
reset is completed during your drive, and
can be interrupted at any time. When driving
resumes, the reset is continued automati-
cally. The indicator lamp goes out after the
system reset is completed.
Using the onboard monitor
Onboard monitor, for operating principle refer
to page16.
1.Press the button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Move the MINI joystick to highlight "Setup"
and press the MINI joystick.
3.Select "Settings" and press the MINI joystick.
4.Select "Vehicle and tires" and press the MINI
joystick.
5.If necessary, move the highlight marker to
the uppermost field. Select "TPM" and press
the MINI joystick.
6.Start the engine, but do not start driving.
7.Select "Reset" and press the MINI joystick.

Technology for driving comfort and safety
78
8.Select "Yes" and press the MINI joystick.
9.Start driving.
The tires are shown in gray and "Resetting
TPM..." is displayed.
After driving a few minutes, the set inflation
pressures in the tires are accepted as the target
values to be monitored. The system reset is
completed during your drive, and can be inter-
rupted at any time. When driving resumes, the
reset is continued automatically. On the
onboard monitor, the tires are shown in green
and "Status: TPM active" is displayed again.
If a flat tire is detected while the system is
being reset and while it is determining the
inflation pressures, all tires on the onboard mon-
itor are displayed in yellow. The message "Tire
low!" is shown.<
Message for low tire inflation pressure
The warning lamps come on in yellow
and red. A message appears on the
onboard monitor. An acoustic signal
also sounds. There is a flat tire or sub-
stantial loss of tire pressure.
1.Reduce speed and stop the vehicle with cau-
tion. Avoid sudden braking and steering ma-
neuvers.
2.Check whether your vehicle is equipped
with normal tires or Run-Flat Tires.
The symbol identifying Run-Flat Tires
is a circle with the letters RSC on the
sidewall, page164.<
Normal tires
1.Determine which tire is damaged.
If this cannot be determined, contact
your MINI Dealer.<
2.Repair the flat tire or change the damaged
tire, refer to page182.
Run-Flat Tires*
1.Cautiously reduce speed to below 50 mph/
80 km/h. Avoid sudden braking and steering
maneuvers. Do not exceed a speed of
50 mph/80 km/h.
Do not continue driving if the vehicle is
not equipped with Run-Flat Tires, oth-
erwise a serious accident could result.<
2.In the event of complete tire pressure loss,
0 psi/0 kPa, you can estimate the possible
distance for continued driving on the basis
of the following guidelines:
>With a light load:
1 to 2 persons without luggage:
approx. 155 miles/250 km
>With a medium load:
2 persons, cargo bay full, or 4 persons
without luggage:
approx. 94 miles/150 km
>With a full load:
4 persons, load compartment full:
approx. 30 miles/50 km
Drive cautiously and do not exceed a
speed of 50 mph/80 km/h, otherwise an
accident may occur. In the event of pressure
loss, vehicle handling changes. This includes
reduced tracking stability in braking, extended
braking distance and altered natural steering
characteristics.
If unusual vibration or loud noises occur during
the journey, this may be an indication that the
damaged tire has finally failed. Reduce the vehi-
cle speed and stop as soon as possible. Other-
wise, sections of the tire may come loose and
cause accidents. Do not continue driving and
contact your MINI Dealer.<

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Malfunction
The small warning lamp flashes in yel-
low and then lights up continuously; the
larger warning lamp comes on in yel-
low.
On the onboard monitor, the tires are shown in
gray and a message appears. No punctures can
be detected.
This type of message is shown in the following
situations:
>If there is a malfunction.
Have the system checked.
>If a wheel without TPM electronics has been
mounted.
>If TPM is temporarily malfunctioning due to
other systems or devices using the same
radio frequency.
Message for unsuccessful system reset
Both warning lamps come on in yellow.
A message appears on the onboard
monitor. The system is not reset after a
tire has been changed, for example.
Check the tire inflation pressure and reset the
system, page76.
Declaration according to
NHTSA/FMVSS 138 Tire Pressure
Monitoring Systems
Each tire, including the spare, should be
checked monthly when cold and inflated to the
inflation pressure recommended by the vehicle
manufacturer on the vehicle placard or tire infla-
tion pressure label. If your vehicle has tires of a
different size than the size indicated on the vehi-
cle placard or tire inflation pressure label, you
should determine the proper tire inflation pres-
sure for those tires. As an added safety feature,
your vehicle has been equipped with a tire pres-
sure monitoring system TPMS that illuminates a
low tire pressure telltale when one or more of
your tires are significantly under-inflated.
Accordingly, when the low tire pressure telltale
illuminates, you should stop and check your tires
as soon as possible, and inflate them to the
proper pressure. Driving on a significantly
under-inflated tire causes the tire to overheat and can lead to tire failure. Underinflation also
reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life, and
may affect the vehicle's handling and stopping
ability. Please note that the TPMS is not a substi-
tute for proper tire maintenance, and it is the
driver's responsibility to maintain correct tire
pressure, even if underinflation has not reached
the level at which the TPMS low tire pressure tell-
tale illuminates.
The TPMS malfunction indicator is combined
with the low tire pressure telltale. When the sys-
tem detects a malfunction, the telltale will flash
for approximately one minute and then remain
continuously lit. This sequence will continue
upon subsequent vehicle startups as long as the
malfunction exists. When the malfunction indi-
cator is illuminated, the system may not be able
to detect or signal low tire pressure as intended.
TPMS malfunctions may occur for a variety of
reasons, including the installation of replace-
ment or alternate tires or wheels on the vehicle
that prevent the TPMS from functioning prop-
erly. Always check the TPMS malfunction telltale
after replacing one or more tires or wheels on
your vehicle to ensure that the replacement or
alternate tires and wheels allow the TPMS to
continue to function properly.