2009 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE trailer

REFERENCEAT A GLANCE CONTROLS DRIVING TIPS MOBILITY
25
On certain national-market versions,
unlocking via the door lock triggers off the
alarm.<
Panic mode*
You can activate the alarm system if you find
yourself in a dangerous situation.
Press the button for at least two seconds.
Switching off the alarm:
Press any button.
Switching off an alarm
>Unlock the car with the remote control.
>Insert the key fully into the ignition lock.
>In cars with convenient access
*, press the
button on the door lock.
Display on the revolution counter
When the system is armed, all LEDs pulse. After
approx. 16 minutes one LED flashes.
>LEDs pulse or LED flashes: system is armed.
>One LED flashes at short intervals:
A door, the bonnet or the tailgate is not
properly closed. Even if these are not closed
fully, the remaining items are deadlocked
and the LEDs pulse after approx. 10 seconds
for approx. 16 minutes. Afterwards, one LED
flashes.
The interior movement detector is not acti-
vated.
>LEDs go out after the vehicle is unlocked:
No attempt was made to tamper with the car.
>LEDs flash after unlocking until the key is
inserted in the ignition, but for no longer
than approx. 5 minutes: an attempt was
made to tamper with the car.
Tilt alarm sensor
The vehicle's inclination is monitored. The alarm
is triggered, for instance, if an attempt is made
to steal the car's wheels or tow it away.
Interior movement detector
Before the interior movement detector can
operate correctly, the windows and glass roof
must be closed.
MINI Convertible
The passenger compartment is monitored up to
the height of the seat's surface. This way, the
anti-theft alarm system including the interior
motion sensor are armed, even if the convertible
top is open. Falling objects, e.g. tree leaves, may
trigger a false alarm, refer to Avoiding false
alarms.
Avoiding false alarms
The tilt alarm sensor and the interior movement
detector can be switched off together.
This prevents false alarms, e.g. in the following
situations:
>In duplex garages
>When being transported on car-carrying
trains, ferries or trailers
>If pets are to remain inside the car
Switching off the tilt alarm sensor and
interior movement detector
>Press the button on the remote con-
trol twice in succession.
>Lock the vehicle twice with the integrated
key.
LEDs flash in short succession for approx. 2 sec-
onds.
The tilt alarm sensor and the interior movement
detector are switched off until the car is next
unlocked and locked.

Technology for driving comfort and safety
62
Technology for driving comfort
and safety
Park Distance Control
PDC*
The concept
PDC assists you with parking backwards. Acous-
tic signals warn you of the presence of an object
behind the vehicle. To measure the distance,
there are four ultrasonic sensors in either
bumper.
However, an acoustic warning does not sound
until an object is approx. 24 in/60 cm from the
corner sensors, or approx. 5 ft/1.50 m from the
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 circumstances 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.
Adjustments
The volume of the acoustic signals can be
adjusted, refer to the Owner's Manual for Radio.
Malfunction
Indicator lamp comes on: PDC is mal-
functioning. 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
4in/10cm.
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.<

Things to remember when driving
94
Determining cargo limit
1.Locate the following statement on your
vehicle's placard
*:
The combined weight of occupants
and cargo should never exceed
XXX kg or YYY lbs. Otherwise, overloading
can result in damage to the vehicle and un-
stable 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 passengers from XXX kilograms or YYY
pounds.
4.The resulting figure equals the available
amount of cargo and luggage load capacity.
For example, if the XXX amount equals
1,400 lbs. and there will be four 150 lbs. pas-
sengers in your vehicle, the amount of avail-
able cargo and luggage load capacity is
650 lbs:
1,400 lbs. minus 750 lbs. = 650 lbs.
5.Determine the combined weight of luggage
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, part of
the 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.
Load
The 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/luggage can be transported.
Stowing cargo
>Position heavy objects as low and as far for-
ward as possible, ideally directly behind the
rear seat backrests.
>Cover sharp edges and corners.
>For very heavy cargo when the rear seat is
not occupied, secure each safety belt in the
respective opposite buckle.
>Do not stack higher than the top edge of the
backrests.
MINI

REFERENCEAT A GLANCE CONTROLS DRIVING TIPS MOBILITY
167
Trailer operation
– Trailer loads and gross
vehicle weight155
Transmission
– automatic transmission with
Steptronic45
– manual transmission45
– overriding selector lever lock
for automatic transmission
with Steptronic47
Transport securing devices,
refer to Securing cargo95
Transporting children safely40
Tread depth, refer to Minimum
tire tread110
Trip odometer52
Trip-distance counter, refer to
Trip odometer52
Triple turn signal activation47
Trunk lid
– emergency operation24
– releasing manually24
Trunk, refer to Luggage
compartment in the MINI
Convertible93
Turn signal indicator47
– front, replacing bulb125
– indicator lamp12
– rear, replacing bulb126
– side, replacing bulb126
Turning circle, refer to
Dimensions153
Tying down loads, refer to
Cargo loading95
U
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
UTQR109
Units
– average fuel consumption56
– temperature56
Universal garage door opener,
refer to Integrated universal
remote control83
Universal remove control83
Unlatching, refer to
Unlocking26Unlocking
– from inside22
– from outside19
– tailgate26
– without remote control, refer
to Convenient access26
Upholstery, care121
USB-audio interface86
V
Valve
– dust cap131
Vehicle
– battery132
– breaking in90
– cargo loading92
– dimensions153
– Identification Number, refer
to Engine compartment114
– parking44
– storage122
– weight155
Vehicle jack130
– jacking points131
Ventilation
– air conditioner82
Vents, refer to Air vents78
Vents, refer to Ventilation82
Volume of cargo area155
W
Warning and indicator
lamps13,138
Warning messages, refer to
Check Control60
Warning triangle134
Washer fluid50
– capacity of reservoir50
Washer fluid reservoir50
Waste tray, refer to Ashtray87
Water on roads, refer to
Driving through water91
Waterfall lighting, refer to
Ambient lighting77
Wear indicators in tires, refer to
Minimum tread depth110
Weights155Welcome lamps73
Wheel stud wrench
– space-saver spare tire130
Wheelbase, refer to
Dimensions153
Wheels and tires102
Wheels, new111
Width, refer to
Dimensions153
Wind deflector33
Window washer, refer to
Washer fluid50
Window washer reservoir,
refer to Washer fluid
– volume, refer to
Capacities156
Windows28
– closing28
– convenient operation20
– opening28
– pinch protection system29
Windshield
– cleaning49
– defrosting and removing
condensation80,82
Windshield, defrosting, refer to
Defrosting windows80,82
Windshield washer system48
– washer fluid50
– washer nozzles50
Windshield wiper blades,
changing123
Windshield wipers, refer to
Wiper system48
Winter tires112
– storage112
Wiper blade replacement123
Wiper system48
Work in the engine
compartment113
Wrench/screwdriver, refer to
Onboard tool kit123
X
Xenon lamps
– replacing bulb124