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Vehicle battery
Maintenance
The battery is 100 % maintenance-free, the 
electrolyte will last for the life of the battery 
when the vehicle is operated in a temperate 
climate.
Battery replacement
Only use vehicle batteries that have been 
approved for your vehicle by the manu-
facturer; otherwise, the vehicle could be dam-
aged and systems or functions may not be fully 
available.<
After a battery replacement, have the battery 
registered on the vehicle by your dealer to 
ensure that all comfort functions are fully 
available.
Charging the battery
Only charge the battery in the vehicle when the 
engine is off. Connections, refer to Jump-start-
ing on page136.
Disposal
After replacing old batteries, return the 
used batteries to your MINI dealer or to a 
recycling point. Maintain the battery in an 
upright position for transport and storage. 
Always secure the battery against tipping over 
during transport.<
Power failure
After a temporary power loss, some equipment 
may not be fully functional and may require ini-
tialization. Individual settings are also lost and 
must be reprogrammed:
>Time and date 
These values must be updated, page62.
>Radio 
Stations must be stored again, refer to the 
separate Owner's Manual for Radio.
>Glass sunroof
*, electric
It may only be possible to raise the sunroof, 
if applicable. The system must be initialized. 
Contact your nearest MINI dealer.
Fuses
Do not attempt to repair a blown fuse or 
replace it with a fuse of a different color or 
Ampere rating. To do this could cause a fire in 
the vehicle resulting from a circuit overload. 
Have the fuse changed only by a MINI dealer or 
a workshop that has specially trained personnel 
working in accordance with the specifications of 
the MINI manufacturer.<
A fuse allocation diagram is located on the inside 
of the fuse box cover panels.
In the engine compartment
Opening the cover
Press the latch.
In the vehicle interior
On the right side of the footwell.
Opening the cover
Press out at the recess. 
     
        
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Giving and receiving assistance
136
Giving and receiving assistance
Roadside Assistance
The Roadside Assistance service is there to assist 
you around the clock in the event of a break-
down, including on weekends and public 
holidays.
The phone numbers of the Roadside Assistance 
in your home country can be found in the Con-
tact brochure.
First aid pouch*
Some of the articles contained in the first aid 
pouch have a limited service life. Therefore, 
check the expiration dates of the contents regu-
larly and replace any items in good time, if nec-
essary.
By way of example, the illustration shows the 
cargo bay in the MINI.
The first aid pouch is located on the cargo bay 
floor by the left side trim panel.
Warning triangle*
MINI
On the inside of the tailgate.
Press the tab to take it out.
MINI Convertible
The warning triangle is located at the bottom of 
the luggage compartment floor.
Jump-starting
If the car's own battery is flat, your MINI's engine 
can be started by connecting two jumper cables 
to another vehicle's battery. You can also use 
the same method to help start another vehicle. 
Only use jumper cables with fully-insulated 
clamp handles.
Do not touch any electrically live parts 
when the engine is running, or a fatal acci-
dent may occur. Carefully adhere to the follow-
ing sequence, both to prevent damage to one or 
both vehicles, and to guard against possible per-
sonal injuries.<
Preparation
1.Check whether the battery of the other vehi-
cle has a voltage of 12 volts and approxi-
mately the same capacitance in Ah. This 
information can be found on the battery.
2.Switch off the engine of the support vehicle.
3.Switch off any consumers in both vehicles. 
     
        
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 137
There must not be any contact between 
the bodies of the two vehicles; otherwise, 
there is a danger of shorting.<
Connecting jumper cables
Connect the jumper cables in the correct 
order, so that no sparks which could cause 
injury occur.<
1.Open the battery cover in the engine com-
partment to access the positive terminal of 
your MINI.
2.Attach one terminal clamp of the plus/+ 
jumper cable to the positive terminal of the 
battery or to a starting-aid terminal of the 
vehicle providing assistance.
3.Attach the second terminal clamp of the 
plus/+ jumper cable to the positive terminal 
of the battery or a starting-aid terminal of 
the vehicle to be started.
4.Attach one terminal clamp of the minus/– 
jumper cable to the negative terminal of the 
battery or to an engine or body ground of 
the assisting vehicle.
Body ground in MINI:
5.Attach the second terminal clamp of the 
minus/– jumper cable to the negative termi-
nal of the battery or to the engine or body 
ground of the vehicle to be started.
Starting the engine
1.Start the engine of the donor vehicle and 
allow it to run for a few minutes at slightly 
increased idle speed.
2.Start the engine of the other vehicle in the 
usual manner. 
If the first start attempt is not successful, 
wait a few minutes before another attempt 
in order to allow the discharged battery to 
recharge.
3.Let the engines run for a few minutes.
4.Disconnect the jumper cables by reversing 
the above connecting sequence.
If necessary, have the battery checked and 
recharged.
Never use spray fluids to start the 
engine.<
Tow-starting, 
towing away
Observe the applicable laws and regu-
lations for tow-starting and towing 
vehicles.<
Do not transport any passengers other 
than the driver in a vehicle that is being 
towed.<
Using a tow fitting
The screw-in tow fitting must always be carried 
in the car. It can be screwed in at the front or 
rear of the MINI.
It is stored in the onboard vehicle tool kit in the 
cargo bay underneath the cover on the right-
hand side, page125.
Use only the tow fitting provided with the 
vehicle and screw it all the way in. Use the 
tow fitting for towing on paved roads only. Avoid 
lateral loading of the tow fitting, e.g. do not lift 
the vehicle by the tow fitting. Otherwise, the tow 
fitting and the vehicle could be damaged.<