Controls overview
70
7.Set the month and year in the same way.
8.Wait for the display to change.
The settings are stored.
On the onboard monitor
Setting the date
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 "Time / Date".
5.Select "Date".
6.Select "Set date".
7.Turn the MINI joystick to make the
adjustment.
8.Press the MINI joystick to apply the setting.
The next setting is highlighted.
9.Make the remaining adjustments. After the
last adjustment, the date is stored.
Setting the date format
The settings are stored for the remote control
currently in use, refer also to Personal Profile on
page26.
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 "Time / Date".
5.Select "Date".6.Select "Date format".
7.Select the desired format.
Check Control
The concept
The Check Control monitors vehicle functions
and alerts you to any malfunctions in the sys-
tems monitored. Check Control messages
involve indicator and warning lamps in the dis-
play and, in some circumstances, an acoustic
signal as well as text messages at the bottom of
the Control Display.
Indicator and warning lamps
Indicator and warning lamps can light up in var-
ious combinations and colors in the indicator
areas 1 and2.
Explanatory text messages
Text messages at the lower edge of the Control
Display explain the meaning of the displayed
indicator and warning lamps.
Controls overview
72
3.Press the button repeatedly until the display
shows the corresponding symbol and
"CHECK INFO".
4.Hold the button down.
"CHECK OK" appears if there are no Check
Control messages.
If a Check Control message has been stored,
the corresponding message is displayed. In
addition, the text message appears on the
Control Display.
5.Briefly press the button to check for other
messages.
Viewing more information later
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 "Info sources".
4.Select "Service Info".5.If necessary, move the highlight marker to
the uppermost field. Select "Check Control
messages".
6.Select a text message.
Exit display:
Select the arrow.
Speed limit
Enter a speed, and a Check Control message will
indicate when you reach this speed. This enables
you, for example, to receive warnings if you
exceed a speed limit in an urban area.
You are only warned of reaching this speed a
second time if your vehicle speed falls below it
again by at least 3 mph or 5 km/h.
Displaying, setting or changing the limit
Onboard monitor, for operating principle refer
to page16.
1.Press the button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Move the MINI joystick to highlight "Naviga-
tion" and press the MINI joystick.
3.Select "Car Data".
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NAVIGATION REFERENCE
4.Select "Limit".
5.Select "Change limit:".
6.Turn the MINI joystick to set the limit.
7.Press the MINI joystick to apply the setting.
The limit is automatically activated.
Applying your current speed as limit
Select "Select current speed".
The system adopts your current speed as the
limit.
Activating the limit
Select "On".
Limit is activated.
Stopwatch
Onboard monitor, for operating principle refer
to page16.
1.Press the button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Move the MINI joystick to highlight "Naviga-
tion" and press the MINI joystick.
3.Select "Car Data".
4.Select "Stopwatch".
Starting, stopping or resetting
>Select "Start".
The stopwatch starts at the displayed time.
>Select "Reset".
The stopwatch is reset and restarts if it was
running beforehand.
>Select "Stop".
This stops the timer.
Taking an interim time reading
Select "Interim time".
The interim time appears below the ongoing pri-
mary stopwatch count.
All of the remaining functions remain available
at all times while the stopwatch is running. The
stopwatch continues operation in the back-
ground.
Altering settings
Language on the Control Display
The language of the Control Display can be set.
Refer to the basic principles on page16. The
setting is stored for the remote control currently
in use.
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 "Language / Units".
Controls overview
74
5.Select "Language".
6.Select "Text language".
The language for the display texts and navi-
gation messages can be changed.
7.Select the desired language.
Brightness of the Control Display
The brightness is automatically adapted to the
ambient lighting conditions. Note, however,
that you can change the basic setting while the
low beams are switched on. The setting is stored
for the remote control currently in use.
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 "Display settings".
5.Select "Brightness".
6.Select "Brightness".
7.Turn the MINI joystick until the desired set-
ting is reached.
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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. 6.5 ft/
2 m. 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 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.
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".
Technology for driving comfort and safety
76
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 page103.
Among others, ABS includes the following func-
tions:
>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 output
and through braking actions at the individual
wheels.
Technology for driving comfort and safety
78
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 Assist
Hill 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 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 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.<
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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
*, page193, 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 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".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
maneuvers.
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, page174.<