
Technology for driving comfort and safetyCONTROLS
69
Driving stability control
systems
Your MINI has a number of systems that help to
maintain the vehicle's st ability even in adverse
driving conditions.
The laws of physics cannot be repealed,
even with driving stab ility 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 respon se is maintained even
during full braking. Act ive safety is thus
increased.
Braking safely, refer to page 99.
ABS is operational every time you start the
engine.
Cornering Brake Control CBC
Driving stability and steering characteristics are
further enhanced while braking in turns or dur-
ing a lane change.
Electronic brake-forc e 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
The concept
DSC prevents the driving wheels from losing
traction when you pull away from rest or accel-
erate.
DSC also detects unstable driving conditions
such as when the vehicle' s rear end fishtails or
the vehicle is sliding on its front wheels. In these
cases, DSC helps the vehicle maintain a safe
course within physical limits by reducing engine
output and through brakin g actions at the indi-
vidual wheels.
Every time that the engine is started, the DSC is
ready to operate.
Deactivating DSC
Press the button until the DSC OFF indicator light
on the speedometer is on and DSC OFF is dis-
played on the tachometer. DSC is deactivated.
Stabilizing and pr opulsion promoting actions are
no longer executed.
When driving with snow chains or to 'rock free'
in snow, it can be helpfu l to switch off DSC for a
brief period.
To increase vehicle stability, activate DSC again
as soon as possible.
Activating DSC
Press the button again: the DSC indicator lamps
in the display elements go out.

Technology for driving comfort and safetyCONTROLS
71
Deactivating the DTC* and DSC together
Press the button for at least 3 seconds; the indi-
cator light DSC OFF on the speedometer comes
on and DSC OFF is displayed on the tachometer.
The Dynamic Traction Control DTC and Dynamic
Stability Control DSC are both deactivated. There
will be no more stab ilizing interventions.
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 co mfortably 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 backwa rd 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 backward. <
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.
> Cooper S, John Cooper Works: the engine
sounds more sporty in coasting mode.
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 system does not me asure the actual infla-
tion pressure in the tires.
The system detects a pre ssure loss in a tire by
comparing the rotational speeds of the individ-
ual wheels while moving.
In the event of a pressure loss, the diameter and
therefore the rotational speed of the corre-

LampsCONTROLS
81
Lamps
Parking lamps/low beams
0Lamps off and daytime running lights
1 Parking lamps and daytime running lights
2 Low-beam headlamps and welcome lamps
3 Automatic headlamp control
*, daytime run-
ning lights, welcome lamps, and Adaptive
Light Control
*
When you open the driver's door with the igni-
tion switched off, the exterior lighting is auto-
matically switched off if the light switch is in
position 0, 2 or 3.
Switch on the parking lamps if necessary, switch
position 1.
Parking lamps
Turn the light switch to position 1.
The front, rear and side vehicle lighting is
switched on.
Activation of lights on one side of the vehicle for
parking, page 83.
The parking lamps will discharge the bat-
tery. Therefore, do not leave them on for
unduly long periods of time; otherwise, the bat-
tery might not have enough power to start the
engine. <
Low beams
Turn the light switch to position 2.
The low beams come on when the ignition is on.
Automatic headlamp control*
When the switch is in position 3, the low beams
are switched on and of f automatically depend-
ing on ambient light condit ions, e.g. in a tunnel,
in twilight, or if there is precipitation. Adaptive
Light Control
* is active.
The headlamps may also come on when the sun
is sitting low on a blue sky.
When driving into tunnels with bright overhead
lights, there may be a delay before the head-
lamps come on.
The low beams remain switched on indepen-
dent of the ambient lighting conditions when
you switch on the fog lamps
*.
If the daytime running lights are activated,
page 82, the low beams are al ways switched on
with the light switch in position 3 and the igni-
tion on. The exterior lamps are automatically
switched off after the vehicle is parked.
The automatic headlamp control cannot
serve as a substitute for your personal
judgment in determin ing when the lamps
should be switched on in response to ambient
lighting conditions. For example, the system
cannot detect fog or hazy weather. To avoid
safety risks, you should respond to these kinds
of low-visibility situations by switching the head-
lamps on manually. <
Welcome lamps
If you leave the light switch in the low beam or
automatic headlamp control position when you
switch off the ignition, the parking lamps and
interior lamps come on fo r a certain time as soon
as the vehicle is unlocked.
Pathway lighting
If you activate the headlamp flasher after
switching off the ignition with the lamps
switched off, the lo w beams come on and
remain on for a certain time.

DRIVING TIPSThings to remember when driving
100
increased tendency for corrosion to form on
rotors, while contaminan ts 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.
Cargo loading
To avoid loading the tires beyond their
approved carrying ca pacity, 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 blowout. <
Avoid fluid spills in the cargo area as they
could damage the vehicle. <
Luggage compartment roller cover
Do not place heavy or hard objects on the
luggage compartment roller cover. If you
do so, they may already po se a danger to vehicle
occupants during braking or evasive maneuvers.
Do not allow the luggage compartment roll-up
cover to snap back, ot herwise it can be dam-
aged. < The roll-up cover can be locked in place at the
intermediate positions
1to 3.
The roll-up cover can be removed to load bulky
luggage.
Removing
1. Pull on the handle to roll the cover up.
2. Pivot the roll-up cover upward at both ends,
arrow 1 and move it up out of the holders,
arrow 2.
Installing
1. Insert the left and right ends of the roll-up
cover into the mounts.
2. Push down until the roll-up cover is resting
on the holders.
Expanding the cargo area
The rear set backrest is split. Both sides can be
folded separately to expand the cargo area.
If necessary, remove th e third head restraint,
refer to Head restraints, Removing page 39.

Things to remember when drivingDRIVING TIPS
101
By way of example, the illustration shows the
cargo compartment in the MINI.
1. Pull the lever.
2. Fold rear seat backrests forward.
When folding the backrest back up, make
sure that the seat's locking mechanisms
engage properly. Otherwise, cargo could be
thrown around in the event of sharp braking or
swerving and endanger the occupants. <
Adjusting rear seat backrest*
Expand the cargo area by raising the rear seat
backrests to a steeper angle.
By way of example, the illustration shows the
cargo compartment in the MINI.
1. Pull the lever, arrow 1, and fold the rear seat
backrest forward.
2. Fold up the lever of the backrest lock until it
audibly engages, arrow 2.
3. Fold back the backrest until it engages.
If the rear seat backrests are positioned at
a steeper angle, do not install child
restraint systems in the rear of the vehicle as
their protective features may be ineffective. <
Cargo net*
Ensure that the cargo net is firmly
attached; otherwise, injuries may occur.<
The cargo net can be mounted in the cargo area
or behind the front seats.
In the cargo area
1. Fold the rear seat backrest forward if neces-
sary, page 101.
2. Insert each cargo net mounting pin all the
way into its respective rear mount in the
headliner, arrow 1, and push it forward.
3. Hang the hooks of the cargo net into the
eyelets on the rear cargo well, arrow 2.
Behind the front seats
1. Fold down the rear seat backrests, refer to
Expanding the cargo area.
2. Insert each cargo net mounting pin all the
way into its respective front mount in the
headliner, arrow 1, and push it forward.
3. Fold up the eyelets on the rear seat and
hook the cargo net into them, arrow 2.

NAVIGATIONRoute guidance
120
3."New route for:"
4. Turn the MINI joystick: enter the desired
mileage.
5. Press the MINI joystick.
Resuming the original route
If the route section should no longer be
bypassed:
1."Navigation"
2. "Route information"
3. "New route for:"
4. "Remove blocking"
Recommended refueling
The remaining driving range is calculated, and
gas stations along the route are shown.
1."Navigation"
2. "Route information"
3. "Recommended refuel"
A list of gas stations is displayed.
4. Selecting a gas station.
5. Select the symbol.
6. "Start guidance": the guidance to the
selected gas station is started.
"Add as another destination": the gas sta-
tion is included in the route.
Map display
Displaying map view
1."Navigation"
2. "Map"
Overview
1Toolbar
2 Route segment with traffic obstruction
3 Road sign for traffic obstruction
4 Planned route
5 Current location
6 Upper status box
7 Lower status box
Lines on the map
In the map view, streets and roads are depicted
with different colors and lines according to their
classification. Dotted lines represent railroad
and ferry connections. National borders are
depicted with thin lines.
Traffic obstructions
Small triangles along the planned route identify
route segments with traffic obstructions,
depending on map scale. The direction of the tri-
angles indicates the direction of the obstruction.
Road signs classify the obstructions.
> Red road sign: the obst ruction relates to the
planned route or direction of travel.

MOBILITYRefueling
188
Refueling
Switch off the engine before refueling;
otherwise, fuel cannot be added to the
tank and a message will be displayed. <
Take all precautionary measures and
observe all applicable regulations when
handling fuel. Do not carry any spare fuel con-
tainers in your vehicle. They can develop a leak
and cause an explosion or cause a fire in the
event of an accident. <
Fuel filler flap
Opening
1.Open the fuel filler flap.
2. Turn the fuel cap counterclockwise.
3. Place the fuel cap in the bracket attached to
the fuel filler flap.
Closing
Fit the cap and turn it clockwise until you clearly
hear a click.
Do not pinch the band attached to the
cap; otherwise, the cap cannot be closed
properly and fuel vapors can escape. A message
will be displayed if the fuel cap is loose or miss-
ing. <
Manually releasing the fuel filler flap
In the event of an electrical malfunction, you can
manually release the fuel filler flap:
Pull on the green knob with the fuel pump sym-
bol; the fuel filler flap opens.
Observe the following when refueling
Take all precautionary measures and
observe all applicable regulations when
handling fuel; otherwise, there is a danger of
personal injury an d property damage. <
When refueling, insert the filler nozzle com-
pletely into the filler pipe . Avoid lifting the filler
nozzle while filling the tank, as that would lead
to
> Premature pump shutoff
> Reduced efficiency of the fuel-vapor recov-
ery system.
The fuel tank is full when the filler nozzle clicks
off the first time.
Fuel tank capacity
If the range displayed is less than
30 miles/50 km, be sure to refuel; other-
wise, engine functions are not guaranteed and
damage could occur. <
Approx. 13.2 US gal/50 liters, including the
reserve capacity of 2.1 US gal/8 liters.

MOBILITYUnder the hood
198
Under the hood
Never attempt to perform any service or
repair operations on your vehicle without
the required professional technical training. If
you are not familiar with the regulations to be
observed, have the necessary work on your
vehicle carried out only by a MINI dealer or a
workshop that has specially trained personnel
working in accordance with the specifications of
the MINI manufacturer. If this work is not carried
out properly, there is a danger of subsequent
damage and related safety hazards. <
Hood
Releasing
Pull the lever.
Do not clean the windshield and head-
lamps if the hood is unlocked as this may
damage the headlamp washer system
*. <
Opening
To avoid damage, make sure that the
wiper arms are against the windshield
before you open the hood. <
Press the release handle and open the hood.
Closing
Close the hood from a height of approx. 16 in/
40 cm with momentum. It must be clearly heard
to engage.
If you notice any signs while driving your
vehicle that the hood is not completely
closed, stop at once and close it securely.
Make sure that the closing path of the hood is
clear; otherwise, injuries may result. <