Things to remember when drivingDRIVING TIPS
91
Hydroplaning
When driving on wet or slushy roads,
reduce road speed. If you do not, a wedge
of water can form betw een tires and road sur-
face. This situation, known as hydroplaning, can
cause partial or complete loss of tire contact
with the road surface, so that the car cannot be
steered or braked properly. <
The risk of hydroplaning increases with declining
tread depth on the tires, refer also to Tread
depth on page 133.
Driving through water
Drive through water on the road only if it is
not deeper than 1 ft/30 cm, and then only
at walking speed at the most. Otherwise, the
vehicle's engine, the electrical systems and the
transmission may be damaged. <
Parking brake on inclines
On inclines, do not hold the vehicle with
the clutch; use the parking brake. Other-
wise, greater clutch wear will result. <
For information on drivin g off using Hill Assist,
refer to page 63.
Braking safely
Your MINI is equipped with ABS. If you are in a
situation which requires full braking, it is best to
brake using maximum brake pressure. Since the
vehicle maintains steeri ng responsiveness, you
can still avoid possible obstacles with a mini-
mum of steering effort.
The pulsation of the brake pedal, together with
the sound of hydraulic regulation, indicates that
ABS is functioning properly.
Objects in the move ment range of the
pedals
Keep floor mats, carpet, and other objects
out of the movement range of the pedals;
otherwise, they may inhibit the function of the
pedals during driving.
Do not place additional floor mats onto an exist-
ing one or onto other objects. Only use floor mats that
have been approved for
the vehicle and can be appropriately fastened.
Make sure that the floo r mats are securely fas-
tened again after they have been removed, e.g.
for cleaning. <
Driving in wet conditions
When roads are wet or ther e is heavy rain, briefly
exert gentle pressure on the brake pedal every
few miles. Monitor traffic conditions to ensure
that this maneuver does not endanger other
road users. The heat generated in this process
helps dry the pads and rotors to ensure that
Then full braking force will be immediately avail-
able when it is needed.
Hills
To prevent overheatin g and the resulting
reduced efficiency of the brake system,
drive long or steep downhill gradients in the
gear in which the least braking is required. Even
light but consistent brake pressure can lead to
high temperatures, brake wear and possibly
even brake failure. <
You can increase the engine's braking effect by
shifting down, all the way to first gear if neces-
sary. This strategy helps you avoid placing
excessive loads on the brake system. Downshift-
ing in manual mo de of the automatic transmis-
sion, page 45.
Never drive with the clutch held down,
with the transmission in neutral or with
the engine switched off; otherwise, engine brak-
ing action will not be present or there will be no
power assistance to th e brakes or steering.
Never allow floor mats, carpets or any other
objects to protrude into the area around the
pedals; otherwise, pedal function could be
impaired. <
Corrosion on brake rotors
When the vehicle is driven only occasionally,
during extended periods when the vehicle is not
used at all, and in operating conditions where
brake applications are less frequent, there is an
COMMUNICATIONSTelephone
112
Telephone
Overview
The concept
Mobile phones or other external devices, e.g.
audio players, can be connected to the vehicle
via Bluetooth.
Bluetooth® is a registered trademark of Blue-
tooth® SIG, Inc.
Your MINI is equipped with a complete mobile
phone preparation. After a suitable mobile
phone is paired with the vehicle once, the
mobile phone can be controlled via the radio,
the buttons
* on the steering wheel, and by
voice
*.
It may be necessary for some functions to be
activated by the mobile phone provider. Only make entries when traffic conditions
permit. Do not hold the mobile phone in
your hand while you are driving; use the hands-
free system instead. If you do not observe this
precaution, your being distracted can endanger
vehicle occupants and other road users. <
Snap-in adapter*
The snap-in adapter, refer to page123, makes it
possible to:
> Accommodate the mobile phone.
> Recharge its battery.
> Connect it to an exte rnal antenna of the
vehicle.
This assures a better network connection
and constant sound quality.
A mobile phone that is connected to the vehicle
should not be operated via the mobile phone
keypad; otherwise, ma lfunctions may occur.
Suitable mobile phones
For precise information as to which mobile
phones and external devices with Bluetooth
interfaces are supported by the mobile phone
preparation, go to ww w.mini.com/connectivity.
*
MOBILITYWheels and tires
128
Wheels and tires
Tire inflation pressures
Information for your safety
It is not merely the tires' service life, but also
driving comfort and, to a great extent, driving
safety that depend on the condition of the tires
and the maintenance of the specified tire pres-
sure.
Checking pressure
Check the tire inflation pressure regularly
and correct it, if necessary: at least twice a
month and before starting long trips. If you fail
to observe this precauti on you may be driving
on tires with incorrect ti re pressures, a condition
that can not only compromise your vehicle's
driving stability, but also l e a d t o t i r e d a m a g e a n d
the risk of an accident. Do not drive with
deflated, i.e. flat tires, except when using run-
flat tires. A flat tire will seriously impair your
vehicle's handling and braking response.
Att empt s to drive o n a flat t ire can lead to lo ss of
control over the vehicle. <
Check the tire inflation pressures only on cold
tires. This means after a maximum of 1.25 miles/
2 km driving or when the vehicle has been
parked for at least 2 hou rs. When tires are warm,
the tire inflation pressure is higher.
After adjusting the tire inflation pressure,
reinitialize the flat tire monitor, page 64,
or reset the Tire Pressure Monitor, page 66.<
Checking the tire inflation pressure of
the compact tire*
To check the inflation pressure, fold up the flat
load floor. Remove the onboard vehicle toolkit
and the space-saver sp are tire, refer to
page 154.
Inflation pressure specifications
The tables below provide all the correct inflation
pressures for the specified tire sizes at ambient
temperature.
The tire inflation pressures apply to the
tire sizes approved and the tire brands
recommended by the manufacturer of your
MINI. Your MINI dealer will be glad to advise
you. <
For correct identification of the right tire infla-
tion pressures, ob serve the following:
> Tire sizes for your vehicle
> Maximum allowable driving speed
Tire inflation pressures for driving up to
100 mph or 160 km/h
For normal driving up to 100 mph or 160 km/h
and to achieve optimum driving comfort, adjust
pressures to the respective tire inflation values
listed on the following pages in the columns for
traveling speeds up to a maximum of 100 mph
or 160 km/h.
These tire inflation pre ssures can also be found
on the driver's side door pillar when the driver's
door is open.
The maximum permitted speed for these
tire inflation pressures is 100 mph or
160 km/h. Do not exceed this speed; otherwise,
tire damage and accidents may occur. <
Wheels and tiresMOBILITY
133
M+S
Winter and all-season tires.
These have better winter properties than sum-
mer tires.
XL
Designation for specially reinforced tires.
Tire condition
Inspect your tires regula rly for tread wear, signs
of damage and for foreig n objects lodged in the
tread. Check the tread depth.
Tread depth
The tread depth should not drop below 1/8 in/
3 mm, although, for exam ple, European legis-
lation only specifies a minimum tread depth of
1/16 in/1.6 mm. At tread depths below 1/8 in/
3 mm there is an increased risk of high-speed
hydroplaning, even when only small amounts of
water are present on the road surface.
Winter tires
When winter tires wear down past a tread depth
of 1/6 in/4 mm, they become perceptibly less
suitable for winter conditions. In the interest of
safety, new tires should be installed.
Minimum tread depth
Wear indicators in the base of the tread groove
are distributed around the tire's circumference;
the letters TWI, for Tread Wear Indicator, on the
tire's sidewalls identify tires that incorporate
these wear indicators. When tire tread is worn down to the level of the wear indicators, the
remaining tread depth is 1/16 in/1.6 mm.
Tire damage
Due to low-profile tires, please note that wheels,
tires and suspensions parts are more susceptible
to road hazards and consequential damages.
Unusual vibrations encountered during normal
vehicle operation can indicate tire failure or
some other vehicle defect
. This can, for exam-
ple, be caused by driving over curbs. The same
applies to any other ab normal road behavior,
such as pulling severely to the right or left.
In these cases, reduce speed immediately
and have wheels an d tires thoroughly
checked. To do so, drive carefully to the nearest
MINI dealer or tire shop that works according to
MINI repair procedures with correspondingly
trained personnel. If necessary, have the vehicle
towed there.
Otherwise, tire damage can be extremely dan-
gerous for vehicle occupants and other road
users. <
Tire age
The manufacturing date of tires is contained in
the tire coding:
DOT ... 0211 means that the tire was manufac-
tured in week 2 of 2011.
For various reasons, such as the development of
brittleness, the manufacturer of your MINI rec-
ommends tire replacemen t after no more than
6 years, regardless of th e actual wear of the
tires.
MOBILITYWheels and tires
134
Run-flat tires*
The symbol identifying run-flat tires is a circle
with the letters RSC on the sidewall.
Run-flat tires comprise a conditionally self-sup-
porting tire and a special rim. The reinforcement
in the sidewalls ensures that the tire can con-
tinue to be used subject to certain restrictions,
even if depressurized.
For information on continui ng to drive with a flat
tire, refer to Indication of a flat tire, page 64.
New wheels and tires
Have new wheels and tires mounted only
by your MINI dealer or a specialized tire
shop that has specially trained personnel work-
ing in accordance with the specifications of the
MINI manufacturer. If this work is not carried out
properly, there is a danger of subsequent dam-
age and related safety haza rds. Make sure that
the new wheels are balanced. <
Retreaded tires
The manufacturer of your MINI recom-
mends that you avoid using retreaded
tires, as this could impair driving safety. The
causes for this include potentially different tire
casing structures and often wide variations in
tire age, which can resu lt in a limited service
life.<
Correct wheels and tires
The manufacturer of your MINI recom-
mends mounting only wheels and tires that it has specifically approved for use on your
particular model. Although other wheels and
tires may theoretically have the same dimen-
sions, variations in factors such as manufactur-
ing tolerances can result
in contact between tire
and bodywork, ultimately leading to serious
accidents. The manufacturer of your MINI can-
not evaluate non-approved wheels and tires to
determine if they are suited for use, and there-
fore cannot ensure the operating safety of the
vehicle if they are mounted. <
Your MINI dealer will be glad to inform you
about the correct wheel an d tire combination for
your vehicle.
The correct combin ation of wheels and tires is
also necessary to ensure reliable operation of
various vehicle systems such as ABS and DSC.
To maintain good handling and vehicle
response, use only tires of a single brand and
tread configuration. Afte r a tire has been dam-
aged, mount the previous wheel and tire combi-
nation again as soon as possible.
Wheels with Tire Pr essure Monitor TPM
electronics
When mounting new tires or changing over from
summer to winter tires, or vice versa, only use
wheels with TPM electronics; otherwise, the Tire
Pressure Monitor may not be able to detect a
puncture, refer to page 66. Your MINI dealer will
be glad to advise you.
Recommended tire brands
For each tire size, the manufacturer of your MINI
recommends certain tire brands. They are
MOBILITYMaintenance
140
Maintenance
MINI Maintenance System
The MINI Maintenance System supports the
preservation of the traffic and operating safety
of your MINI. The objective is to optimize efforts
with respect to minimal vehicle maintenance
costs.
If and when you come to sell your MINI, a com-
prehensive record of serv icing will prove a signif-
icant benefit.
Condition Based Service CBS
Sensors and special algorithms take the different
driving conditions of your MINI into account.
Condition Based Service uses this to determine
the current and future se rvice requirements. By
letting you define a service and maintenance
regimen that reflects your own individual
requirements, the system builds the basis for
trouble-free driving.
In the tachometer, you can have the remaining
times or distances for selected maintenance
tasks and any legally prescribed dates displayed,
page 56.
Service data in the remote control
Your vehicle continuously stores service-
requirement information in the remote control
while you are driving. Your MINI dealer can read
out this data from the remote control unit, and
propose an optimized maintenance approach.
Whenever you take your car in for servicing you should therefore hand your MINI dealer the
remote control unit that you last used.
Make sure that the date in the tachometer
is always set correctly, page 58; otherwise,
the effectiveness of Condition Based Service CBS
is not assured. <
Service and Warranty Information
Booklet for US mode ls and Warranty and
Service Guide Booklet for Canadian
models
Please consult your Service and Warranty Infor-
mation Booklet for US models and Warranty and
Service Guide Booklet for Canadian models for
additional information on service requirements.
The manufacturer of the MINI recom-
mends that you have service and repair
operations performed at your MINI dealer.
Take the time to ensure that these service pro-
cedures are confirmed by entries in your vehi-
cle's Service and Warran ty Information Booklet
for US models and Warranty and Service Guide
Booklet for Canadian models. These entries ver-
ify that your vehicle has received the specified
regular maintenance. <
180
REFERENCEEverything from A to Z
Everything from A to Z
INDEX
A
ABS Antilock Brake System61
Accessories, refer to Your individual vehicle 4
Acknowledgment signals for
locking/unlocking vehicle 22
Activated-charcoa l filter for
automatic climate control 82
Adaptive Light Control 74
Additives
– coolant 139
– engine oil 138
Adjusting temperature inside the car, refer to Air
conditioner 79
Adjusting temperature inside the car, refer to Automatic
climate control 80
Air conditioner 78
Air conditioning mode
– air conditioner 79
– automatic cl imate control80
– ventilation 82
Air distribution
– automatic 81
– individual 80
– manual 80
Air flow rate 79,81
– air conditioning system 79
– automatic cl imate control81
– heating, ventilation 79
Air outlets, refer to Air vents 78
Air pressure, checking, refer to Tire inflation pressure 128
Air recirculation, refer to Recir-
culated-air mode 79,81
Air supply
– air conditioner 79
– automatic cl imate control80
– ventilation 82 Air vents
78
Airbags 69
– sitting safely 32
– warning lamp 71
Airing, refer to Ventilation82
AKI, refer to Fuel grade 127
Alarm system 27
All-season tires, refer to Winter tires 135
Ambient air, refer to Recircu- lated-air mode 79,81
Ambient lighting 77
Antenna, care 142
Antifreeze
– coolant 139
– washer fluid 49
Anti
lock Brake System ABS 61
Anti-theft alarm system, refer
to Alarm system 27
Anti-theft system 21
Approved axle loads, refer to Weights 178
Approved engine oils 138
Approved gross vehicle weight, refer to Weights 178
Armrest, refer to Center
armrest 85
Ashtray 87
Assistant systems, refer to
– Dynamic Stability Control DSC 61
Audio device, external 85
AUTO program for automatic climate control 81
Auto radio, refer to Radio MINI
Boost CD 100
Automatic
– air distribution 81
– air flow rate 81
– cruise control 49
– headlamp control 72Automatic climate control
78
– automatic air distribution 81
Automatic station search 101
Automatic station storage 102
Automatic transmission with Steptronic 43
– interlock 44
– overriding selector lever lock 45
– shiftlock 44
– sport program 45
AUX In connection 100
AUX-IN, refer to External audio device 85
Average fuel consumption 52
– setting the units 55
Average speed 52
Axle loads, refer to
Weights 178
B
Background lighting, refer to
Ambient lighting 77
Backrests, refer to Seats 33
Backup lamps
– replacing bulb 150
Band-aids, refer to First aid pouch 157
Bar, refer to Tow-starting, towing away 159
Base plate for telephone or
mobile phone
– refer to Snap-in adapter 123
Battery 155
– charging 155
– disposal 30,155
– jump-starting 157
– temporary power failure 155
Battery renewal
– remote control 30
REFERENCEEverything from A to Z
182
Child restraint systems38
Child seats 38
Chrome parts, care 144
Chrome parts, refer to
Care 142
Cigarette lighter 87
Cleaning headlamps 48
– washer fluid 49
Clock
– 12 h/24 h mode 55
– setting time 57
Closing
– from inside 24
– from outside 21
Clothes hooks 86
Club Door 26
Cockpit 10
Cold start, refer to Starting the engine 42
Comfort Access 28
– replacing the battery 30
– what to observe before
entering a car wash 29
Comfort area, refer to Around the center console 14
Compartment for remote control, refer to Ignition
lock 41
Compressed audio files 105
Computer 52
Condensation, refer to When the vehicle is parked 92
Condition Based Service
CBS 140
Configuring settings, refer to Personal Profile 20
Connecting vacuum cleaner, refer to Connecting electrical
appliances 87
Consumption, refer to Average fuel consumption 52
Control Display
– settings 53
Controls and displays 10
Convenient access, refer to
Comfort Access 28 Convenient operation
– windows
22
Convenient start, refer to Starting the engine 42
Coolant 139
– checking level 139
– filling 139
Coolant temperature 139
Cooling fluid, refer to Coolant 139
Cooling, maximum 81
Copyright 2
Cornering light, refer to
Adaptive Light Control 74
Cruising range 52
Cupholders 87
Curb weight, refer to Weights 178
C
urrent fuel consumption 52
D
Dashboard instruments, refer
to Displays 12
Dashboard lighting, refer to
Instrument lighting 76
Dashboard, refer to Cockpit 10
Data 176
– capacities 179
– dimensions 177
– engine 176
– weights 178
Data memory 141
Date
– setting 58
Date setting 101
Daytime running lights 73
DBC Dynamic Brake Control, refer to Brake Assist 61
Deactivating front passenger airbags 70
Deadlocking, refer to
Locking 22
Defect
– door lock 24
– fuel filler flap 126
Defogging windows 80,82 Defrost positi
on, refer to
Defrosting windows 80,82
Defrosting windows 80,82
Defrosting windows and
removing condensation
– air conditioner 80
– automatic climate control 82
Defrosting windshield, refer to Defrosting windows 80,82
Differential, breaking in 90
Digital radio, refer to HD Radio 103
Dimensions 177
Dipstick, engine oil 137
Directional indicators, refer to Turn signals 46
Displacement, refer to Engine data 176
Display lighting, refer to
Instrument lighting 76
Displays 12
– instrument cluster 12
Displays and controls 10
Displays, care 145
Disposal
– of coolant 139
– remote control battery 30
– vehicle battery 155
Distance remaining to service, refer to Service
requirements 56
Distance warning, refer
to Park
Distance Control PDC 60
Door
– rear, refer to Club Door 26
Door key, refer to Integrated
key/remote control 20
Door lock 24
Door lock, confirmation
signals 22
Doors, manual operation 24
DOT Quality Grades 132
Double doors, refer to Split Rear Barn Doors 26
Drinks holders, refer to
Cupholders 87