2011 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE Owners Manual

135
AT A GLANCE REFERENCEMOBILITYCONTROLS DRIVING TIPS COMMUNICATIONS
Paintwork, care
Regular care helps your vehicle retain its value
and protects the paint from the long-term
effects of aggressive substances.
In some regions, environmental factors can
affect the vehicle paintwork and damage it. It is
therefore important to adjust the frequency and
extent of vehicle care correspondingly.
Immediately remove aggressive materials such
as spilled fuel, oil, grease, brake fluid, tree sap or
bird droppings to prevent damage to the paint-
work.
Removing paintwork damage
Depending on the severity of the damage,
immediately repair stone damage or
scratches to prevent rusting.<
The manufacturer of the MINI recommends
repairing paint damage professionally according
to factory specifications with original MINI
paints.
Preservation
Preservation is necessary when water no longer
beads on the clean paint surface. To preserve
the paint, only use preservatives that contain
carnauba or synthetic waxes.
Rubber seals
Only treat with water or rubber care products.
Do not use silicon sprays or other silicon-
containing care products on rubber seals;
otherwise, noise and damage could occur.<
Chrome parts*
Carefully clean vehicle parts such as the radiator
grill and door handles with copious quantities of
water and, if necessary, a shampoo additive,
especially when contaminated with road salt.
For additional treatment, use chrome polish.
Light-alloy wheels*
The system produces brake dust that collects on
the light alloy wheels. Clean them regularly with
acid-free wheel cleaner.Do not use aggressive, acid-containing,
highly alkaline, or abrasive cleansers or
steam jets hotter than 1407/606 as they may
cause damage.<
External sensors
Keep the outside sensors on the vehicle
such as the Park Distance Control clean
and ice-free to ensure that they function prop-
erly.<
Internal care
Upholstery/fabrics
Regularly use a vacuum cleaner to remove sur-
face dirt.
In case of serious spots such as liquid stains, use
a soft sponge or lint-free microfiber cloth and
suitable interior cleaners. Observe the instruc-
tions on the packaging.
Clean upholstery up to the seams. Do not
rub forcefully.<
Velcro fasteners on pants or other items of
clothing can damage seat covers. Make
sure that all Velcro fasteners are closed.<
Leather/leather coverings*
The leather processed by the manufac-
turer of your MINI is a high-quality natural
product. Light variations in the grain is one of
the typical properties of natural leather.<
Dust and road grit in the pores and folds of the
leather have an abrasive effect, leading to
increased wear and causing the leather surface
to become brittle prematurely. Use a cloth or
vacuum cleaner to remove dust on a regular
basis.
Especially when the leather has a light color, it
should be cleaned regularly since it tends to get
heavily soiled.
Treat the leather twice a year using a leather
lotion since dirt and grease will gradually attack
the leather's protective layer.

Care
136
Carpets/floor mats*
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.
O n l y u s e f l o o r m a t s t h a t h a v e b e e n a p p r o v e d f o r
the vehicle and can be appropriately fastened.
Make sure that the floor mats are securely fas-
tened again after they have been removed, e.g.
for cleaning.<
Floor mats can be removed to be cleaned.
If the carpets are very dirty, clean with a microfi-
ber cloth and water or an interior cleaner. When
doing so, rub forward and back in the driving
direction; otherwise, the carpet may become
matted.
Interior plastic parts
These include:
>Plastic surfaces
>Lamp glass
>Display panes
>Mat parts
Only clean with water and, if necessary, solvent-
free plastic cleaners.
Do not use solvents such as alcohol, lac-
quer thinner, cold cleaners, fuel, or similar,
as these will damage the surfaces.<
Decorative strips*
Only clean decorative strips with moist cloths.
Wipe dry with a soft cloth.
Safety belts
Dirty belt straps impede the reeling action and
thus have a negative impact on safety.
Do not clean chemically, as this may
destroy the webbing.<
Displays
To clean displays such as radios or display ele-
ments, use a display cleaning cloth or a soft,
non-scratching, lint-free cloth.
Avoid pressing too hard when cleaning
the display as this can cause damage.<
Do not use chemical or abrasive house-
hold cleaning agents. Keep fluids of any
kind away from the device. Surfaces or electrical
components may otherwise become corroded
or damaged.<
CD/DVD drives
Do not use cleaning CDs as this could
damage parts of the drive.<
Vehicle storage
If you are not going to drive your car for more
than three months, please ask for advice from
your MINI dealer or a workshop that works
according to MINI manufacturer specifications.

137
AT A GLANCE REFERENCEMOBILITYCONTROLS DRIVING TIPS COMMUNICATIONS
Replacing components
On-board vehicle tool kit
Your vehicle comes with an onboard vehicle tool
kit that varies with the equipment version; it is
stored underneath the flat load floor.
>Mobility System with onboard vehicle tool
kit and tire change set
*142
>Tire change set with onboard vehicle tool kit
for space-saver spare tire144
Wiper blades
Changing the front wiper blades
1.Fold up the wiper arm.
2.Position the wiper blade horizontally.
3.Press the securing spring, arrow.
4.Unhook the wiper blade toward the wind-
shield.
5.Pull the wiper blade past the wiper arm
toward the top.
6.Insert the new wiper blade.7.Press into position until you hear it engage.
8.Fold down the wiper arm.
To avoid damage, make sure that the
wiper arms are against the windshield
before you open the hood.<
MINI: changing the rear wiper blade
1.Fold up the wiper arm.
2.Rotate the wiper blade toward the back as
far as it will go, arrow.
3.Press the wiper blade against the limit and
thus out of the mounting.
4.Press the new wiper blade into the fixture
until it engages audibly.
Lamps and bulbs
Lamps and bulbs make an essential contribution
to vehicle safety. They should, therefore, be
handled carefully. The manufacturer of your
MINI recommends having your MINI dealer per-
f o r m a n y w o r k t h a t y o u d o n o t f e e l c o m p e t e n t t o
perform yourself or that is not described here.
Never touch the glass of new bulbs with
your bare fingers, as even minute
amounts of contamination will burn into the
bulb's surface and reduce its service life. Use a
clean tissue, cloth or something similar, or hold
the bulb by its base.<
You can obtain a selection of replacement bulbs
at your MINI dealer.

Replacing components
138
When working on electrical systems,
always begin by switching off the con-
sumer in question; otherwise, short circuits
could result. To avoid possible injury or equip-
ment damage when replacing bulbs, observe
any instructions provided by the bulb manufac-
turer.<
Caring for headlamps, refer to page134.
For any bulb replacement not described
below, contact a MINI dealer or a work-
shop that has specially trained personnel work-
ing in accordance with the specifications of the
MINI manufacturer.<
For checking and adjusting headlamp aim,
please contact your MINI dealer.<
Light-emitting diodes LEDs
Light-emitting diodes installed behind translu-
cent lenses serve as the light sources for many of
the controls and displays in your vehicle. These
light-emitting diodes are related to conven-
tional laser diodes, and legislation defines them
as Class 1 light-emitting diodes.
Do not remove the covers or expose the
eyes directly to the unfiltered light source
for several hours; otherwise, this could cause
irritation of the retina.<
Headlight glass lens
In cool or humid weather, condensation may
occur on the interior of outside lights. The con-
densation disappears a short time after the light
is switched on. The headlamp glasses do not
need to be changed. If a lot of moisture is
present, e.g. water droplets in the light, have
them checked by your service center.
Xenon lamps*
The service life of these bulbs is very long and
the probability of failure very low, provided that
they are not switched on and off an excessive
number of times. If a xenon lamp fails neverthe-
less, switch on the fog lamps and continue the
journey with great care, provided that local leg-
islation does not prohibit this.Have any work on the xenon lamp system,
including bulb replacement, carried out
only by a MINI dealer or a workshop that has
specially trained personnel working in accor-
dance with the specifications of the MINI manu-
facturer. Due to high voltage, there is a risk of
fatal injury if work on the xenon lamps is carried
out improperly.<
Halogen low beams and high beams
H13 bulb, 60/55 watts
The H13 bulb is pressurized. Therefore,
wear safety glasses and protective gloves.
Otherwise, there is a risk of injury if the bulb is
damaged.<
Be careful when installing the cover; oth-
erwise, leaks could occur and cause dam-
age to the headlamp system.<
Accessing the lamp from the engine
compartment
The low-beam/high-beam bulb can be changed
from the engine compartment.
Removing the cover:
1.Press the tab.
2.Flip open the cover and take it out of the
holder.
Follow the same steps in reverse order to reat-
tach the cover.
Be careful when installing the cover; oth-
erwise, leaks could occur and cause dam-
age to the headlamp system.<

139
AT A GLANCE REFERENCEMOBILITYCONTROLS DRIVING TIPS COMMUNICATIONS
Replacing the bulb
1.Turn the lamp counterclockwise, arrow1,
and remove it, arrow2.
2.Push on the catch, arrow 1, and disconnect
the connector, arrow2.
3.To insert the new bulb and replace the
cover, proceed in reverse order.
Turn signals, parking lamps, roadside
parking lamps, and fog lamps
Accessing the lamps via the wheel well
1Turn signal
2Parking/roadside parking/fog lamps
Replacing a turn signal bulb
21 watt bulb, PY 21 W
1.Turn in the wheel.2.Remove cover 1.
To do so, turn the cover counterclockwise.
3.Remove the inside cover.
To do so, turn the cover counterclockwise.
4.Unscrew the bulb counterclockwise.
5.To insert the new bulb and replace the cov-
ers, proceed in reverse order.
Replacing a parking/roadside parking
lamp bulb
5watt bulb, W5W
1.Turn in the wheel.
2.Remove cover 2.
To do so, turn the cover counterclockwise.
3.Unscrew the upper bulb counterclockwise.
4.To insert the new bulb and replace the
cover, proceed in reverse order.

Replacing components
140
Replacing a fog lamp bulb
H8 bulb, 35 watts
1.Turn in the wheel.
2.Remove cover 2.
To do so, turn the cover counterclockwise.
3.Pull the cable connector.
4.Unscrew the lower bulb counterclockwise.
5.To insert the new bulb and replace the
cover, proceed in reverse order.
Side turn signals
5 watt bulb, W 5 W
1.Push the lamp with the ventilation grate for-
ward and remove.
2.Unscrew the bulb holder counterclockwise.
3.Pull out and replace the bulb.
4.To insert the new bulb and replace the
cover, proceed in reverse order.
Tail lamps
1Turn signal
LED
2Tail lamp
bulb 21 Watt/5 Watt, W 5 W
3Brake lamp
bulb 21 Watt/5 Watt, W 5 W
Lamp access
MINI:
Remove the cover from the sidewall of the cargo
area.
MINI Convertible:
Move the convertible top to its uppermost posi-
tion, refer to Loading aid page95, and remove
the cover of the luggage compartment side wall.

141
AT A GLANCE REFERENCEMOBILITYCONTROLS DRIVING TIPS COMMUNICATIONS
Changing
1.Unscrew the desired bulb counterclockwise,
arrows1.
Another bulb is located behind the luggage
compartment side wall, arrow2.
2.To insert the new bulb and replace the
cover, proceed in reverse order.
Rear fog lamps*/Reverse lights
Bulbs 16 Watt, W 16W
Access the lamps via the rear or underside of the
bumper.
1.Squeeze clamping clips, arrows, and remove
bulb holder.
2.Unscrew bulb counterclockwise and
replace.
3.To insert the new bulb and bulb holder, pro-
ceed in reverse order.
4.Re-enga ge the bulb holde r so th at it au dibly
clicks into place.
License plate lamps
5watt bulb, C5W
1.Using a screwdriver, push the lamp to the
left in the tab of the lamp housing, arrow1.
2.Remove the lamp, arrow 2.
3.Replace the bulb.
4.Insert the lamp.
Center brake lamp
This lamp uses LED technology for operation. In
the event of a malfunction, contact your MINI
dealer or a workshop that has specially trained
personnel working in accordance with the spec-
ifications of your MINI manufacturer.
Repairing a flat tire
Safety measures in the event of a break-
down:
Park the vehicle as far as possible from moving
traffic and switch on the hazard warning flash-
ers.
Turn the steering wheel until the front wheels
are in the straight-ahead position and engage
the steering wheel lock. Engage the parking
brake and shift into 1st or reverse gear or place
the selector lever in position P.
All passengers should be outside the vehicle and
in a safe place, e.g. behind a guardrail.
Erect a warning triangle or warning flasher at the
appropriate distance if necessary. Comply with
all safety guidelines and regulations.<
In the event of a flat tire, different procedures
should be followed depending on the equip-
ment included in your vehicle:

Replacing components
142
>MINI Mobility System, refer to the following
section
>Run-flat tires, page125
>Tire change with space-saver spare tire,
page144
MINI Mobility System with onboard
vehicle tool kit and tire change set*
Preparations
Use of the MINI Mobility System may be ineffec-
tive if the tire puncture measures approx. 1/8 in/
4 mm or more. Contact the nearest MINI dealer
if the tire cannot be made drivable with the
Mobility System.
Do not remove foreign bodies which have pen-
etrated the tire if possible.
Follow the instructions on using the Mobil-
ity System found on the compressor and
the sealant bottle.<
Remove the adhesive label for the speed limit
from the sealant bottle and affix it to the steer-
ing wheel.
The Mobility System with onboard vehicle tool
kit and tire change set
* is located under the
floor mat in the cargo area.
1Sealant bottle
2Hexagon wrench
*
3Extractor hook*
4Vehicle jack*
5Wheel stud wrench
6Flat screwdriver/Phillips screwdriver, towing
eyelet
7Compressor
Sealant and compressor
1Sealant bottle and adhesive label with speed
limit
2Filling hose
Note the use-by date on the sealant bot-
tle.<
3Holder for the sealant bottle
4Compressor
5Plug and cable for the socket in the vehicle
interior, page87
6Connection hose to connect the compressor
and sealant bottle or the compressor and
wheel
7On/off switch
8Pressure gauge for indicating the tire infla-
tion pressure
9Release button for reducing the tire inflation
pressure
Connector, cable and connection hose are
stored in the compressor housing.