2011 MINI COOPER tow

MOBILITYCare
154
Steam jets/high-pressure washers
When using steam jets or high-pressure
washers, make sure that you maintain
sufficient distance fr om the vehicle and do
not exceed a maximum temperature of 140 7/
60 6 .
If the distance is too close, the pressure too high,
or the temperature too high, parts of the vehicle
can be damaged, or water can penetrate.
Observe the operating instructions for high-
pressure washers. <
Do not spray sensors such as the Park
Distance Control wi th high-pressure
washers for a long time or at a distance of less
than 1 ft/30 cm. <
Manual washing
Use a great deal of water and, if necessary, car
shampoo when washing your car by hand. Clean
the vehicle with a sponge or a washing brush
applying a slight amount of pressure.
Before cleaning the windshield, deacti-
vate the rain sensor or turn off the ignition
to prevent unintentional wiping. <
Observe local regulations regarding
washing vehicles by hand. <
Headlamps
Do not wipe dry and do not use abrasive or
corrosive cleaning agents. Remove dirt and
contamination, such as in sects, by soaking with
shampoo and then washing with plenty of
water.
Do not remove accumulated ice and snow with
an ice scraper; use window deicers instead.
Windows
Clean the outside and inside of the windows and
mirrors with a window cleaner.
Do not clean the mirrors with cleaners
containing quartz.<
Wiper blades
Clean with soapy water and change regularly to
prevent the formation of streaks.Wax, preservatives and dirt on the win-
dows cause streaks wh en the windshield
wipers are on, and can cause premature wear of
the wiper blades and interfere with the rain
sensor. <
Care of the convertible top
The appearance and service life of the convert-
ible top largely depends on its proper care and
operation.
Please follow these instructions:
>Never attempt to fold and stow the convert-
ible top in the convertible compartment
when the top is wet or frozen. Otherwise,
water stains, mildew, and chafe marks may
occur.
> If water spots occur on the inside headliner
despite precautions, remove them using a
microfiber cloth and interior cleaner.
> If the vehicle is parked in an enclosed area
for a longer period of time, make sure that
there is sufficient ventilation.
> Remove any bird droppings immediately,
since they have corrosive properties which
will corrode the conver tible top and damage
the rubber seals.
When attempting to remove stains from
the convertible top, do not use spot
removers, paint thinners, solvents, gasoline, or
similar fluids. These cleaners may damage the
rubber seals. The improper care or cleaning
methods may cause the convertible top and its
seams to leak. <
Use special convertible top cleaning agents if
attempting to remove heavy stains.
Always read and follow the manufacturer's
instructions.
Use an impregnating agent to treat the convert-
ible top once a year.

Replacing componentsMOBILITY
157
Replacing components
Onboard vehicle toolkit
Your vehicle comes with an onboard vehicle
toolkit that varies with the equipment version; it
is stored underneath the flat load floor.
With the MINI Mobility System*
1Sealant bottle
2 Hexagon wrench
*
3Extractor hook*
4Vehicle jack*
5Wheel stud wrench
6 Flat screwdriver/Phillips screwdriver, towing
eyelet
7 Compressor
Run-flat tires* or space-saver spare tire*
1Folding chock* and cover for defective
wheel
2 Extractor hook
*
3Wheel stud wrench
4 Vehicle jack
5 Special wrench for removing the space-
saver spare tire
6 Flat screwdriver/Phillips screwdriver
7 Towing eyelet
8 Lifting handle
The onboard vehicle tool kit includes a pouch
with a plastic bag in which you can place the
damaged wheel.

MOBILITYReplacing components
158
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-
form any work that you do not feel competent to
perform yourself or that is not described here.
Never touch the glass of new bulbs with
your bare fingers, as even minute
amounts of contaminatio n will burn into the
bulb's surface and reduce its service life. Use a
clean tissue, cloth or some thing similar, or hold
the bulb by its base. <
You can obtain a selectio n of replacement bulbs
at your MINI dealer.
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 headlamp s, refer to page154.
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 th e specifications of the
MINI manufacturer. <
For checking and adjusting headlamp aim,
please contact your MINI dealer. <

MOBILITYReplacing components
164
8Pressure gauge for indicating the tire
inflation pressure
9 Release button for reduci ng the tire inflation
pressure
Connector, cable and connection hose are
stored in the compressor housing.
Using the Mobility System
To repair a tire puncture with the Mobility
System, proceed as follows:
> Filling the tire with sealant
> Distributing the sealant
> Correct the tire inflation pressure
Filling the tire with sealant
Proceed in the specified order; otherwise,
sealant may emerge under high
pressure. <
1. Shake the sealant bottle.
2. Pull the connecting hose 6 completely out of
the compressor housing and screw it onto
the connector of the sealant bottle. Make
sure that the hose is not kinked.
3. Insert the sealant bo ttle on the compressor
housing in an upright position.
4. Unscrew the dust cap from the valve of the
defective wheel and screw the filling hose 2
of the sealant bottle onto the valve.
5. Ensure that the compre ssor is switched off.
6. Insert the plug 5 into the lighter socket/
power socket in the vehicle interior,
page 93. 7.
With the engine running:
Switch on the compressor and let is run for
approx. 3 to 8 minutes to fill the tire with
sealant and achieve a ti re inflation pressure
of approx. 26 psi/180 kPa.
When filling the tire with sealant, the
inflation pressure can briefly rise to
approx. 73 psi/500 kPa. Do not switch off
the compressor during this phase. <
Do not run the compressor for longer
than 10 minutes; otherwise, the
device will overheat and possibly be
damaged. <
8. Switch off the compressor.
If an air pressure of 26 psi/180 kPa is not
reached:
1. Unscrew the filling hose 2 from the wheel
and drive the vehicle forward and backward
approx. 33 ft/10 m to distribute the liquid
sealant in the tire evenly.
2. Inflate the tire again with the compressor.
If an inflation pressure of 26 psi/180 kPa
still cannot be reached, the tire is too
heavily damaged. Please contact the nearest
MINI dealer. <
Stowing Mobility System
1.Unscrew filler hose 2 of the sealant bottle
from the wheel.
2. Unscrew connecting hose of the
compressor 6 from the sealant bottle.
3. Connect the filler hose 2 of the sealant bot-
tle to the unoccupied connection on the
sealant bottle.
This prevents the rest of the sealant from
escaping from the bottle.
4. Wrap the empty sealant bottle in suitable
material to avoid dirtying the cargo area.
5. Stow Mobility System back in the vehicle.

MOBILITYReplacing components
166
4.Raise the lifting handle slightly.
5. Squeeze the securing spring.
6. The space-saver spare tire is released and
must be held by the lifting handle.
7. Lower the space-saver spare tire with the
lifting handle.
8. Unscrew the lifting handle.
9. Pull the space-saver spare tire underneath
the vehicle out toward the rear.
10. Position the space-save r spare tire with the
valve facing upward.
11. Unscrew the valve extension from the valve
of the space-saver spare tire. 12.
Unscrew the dust cap from the extension
and place it on the valve of the space-saver
spare tire.
Due to its different dimensions, the
damaged wheel cannot be placed in the
recess for the space-saver spare tire. <
Driving with the space-saver spare tire
Drive cautiously and do not exceed a
speed of 50 mph/80 km/h. Changes may
occur in vehicle handling such as lower track
stability during braking, longer braking dis-
tances and changes in self-steering properties
when close to the handling limit. These proper-
ties are more noticeable with winter tires. <
Only one space-saver spare tire may be
mounted at one time. Mount a wheel and
tire of the original size as soon as possible, to
avoid any safety risks. <
Check the tire inflat ion pressure at the
earliest opportunity and correct it if
necessary. Replace the defe ctive tire as soon as
possible and have the ne w wheel/tire assembly
balanced. <
Preparing for a tire change
Observe the safety precautions regarding
flat tires on page 163.<
Additional safety measures when chang-
ing tires:
Only change the tire wh en parked on a surface
that is level, firm and not slippery.
The vehicle or the jack could slip sideways on
soft or slippery support surfaces, such as snow,
ice, flagstones, etc.
Do not use a wooden block or similar object as a
support base for the jack, as this would prevent
it from extending to its full support height and
reduce its load-carrying capacity.
Do not lie under the vehicle or start the engine
when the vehicle is supported by the jack; other-
wise, there is a risk of fatal injury. <

Giving and receiving assistanceMOBILITY
171
Tow-starting, towing
away
Observe the applicable laws and regula-
tions for tow-starting and towing
vehicles. <
Do not transport an y 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 onbo ard vehicle toolkit in the
cargo area underneath the cover on the right-
hand side, page 157.
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. <
Access to screw thread
Push out the cover of the towing eye out of the
recess in the bumper.
Front Rear
Being towed
Make sure that the ignition is switched on,
refer to page
46; otherwise, the low
beams, tail lamps, turn signals, and windshield
wipers may be unavailable. Do not tow the vehi-
cle with just the rear ax le raised, as this would
allow the steering to turn. <
There is no power assist while the engine is off.
Thus, braking and steering will require increased
effort.
Switch on the hazard warning flashers, depend-
ing on local regulations.
Manual transmission
Gearshift lever in neutral position.
Automatic transmission
Tow vehicles with automatic transmission
only with a tow truck or with the front
wheels lifted; otherwise, the transmission can be
damaged. <

MOBILITYGiving and receiving assistance
172
Towing with a tow bar
The towing vehicle must not be lighter
than the towed vehicle; otherwise, it may
be impossible to maintain control. <
The tow fittings used should be on the same side
on both vehicles. Should it prove impossible to
avoid mounting the tow bar at an angle, please
observe the following:
> Clearance and maneuver ing capability will
be sharply limited during cornering.
> The tow bar will generate lateral forces if it is
attached offset.
Only attach the tow bar to the tow fittings,
as attachment to other vehicle parts can
lead to damage. <
Towing with a tow rope
When starting off in the towing vehicle, make
sure that the tow rope is taut.
To avoid jerking and the associated
stresses on vehicle components when
towing, always use nylon ropes or nylon straps.
Attach the tow rope to the tow fittings only, as
attaching it to other pa rts of the vehicle could
result in damage. <
Towing with a tow truck
Have the MINI or MINI Convertible transported
by a tow truck with a so-called lift sling or on a
flatbed.
Do not lift the vehicle by a tow fitting or
body and chassis parts; otherwise, dam-
age may result. <
Tow-starting
Avoid tow-starting the vehicle whenever possi-
ble; instead, jump-start the engine, page 169.
Vehicles with a catalyti c converter should only
be tow-started when the engine is cold, vehicles
with an automatic transmission cannot be tow-
started at all.
1. Switch on hazard warning flashers, comply
with local regulations.
2. Switch on the ignition, page 46.
3. Shift into 3rd gear.
4. Have the vehicle tow-started with the clutch
completely depressed and then slowly
release the clutch. After the engine starts,
immediately depress the clutch completely
again.
5. Stop at a suitable lo cation, remove the tow
bar or rope and switch off the hazard
warning flashers.
6. Have the vehicle checked.

194
REFERENCEEverything from A to Z
Everything from A to Z
INDEX
A
ABS Antilock Brake System67
Accessories, refer to Your individual vehicle 4
Acknowledgment signals for
locking/unlocking vehicle 23
Activated-charcoa l filter for
automatic climate control 88
Adaptive Light Control 80
Additives
– coolant 149
– engine oil 149
Adjusting temperature inside the car, refer to Air
conditioner 85
Adjusting temperature inside the car, refer to Automatic
climate control 86
Airbags 75
– sitting safely 37
– warning lamp 77
Air conditioner 84
Air conditioning mode
– air conditioner 85
– automatic cl imate control86
– ventilation 88
Air distribution
– automatic 87
– individual 86
– manual 86
Air flow rate 85,87
– air conditioning system 85
– automatic cl imate control87
– heating, ventilation 85
Airing, refer to Ventilation88
Air outlets, refer to Air vents 84
Air pressure, checking, refer to
Tire inflation pressure 134Air recirculation, refer to
Recirculated-air
mode 85,87
Air supply
– air conditioner 85
– automatic climate control 86
– ventilation 88
Air vents 84
AKI, refer to Fuel grade 133
Alarm system 27
All-season tires, refer to Winter tires 145
Always Open Timer 58
Ambient air, refer to Recirculated-air
mode 85,87
Ambient lighting 83
Antenna, care 153
Antifreeze
– coolant 14
9
– washer fluid 53
Antilock Brake System ABS 67
Anti-theft alarm system, refer
to Alarm system 27
Anti-theft system 21
Approved axle loads, refer to
Weights 191
Approved engine oils 149
Approved gross vehicle
weight, refer to Weights 191
Armrest, refer to Center armrest 92
Ashtray 93
Assistant systems, refer to
– Dynamic Stability Control
DSC 67
Audio device, external 91Automatic
– air distribution
87
– air flow rate 87
– cruise control 54
– headlamp control 78
Automatic climate control 84
– automatic air distribution 87
Automatic station search 107
Automatic station storage 108
Automatic transmission with Steptronic 48
– interlock 49
– overriding selector lever lock 50
– shiftlock 49
– sport program 49
AUTO program for automatic climate control 87
Auto radio, refer to Radio MINI Boost CD 106
AUX-IN, refer to External audio device 91
AUX In connection 106
Average fuel consumption 57
– setting the units 61
Average speed 57
Axle loads, refer to Weights 191
B
Background lighting, refer to
Ambient lighting 83
Backrests, refer to Seats 38
Backup lamps
– replacing bulb 161,162
Band-aids, refer to First aid pouch 169
Bar, refer to Tow-starting, towing away 172