CONTROLSTechnology for driving comfort and safety
64
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The laws of physics cannot be repealed,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 safe t y m a r g i n b y e n g a g i n g
in hazardous driving thereby running the risk of
an accident. <
Antilock Brake System ABS
ABS prevents locking of the wheels during
braking. Safe steering response is maintained
even during full braking. Active safety is thus
increased.
Braking safely, refer to page 95.
ABS is operational every time you start the
engine.
Cornering Brake Control CBC
Driving stability and stee ring characteristics are
further enhanced while braking in turns or
during 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
The concept
DSC prevents the driving wheels from losing
traction when you pull away from rest or
accelerate.
DSC also detect s 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 ve hicle maintain a safe
course within physical limits by reducing engine
output and through braking actions at the indi-
vidual wheels.
Every time that the engine is started, DSC is
ready to operate.
Deactivating DSC
Press the button until the DSC OFF indicator
lamp on the speedometer is on and DSC OFF is
displayed on the tachometer. DSC is deacti-
vated. Stabilizing and propulsion 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 stabil ity, activate DSC again
as soon as possible.
Activating DSC
Press the button again: the DSC indicator lamps
in the display elements go out.
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CONTROLSTechnology for driving comfort and safety
66
Deactivating both DTC and DSC
Press the button for at least 3 seconds; the indi-
cator lamp 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 stabilizing interventions.
Interventions (differential lock) in braking occur
to improve propulsion when drive wheels are
rotating unevenly, even when DSC is deacti-
vated.
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, imme-
diately 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 button.
The LED lights up.
SPORT is briefly displayed in the tachometer.
Deactivating the system
>Press the 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 pres sure loss in a tire by
comparing the rotational speeds of the indivi-
dual wheels while moving.
In the event of a pressure loss, the diameter and
therefore the rotational speed of the corre-
sponding wheel change. This is detected and
reported as a flat tire.
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Technology for driving comfort and safetyCONTROLS
67
Functional requirement
The system must have been initialized while the
tire inflation pressure was correct; otherwise,
reliable signaling of a fl at tire is not ensured.
Initialize the system afte r every correction of the
tire inflation pressure and after every tire or
wheel change.
System limitations
Sudden serious tire damage caused by
external influences ca nnot be indicated in
advance. <
A natural, even pressure loss in all four tires
cannot be detected. Therefore, check the tire
inflation pressure regularly.
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 styl e 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, page 163, the Flat Tire Monitor
cannot function.
Initializing the system
The initialization process adopts the set inflation
tire pressures as refere nce values for the detec-
tion of a flat tire. Initia lization is started by con-
firming the inflation pressures.
Do not initialize the system when driving with
snow chains.
Using the button in the turn signal lever
1. Start the engine, but do not start driving.
2. Press the button in the turn signal indicator
as often as necessary until "SET/INFO" is
displayed.
3. Press and hold the butt on until the display
changes.
4. Press the button repeatedly until the corre-
sponding symbol and "RESET" are displayed.
5. Press and hold the butt on until the display
changes.
6. Start driving.
Initialization is completed while the car is on
the move, without any feedback.
The initialization is completed during
driving, which can be interrupted at any
time. When driving resumes, the initialization is
continued automatically. <
Indication of a flat tire
The warning lamps come on in yellow
and red. An acoustic signal also sounds.
There is a flat tire or a major loss in tire
inflation pressure.
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Technology for driving comfort and safetyCONTROLS
69
Tire Pressure Monitor
TPM
The concept
Measuring the inflation pressure in the four
mounted tires. The system notifies you if there is
a significant loss of pressure in one or more tires.
Functional requirement
The system must have been reset while the
inflation pressure was correct; otherwise,
reliable signaling of a fl at tire is not ensured.
Always use wheels with TPM electronics to
ensure that the system will operate properly.
Reset the system again after each correction of
the tire inflation pressure and after every tire or
wheel change.
System limitations
Sudden, serious tire damage caused by
external influences ca nnot be indicated in
advance. <
The system does not operate correctly if it has
not been reset. For example, a flat tire may be
indicated despite correct tire inflation pressures.
The system is inactive and cannot indicate a flat
tire:
> If a wheel without TPM electronics, e.g. a
compact spare wheel, is mounted.
> Interference with TPM by other systems or
devices with the same transmission fre-
quency.
Resetting the system
Reset the system again after each correction of
the tire inflation pressure and after every tire or
wheel change.
Using the button in the turn signal lever
1. Start the engine, but do not start driving.
2. Press the button in the turn signal indicator
as often as necessary until "SET/INFO" is
displayed.
3. Press and hold the butt on until the display
changes.
4. Press the button repeatedly until the symbol
for Tire Pressure Monitor and "ACTIVE" are
displayed.
The Tire Pressure Monitor can be reset by
selecting "RESET".
5. Press and hold the button until "RESETTING"
is displayed.
6. Start driving.
After driving a few minu tes, the set inflation
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LampsCONTROLS
75
Lamps
Vehicle equipment
In this chapter, all production, country, and
optional equipment that is offered in the model
range is described. Equipment is also described
that is not available because of, for example,
selected options or count ry version. This also
applies to safety related functions and systems.
Parking lamps/low beams
0 Lamps off / 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
ignition switched off, the exterior lighting is
automatically 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 78. The parking lamps will discharge the
battery. Therefore, do not leave them on
for unduly long periods of time; otherwise, the
battery 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 76, 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. <
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CONTROLSLamps
78
High beams/
roadside parking lamps
1Turn signals/roadside parking lamps
2 Switching on high beams
3 Switching off high beams/headlamp flasher
Roadside parking lamps, left or right
The vehicle can be illuminated on one side for
parking. Comply with local regulations when
doing so.
Switching on
After parking the vehicle, press the lever up or
down, arrow 1.
The roadside parking lamps drain the
battery. Therefore, do not leave them on
for unduly long periods of time; otherwise, the
battery might not have enough power to start
the engine. <
Switching off
Press the lever up or down to the pressure point.
Front fog lamps
1Front fog lamps
2 Rear fog lamp
Press the respective switch to turn the lamps on/
off.
Front fog lamps
The parking lamps or low beams must be
switched on for the fog lamps to operate. The
green indicator lamp lights up when the fog
lamps are switched on.
Depending on your vehicle's equipment, the fog
lamps are switched off when you activate the
headlamp flasher or switch on the high beams.
If the automatic headlamp control is acti-
vated, the low beams will come on auto-
matically when you switch on the fog lamps. <
Rear fog lamp
The low beams or parking lamps with fog lamps
must be switched on. The yellow indicator lamp
c o m e s o n w h e n t h e r e a r f o g l a m p i s s w i t c h e d o n .
Instrument lighting
You can adjust the brightness of the instrument
lighting only when the parking lamps or the low
beams are on.
The intensity of the brightness changes up to a
predetermined end point, and then decreases.
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ClimateCONTROLS
81
Air conditioner
1Air flow rate
2 Cooling function
3 Recirculated-air mode
4 Temperature 5
Rear window defroster
6 Air distribution
7 Windshield heating
Air flow rate
Adjust the air flow rate. The higher the
rate, the more effective the heating or
cooling will be.
The air flow rate is lowered or switched off
entirely to reduce the drain on the battery.
Switching the system on/off
Turn the air flow rate rota ry switch to 0. Blower
and air conditioner are co mpletely switched off
and the air supply is cut off.
Set any desired air flow rate to switch on the air
conditioner.
Cooling function
When the cooling function is on,
the air is cooled, dried, then
reheated according to the temper-
ature setting. The passenger compartment can
only be cooled while the engine is running.
The cooling function helps prevent condensa-
tion on the windows or removes it quickly.
Depending on the weather, the windshield may
fog over briefly when the engine is started.
To cool the air more quickly and intensely
when the external temperature is high,
you can switch on the recirculated-air mode.<
Recirculated-air mode
If the air outside the car has an
unpleasant odor or contains pollut-
ants, shut off the supply to the inte-
rior of the car temporarily. The system then
recirculates the air curre ntly within the vehicle.
If condensation starts to form on the inside
window surfaces, press the AUTO button or
switch off the recirculated-air mode and, if
necessary, increase the air flow rate. Ensure that
air can flow onto the windshield.
The recirculated-air mode should not be
used over an extended period of time;
otherwise, the air quality in the passenger
compartment will deteriorate continuously. <
Temperature
Turn upward, red, to increase the
temperature.
Turn downward, blue, to decrease the
temperature.
Rear window defroster
The defroster is switched off
automatically after a certain time.
The rear window heating is lowered
or switched off entirely to reduce the drain on
the battery.
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CONTROLSClimate
84
Defrosting windows and removing
condensation
Quickly removes ice and condensa-
tion from the windshield and front
side windows.
For this purpose, also switch on the
cooling function.
The windshield heating is switched on auto-
matically.
Windshield heating
The windshield heating is switched
off automatically after a certain
time.
Cooling function
When the cooling function is on,
the air is cooled, dried, then
reheated according to the
temperature setting. The passen-
ger compartment can only be
cooled while the engine is running.
The cooling function helps prevent condensa-
tion on the windows or removes it quickly.
Depending on the weather, the windshield may
fog over briefly when the engine is started. The
recirculated-air mode may be switched on auto-
matically.
When the AUTO button is pressed, the cooling
function switches on automatically.
Microfilter/activated-charcoal filter
The microfilter captures dust and pollen. The
activated-charcoal filter provides additional
protection by filtering gaseous pollutants from
the outside air. Your MINI dealer replaces this
combined filter as a standard part of your
scheduled maintenance.
You can call up further in formation in the service
requirements display, page 59.
Ventilation
1 Knob for continuous opening and closing
2 Jet for direction of air flow
Opening/closing
Turn the knob.
Direction of air flow
Swivel the entire jet.
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