Practical interior accessoriesCONTROLS
89
Glove compartment
Opening
Press the button to open the cover.
The light in the glove compartment comes on.
Closing
Fold cover up.To prevent injury in the event of an
accident, close the glove compartment
after use while the vehi cle is being driven.<
Ventilation
Depending on your vehicle's equipment, the
glove compartment can be ventilated and, if the
cooling function is swit ched on, can also be
cooled.
Opening
Rotate the switch in the direction of the arrow.
Closing
Rotate the switch in the opposite direction of the
arrow until it is in the vertical position. Depending on the temperature setting of the air
conditioner or the automatic climate control,
high temperatures may result in the glove com-
partment.
Connection for external
audio device
You can connect an external audio device such
as a CD or MP3 player an
d play audio tracks over
the vehicle's speaker system, refer to the Enter-
tainment chapter, page 111.
Center armrest
The center armrest between the front seats con-
tains either a compartment or the cover for the
snap-in adapter, see page 124.
Opening
The cover slides along guide rails and can be
opened fully by pushing it back and lifting it.
Closing
Push the cover forward.
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CONTROLSPractical interior accessories
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Storage compartments
Do not put any unsecured objects into the
interior of the vehicle; otherwise these
may endanger the occupants, e.g., during
braking and evasive maneuvers.<
Do not use the instrument panel as a shelf,
for example with non-slip mats; other-
wise, it could be damaged. <
In the vehicle interior
Depending on your vehicle's equipment, you
will find storage compartments in the doors,
next to the rear seats and in the center console.
Nets are located in the passenger footwell and
on the backs of the front seat backrests.
Storage compartment on the front
passenger side
Opening
Briefly press the bottom edge of the cover.
Closing
Push the cover back into its original position.
To prevent injury in the event of an acci-
dent, close the storage compartment after
use while the vehicle is being driven. <
Clothes hooks
There are clothes hooks on the grab handles in
the rear passenger compartment.
Items of clothing hung from the hooks
must not obstruct the driver's view. Do not
hang heavy objects from the hooks; otherwise,
they could endanger the ca r's occupants, e.g. in
case of heavy braking or sudden swerving. <
In the cargo area
Depending on your vehicle's equipment, you
have the following storage options:
>Umbrella holder under the loading sill in
front of the warning triangle
> MINI Clubman: bag hooks for hanging, for
example, shopping bags or tote bags left
and right on the luggage compartment side
wall
> Storage compartment under the flat load
floor
> Removable box with lid under the flat load
floor, e.g., for wet or dirty items
> Storage compartment in the Split Rear Barn
Doors
> Net on the rear cargo well for smaller
objects; for attachin g to the lashing eyes
Cupholders and ashtray
Cupholders
Two cupholders are located in the front of the
center console; another is in the rear at the back
of the center console.
Use lightweight, nonbreakable containers
and do not transport hot beverages.
Otherwise, there is an increased risk of injury in
the event of an accident. <
Do not push unsuitable containers forcibly
into the cupholder. Otherwise, you may
damage it. <
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Practical interior accessoriesCONTROLS
91
MINI Clubman
There are two additional cupholders in the arm
rests in the rear.
Ashtray
The ashtray is located in one of the cupholders in
the center console.
Emptying
Remove the entire ashtray.
Lighter
With the engine running or the ignition switched
on, press in the cigarette lighter.
The lighter can be pulled out as soon as it pops
back out.
Hold or touch the hot cigarette lighter by
the knob only. Holding or touching it in
other areas could result in burns.
When leaving the car, always remove the key so
that children cannot operate the cigarette
lighter and burn themselves. <
Connecting electrical
appliances
In your MINI, when the engine is running or if the
ignition is switched on, you can use electrical
devices such as flashlights, car vacuum cleaners,
etc., up to approx. 140 watts at 12 volts, as long
as one of the following sockets is available.
Avoid damaging the sockets by attempting to
insert plugs of unsui table shape or size. Do not connect battery chargers to the
sockets installed in the vehicle at the
factory; otherwise you may cause damage to
the vehicle. <
Cigarette lighter socket
Remove the lighter or cover from the socket.
Power socket in cargo area
By way of example, the illustration shows the
cargo area in the MINI.
Pull out the cover.
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1.Close all windows and the glass sunroof.
2. Switch off the recirc ulated-air mode and
switch the airflow contro l of the heating, air
conditioner, or automa tic climate control to
high, refe r to page 81 or 83.
Hot exhaust system
As in all vehicles, extremely high tempera-
tures are generated on the exhaust sys-
tem. Do not remove the heat shields installed
adjacent to various se ctions of the exhaust
system, and never apply undercoating to them.
Make sure that when driving, idling or when
parking, no easily flamma ble materials, such as
hay, leaves, grass, etc. come into contact with
the hot exhaust system. Such contact could lead
to a fire, with the risk of serious personal injuries
and property damage. Do not touch hot exhaust
tail pipes. Otherwise, there is a risk of burns. <
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 139.
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 66.
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 movement range of the
pedals
Keep floor mats, carp et, and other objects
out of the movement range of the pedals;
otherwise, they may inhi bit the function of the
pedals during driving.
Do not place additional floor mats onto an
existing 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 fl oor mats are securely
fastened 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
available 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-
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MINI Clubman: 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 97.
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, arrow2.
Behind the front seats
1. Fold down the rear seat backrests, refer to
Expanding 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.
MINI Clubman: flat load floor
The maxim load for the flat load floor is
165 lbs/75 kg. Do not exceed a maximum
permissible load of 55 lbs/25 kg for the storage
compartment beneath the flat load floor; other-
wise, damage can occur. <
Raise the flat load floor an d fold it up toward the
front, arrow.
Removing
1. Fold up the flat load floor.
2. Pull the load floor back slightly.
3. Then take it out toward the top.
Determining cargo limit
1.Locate the following statement on your
vehicle's placard:
The combined weight of occupants
and cargo should never exceed
XXX kg or YYY lbs. Otherwise, this could
damage the vehicle and produce unstable
vehicle operating conditions. <
2. Determine the combined weight of the
driver and passengers that will be riding in
your vehicle.
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Things to remember when drivingDRIVING TIPS
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3.Subtract the combined weight of the driver
and passengers from XXX pounds or YYY
kilograms.
4. The resulting figure equals the available
amount of cargo and luggage load capacity.
For example, if the XXX amount equals
1,400 lbs and there will be four 150 lbs
passengers in your vehicle, the amount of
available cargo and luggage load capacity is
650 lbs:
1,400 lbs minus 750 lbs = 650 lbs.
5. Determine the combined weight of luggage
and cargo being loaded on the vehicle. That
weight may not safely exceed the available
cargo and luggage load capacity calculated
in step 4.
6. If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, part of
the load from your trail er will be transferred
to your vehicle. Consult the manual for
transporting a trailer to determine how this
may reduce the available cargo and luggage
load capacity of your vehicle.
Load
The permissible load is the sum of the occu-
pants' weights and the weight of the cargo. The
greater the weight of the occupants, the less
cargo/luggage can be transported.
Stowing cargo
> Position heavy objects as low and as far for-
ward as possible, ideally directly behind the
rear seat backrests.
> Cover sharp edges and corners.
> For very heavy cargo when the rear seat is
not occupied, secure each safety belt in the
respective opposite buckle. >
Do not stack higher than the top edge of the
backrests.
> Use the cargo net, refer to page 98. Ensure
that no objects can penetrate through the
net.
MINI
MINI Clubman
Securing cargo
By way of example, the illustration shows the
cargo area in the MINI.
> Secure smaller and lighter items using
retaining or draw straps.
> Heavy-duty cargo straps for securing larger
and heavier objects ar e available at your
MINI dealer. Four lashing eyes are provided
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Things to remember when drivingDRIVING TIPS
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Closing windows
Open windows increase air resistance and
therefore fuel consumption.
Check tire inflation pressure regularly
Check and, if necessary, correct tire inflation
pressure at least twic e a month and before
starting on a long trip.
Low inflation pressure increases rolling resis-
tance and thus leads to greater fuel consump-
tion and tire wear.
Drive off immediately
Do not wait for the engine to warm up while the
vehicle remains stationary. Start driving right
away, but at moderate engine speeds. This is the
fastest way for the cold engine to reach its oper-
ating temperature.
Think ahead while driving
Avoid unnecessary accelera tion and braking. by
maintaining a suitable di stance to the vehicle
driving ahead.
Looking-ahead an d smooth driving reduces fuel
consumption.
Avoid high engine speeds
Use first gear only for dr iving off. In second and
higher gears, accelerate smoothly to a suitable
engine and road speed. In doing so, avoid high
engine speeds and shift up early.
When you reach your desired traveling speed,
shift to the highest suitable gear and drive at
constant speed.
As a rule: driving at lo w engine speeds lowers
fuel consumption and reduces wear.
Coasting
When approaching a red traffic light, take your
foot off the accelerator and let the car roll to a
stop in the highest gear possible.
On a downhill gradient, take your foot off the
accelerator and let the vehi cle coast in a suitable
gear. Fuel supply is shut off automatically when the
vehicle is coasting.
Switch off the engine during lengthy
stops
Switch off the engine when stopping for lengthy
periods, e.g. at traffic lights, railroad crossings or
in traffic jams.
Switch off any features that are not
currently required
Features such as air conditioning, seat heaters
and the rear window defroster require a great
deal of energy and result in greater fuel con-
sumption, especially in
city driving and during
Stop & Go operation. For this reason, switch off
these features if they are not really needed.
Have the vehicle serviced
Have your vehicle serviced regularly to achieve
good economy and a long vehicle life. The
manufacturer of your MINI recommends having
the vehicle serviced by a MINI dealer. Also note
the MINI Maintenance System, page 147.
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Radio MINI Boost CDENTERTAINMENT
111
CDs that you burned yourself
Potential problems with home-burned CDs are,
for example, inconsistent data generation and
burning processes, as we ll as low quality or
excessive aging of the blanks that are used.
Only write on the upper surface of CDs with a
writing instrument that is suitable for the pur-
pose.
Damaged CDs
Avoid finger prints as well as dust, scratches and
moisture.
Store CDs in sleeves.
Do not expose CDs to a temperature greater
than 122 7/50 6, high humidity or direct
sunlight.
CDs with copy protection
CDs are often provided with copy protection
from the manufacturer. This can result in CDs not
playing or playing back in only a limited fashion.
Care
If necessary, clean the reflecting side of the CD
with a commercially avail able cleaning cloth by
wiping in a straight line from the center out-
wards.
USB audio interface
> iPods/iPhones or USB devices such as MP3
players and USB memory sticks: connection
via the USB audio interface
> iPhone/mobile phone music players: con-
nection using a snap-in adapter, refer to
page 124.
> Only one iPod/iPhone can be connected to
the vehicle. Output fr om an iPod/iPhone to
the USB audio interface is only possible if
there is no iPhone in the snap-in adapter.
> Popular audio files, such as MP3, AAC and
M3U playlists, PLS and WPL, can be played.
Depending on the audio file, proper play- back can not be ensured in every case, such
as for bit rates greater than 256 kbit/s.
> Music tracks with inte grated Digital Rights
Management (DRM) cannot be played.
Because of the large number of audio devices on
the market, it can not be ensured that every
device will properly operate in the vehicle. Addi-
tional information may be found at
www.mini.com/connectivity or at a MINI dealer.
File systems
Popular FAT file system s for USB devices are
supported. The manufacturer of your MINI
recommends the FAT 32 format.
Connecting
1 USB interface
2 Connection for audio playback:
TRS connector 1/8''/3.5 mm
Apple iPod/iPhone
Use the special cable adapter for Apple iPods/
iPhones to produce the connection. The cable
adapter is required for a proper connection.
For further information, contact your MINI
dealer or check on the Internet at
www.mini.com/connectivity
To have audio playback over the vehicle speak-
ers, connect the iPod with the USB interface and
the connection for the audio playback.
The iPod/iPhone's menu structure is supported
by the USB audio interface.
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