Things to remember when drivingDRIVING TIPS
95
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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Replacing componentsMOBILITY
165
6.Tighten all the lug bolts firmly in a diagonal
pattern.
7. Lower the vehicle.
8. Remove the jack.
Tightening the lug bolts
Tighten the lug bolts in a diagonal pattern.
Immediately have the wheels checked
with a calibrated torque wrench to ensure
that the lug bolts are firmly seated. Otherwise,
incorrectly tightened lug bolts can present a
safety hazard. <
Tightening torque: 103.3 lb ft or 140 Nm.
Replace the defective tire as soon as possible
and have the new wheel/tire assembly
balanced.
Vehicle battery
Maintenance
The battery is maintenance-free; that is, the
electrolyte will last for the life of the battery
when the vehicle is operated in a temperate
climate.
Battery replacement
Only use vehicle batteries that have been
approved for your vehicle by the manu-
facturer; otherwise, the vehicle could be
damaged and systems or functions may not
be fully available. <
After a battery replacement, have the battery
registered on the vehicle by your MINI dealer to
ensure that all convenience functions are fully
available and, if nece ssary, the corresponding
Check Control messages are no longer dis-
played.
Charging the battery
Note
Do not connect battery chargers to the
sockets installed in the vehicle at the
factory; otherwise you may cause damage to
the battery. <
Only charge the battery in the vehicle when
the engine is off. Connections, refer to Jump-
starting on page 168.
General information
To guarantee the full service life of the battery,
ensure that the battery is always properly
charged.
It may be necessary to charge the battery in the
following situations:
>If frequent short trips are taken.
> If the vehicle is frequently parked for more
than a month.
Disposal
After replacing old batteries, return the
used batteries to your MINI dealer or to
arecycling center. Maint ain the battery in an
upright position for transport and storage.
Always secure the battery against tipping over
during transport. <
Power failure
After a temporary power loss, some equipment
may not be fully functional and may require ini-
tialization. Individual se ttings are also lost and
must be reprogrammed:
> Time and date
These values must be updated, page 61.
> Radio
In some cases, statio ns may have to be
stored again, page 106.
> Glass sunroof, electric
It may only be possible to tilt the sunroof, if
applicable. The system must be initialized.
Contact your nearest MINI dealer.
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REFERENCEEverything from A to Z
202
S
Safety belt
– number35
Safety Belt Reminder 38
Safety belts 38
– care 152
– damage 39
– indicator lamp 38
– reminder 38
– sitting safely 35
Safety systems
– airbags 72
– Antilock Brake System ABS 64
– Dynamic Stability Control
DSC 64
– safety belts 38
Safety tires, refer to Run-flat
tires 140
Satellite radio 107
– activating 108
Scan, listening to test
– radio MINI Boost CD 106
Screw thread for tow
fitting 169
Searching
– CD player 109
– radio 105
Searching for a music track
– CD 109
Seat adjustment
– mechanical 36
Seats 36
– adjusting the seats 36
– heating 38
– sitting safely 35
Securing the vehicle
– from inside 26
– from outside 23
Selector lever
– automatic transmission with
Steptronic 47 Selector lever lock
– automatic transmission with
Steptronic, refer to
Shiftlock 47
– overriding manually 48
Selector lever positions
– automatic transmission with
Steptronic 47
Service, refer to Roadside Assistance 167
Service car, refe r to Roadside
Assistance 167
Service data in the remote
control 147
Service Interval Display, refer to Condition Based Service
CBS 147
Service requirement display, refer to Condition Based
Service CBS 147
Service requirements 59
Settings
– clock, 12 h/24 h mode 58
Setting the date 105
Setting the time format 105
Setting tone controls 105
Sh
ifting gears
– automatic transmission with
Steptronic 48
– manual transmission 46
Shiftlock
– automatic transmission, refer to Changing selector lever
positions 47
Side airbags 72
Side door, rear, refer to Club
Door 28
Side turn signal
– replacing bulb 158
Side windows, refer to Windows 33
Signal horn, refer to Horn 10
Sitting safely 35
– airbags 35
– safety belts 35
– with head restraint 35Size, refer to Dimensions
187
Sliding/tilt sunroof
– refer to Glass roof, electric 32
Slot for remote control 44
Smokers' package, refer to Ashtray 91
Snap-in adapter
– inserting/removing 124
– use 116
Snap-in adapter, refer to
Center armrest storage
compartment 89
Snow chains 142
Socket, refer to Connecting electrical appliances 91
Socket for On-Board Diagnosis
OBD 148
Space-saver spare tire
– changing tires 162
– inflation pressure 131
Spare wheel, refer to Space- saver spare tire 162
Special oils, refer to Approved engine oils 145
Speed 186
– with winter tires 142
Speed-dependent volume 104
Speedo, refer to
Speedometer 12
Speedometer 12
Split Rear Barn Doors 28
– opening/closing 28
– opening from outside 28
– unlocking with remote control 25
Split rear seat backrest, refer to
Expanding the cargo area 97
Sport button 66
Stability control, refer to
Driving stability control
systems 64
Start/Stop button 44
– starting the engine 45
– switching off the engine 45
Startin
g, refer to Starting the
engine 45
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 914 744 - \251 07/12 BMW AG