DRIVING TIPSThings to remember when driving
100
Things to remember when driving
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 coun try version. This also
applies to safety relate d functions and systems.
Break-in period
Moving parts need breaking-in time to adjust to
each other. Please follow the instructions below
in order to achieve the optimal service life and
economy of operation for your vehicle.
Engine and differential
Always obey all official speed limits.
Up to 1,200 miles/2,000 km
Drive at varying engine and road speeds, but do
not exceed the following:
> Gasoline engine
4,500 rpm or 100 mph/160 km/h
Avoid full-throttle operation and use of the
transmission's kickdown mode.
After driving 1,200 miles/2,000 km
Engine and vehicle speeds can be gradually
increased.
Tires
Due to technical factors associated with their
manufacture, tires do not achieve their full trac-
tion potential until after an initial break-in
period. Therefore, drive cautiously during the
first 200 miles/300 km.
Brake system
Brakes require an initial break-in period of
approx. 300 miles/500 km to achieve optimized
contact and wear patterns between brake pads
and rotors. Drive cautiously during this break-in
period.
Clutch
The function of the clutch reaches its optimal
level only after a distan ce driven of approx.
300 miles/500 km. During this break-in period,
engage the clutch gently.
Following part replacement
The same break-in procedures should be
observed if any of the components mentioned
above have to be renewed in the course of the
vehicle's operating life.
General driving notes
Ground clearance
When driving, make sure that there is suf-
ficient ground clearance, such as when
entering underground parking garages, driving
over curbs or when driving in winter; otherwise
damage to the vehicle may result. <
Close tailgate/Split Rear Barn Doors
Only drive with the tailgate/Split Rear Barn
Doors closed. Failure to do so may endan-
ger passengers or other road users or may dam-
age the vehicle in the even t of an accident or a
braking and evasive maneuver. In addition,
exhaust gas may flow into the passenger com-
partment. <
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Wheels and tiresMOBILITY
203
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable
on the tire sidewall between tread shoulder and
maximum section width. For example:
Tread wear 200 Traction AA
Temperature A
DOT Quality Grades
Tread wear
Traction AA A B C
Temperature A B C
All passenger car tires must conform to
Federal Safety Requirements in addition
to these grades. <
Tread wear
The tread wear grade is a comparative rating
based on the wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a specified gov-
ernment test course. For example, a tire graded
150 would wear one and one-half (1 γ) times as
well on the government course as a tire graded
100. The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditio ns of their use, how-
ever, and may depart si gnificantly from the
norm due to variations in driving habits, service
practices and differences in road characteristics
and climate.
Traction
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are
AA, A, B, and C.
These grades represent the tire's ability to stop
on wet pavement, as measured under con-
trolled conditions on specified government test
surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C
may have poor traction performance. The traction grade assigned to this tire is
based on straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not incl ude acceleration, corner-
ing, hydroplaning, or peak traction characteris-
tics. <
Temperature
The temperature grades are A, the highest, B,
and C, representing the tire's resistance to the
generation of heat and its ability to dissipate
heat when tested under controlled conditions
on a specified indoor labo ratory test wheel. Sus-
tained high temperature can cause the material
of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead to sudden tire
failure. The grade C corresponds to a level of
performance which all passenger car tires must
meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard No. 109. Grades B and A represent lev-
els of performance on the laboratory test wheel
that exceed the minimum required by law.
The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly
inflated and not overloaded. Excessive speed,
underinflation, or excessive loading, either sep-
arately or in combinat ion, can cause heat
buildup and possible tire failure.<
RSC - run-flat tires
You will recognize run-flat tires by a circular
symbol containing the letters RSC on the side of
the tire, page 205.
M+S
Winter and all-season tires.
These have better winter properties than sum-
mer tires.
XL
Designation for specia lly reinforced tires.
For instance:
Manufacturer's code
for tire make
Tire size and
tire design
Tire age
DOT xxxx xxx 3612
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Tire condition
Inspect your tires regularly for tread wear, signs
of damage and for foreign objects lodged in the
tread. Check the tread depth.
Tread depth
The tread depth should not drop below 0.12 in/
3 mm, although, for exam ple, European legisla-
tion only specifies a minimum tread depth of
0.063 in/1.6 mm. At tread depths below 0.12 in/
3 mm there is an increased risk of high-speed
hydroplaning, even when only small amounts of
water are present on the road surface.
Winter tires
When winter tires wear down past a tread depth
of 0.16 in/4 mm, they become perceptibly less
suitable for winter condit ions. In the interest of
safety, new tires should be installed.
Minimum tread depth
Wear indicators in the base of the tread groove
are distributed around the tire's circumference;
the letters TWI, for Tread Wear Indicator, on the
tire's sidewalls identify tires that incorporate
these wear indicators. When tire tread is worn
down to the level of the wear indicators, the
remaining tread dept h is 0.063 in/1.6 mm.
Tire damage
Driving over rough or damaged road surfaces, as
well as debris, curbs, and other obstacles can
cause serious damage to wheels, tires, and sus-
pension parts. This is more likely to occur with
low-profile tires, which provide less cushioning
between the wheel and the road. Be careful to
avoid road hazards and reduce your speed,
especially if your vehi cle is equipped with low-
profile tires.
Unusual vibrations encountered during normal
vehicle operation can indi cate tire failure or
some other vehicle defect . This can, for exam-
ple, be caused by drivin g over curbs. The same
applies to any other abnormal road behavior,
such as pulling severely to the right or left.
In these cases, reduce speed immediately
and have wheels and tires thoroughly
checked. To do so, drive carefully to the nearest
MINI dealer or a specialized tire shop that has
specially trained personnel working in accor-
dance with the specifications of the MINI manu-
facturer. If necessary, have the vehicle towed
there.
Otherwise, tire damage can be extremely dan-
gerous for vehicle occu pants and other road
users. <
Tire age
The manufacturing date of tires is contained in
the tire coding:
DOT ... 3612 means that the tire was manufac-
tured during the 36th week of 2012.
For various reasons, such as the development of
brittleness, the manufacturer of your MINI rec-
ommends tire replacemen t after no more than
6 years, regardless of the actual wear of the
tires.
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205
Run-flat tires
The symbol identifying run-flat tires is a circle
with the letters RSC on the sidewall.
Run-flat tires comprise a conditionally self-sup-
porting tire and a special rim. The reinforcement
in the sidewalls ensures that the tire can con-
tinue to be used subject to certain restrictions,
even if depressurized.
For information on continuing to drive with a flat
tire, refer to Indication of a flat tire, page73.
New wheels and tires
Have new wheels and tires mounted only
by your MINI dealer or a specialized tire
shop that has specially trained personnel work-
ing in accordance with th e specifications of the
MINI manufacturer. If this work is not carried out
properly, there is a danger of subsequent dam-
age and related safety ha zards. Make sure that
the new wheels are balanced. <
Retreaded tires
The manufacturer of your MINI recom-
mends that you avoid using retreaded
tires, as this could impair driving safety. The
causes for this include potentially different tire
casing structures and of ten wide variations in
tire age, which can result in a limited service
life.<
Correct wheels and tires
The manufacturer of your MINI recom-
mends mounting only wheels and tires that it has specifically approved for use on your
particular model. Alth
ough other wheels and
tires may theoretically have the same dimen-
sions, variations in factors such as manufactur-
ing tolerances can result in contact between tire
and bodywork, ultimately leading to serious
accidents. The manufactur er of your MINI can-
not evaluate non-approved wheels and tires to
determine if they are su ited for use, and there-
fore cannot ensure the operating safety of the
vehicle if they are mounted. <
Your MINI dealer will be glad to inform you
about the correct wheel an d tire combination for
your vehicle.
The correct combination of wheels and tires is
also necessary to ensure reliable operation of
various vehicle systems such as ABS and DSC.
To maintain good handling and vehicle
response, use only tires of a single brand and
tread configuration. After a tire has been dam-
aged, mount the previous wheel and tire combi-
nation again as soon as possible.
Wheels with Tire Pressure Monitor TPM
electronics
When mounting new tires or changing over from
summer to winter tires, or vice versa, only use
wheels with TPM electronics; otherwise, the Tire
Pressure Monitor may not be able to detect a
puncture, refer to page 75. Your MINI dealer will
be glad to advise you.
Recommended tire brands
For each tire size, the manufacturer of your MINI
recommends certain tire brands. They are
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206
marked with a clearly visible MINI designation
on the sidewall of the tire.
When properly used, these tires meet the high-
est standards in terms of safety and handling
characteristics.
Run-flat tires
When mounting new tires or changing over from
summer to winter tires and vice versa, mount
run-flat tires for your ow n safety. Keep in mind
that no space-saver spare tire is available in the
event of a flat. Your MINI dealer will be glad to
advise you.
Special characteristics of winter tires
The manufacturer of your MINI recommends the
use of winter tires on snowy roads or if temper-
atures drop below 45 7/+7 6. Although all-
season M+S tires provide better winter traction
than summer tires, they generally fail to provide
the same levels of cold-weather performance as
winter tires.
Pay attention to speed
Always comply with the speed limit for the
winter tires mounted on your car; failure
to do so could result in tire damage and acci-
dents. <
If the car is capable of speeds higher than that
permitted for the winter tires, a label stating the
maximum permitted speed for the mounted
tires must be displayed in your field of view. This
label is available at your tire dealer or MINI
dealer.
Storage
Always store wheels and tires in a cool, dry place
with as little exposure to light as possible.
Always protect tires agains t all contact with oil,
grease and fuels.
Do not exceed the maximum tire inflation pres-
sure indicated on the sidewall of the tire.
Swapping wheels among the axles
Depending on the individual use, front and rear
tires may exhibit different wear and tear.
In order to maintain an even wear and tear, the
wheels may be rotated between the axles. Your
MINI dealer will be glad to advise you.
Always check the inflation pressure after the tire
rotation, if necessary change the pressure.
Snow chains
Only certain types of fine-link snow chains have
been tested by the manufacturer of your MINI,
classified as road-safe and recommended. Con-
tact your MINI dealer for more details.
Only attach snow chains in pairs to the front
wheels with the following tires.
>175/65 R 15 M+S
> 175/60 R 16 M+S
John Cooper Works:
> 185/50 R 17 86 H M+S XL RSC
Observe the manufacturer's instructions when
mounting snow chains. Do not exceed a speed
of 30 mph or 50 km/h. Do not initialize the Flat Tire Monitor if
snow chains are mounted; otherwise, the
instrument might issue an incorrect reading.
When driving with snow ch ains, it can be useful
to briefly deactivate DSC or activate DTC, refer to
page 70.<
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MOBILITYReplacing components
228
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 dam-
aged wheel cannot be placed in the recess
for the space-saver spare tire. <
MINI Clubman: removing the space-
saver spare tire
The space-saver spare tire is located under the
tire change set in the cargo area.
1.Fold up the floor mat.
2. Unscrew the nut, arrow, and remove 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 sta-
bility during br aking, longer braking distances
and changes in self-steering properties when
close to the handling limit. These properties 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 inflation pressure at the ear-
liest opportunity and correct it if neces-
sary. Replace the defective tire as soon as possi-
ble and have the new wheel/tire assembly
balanced. <
Preparing for a tire change
Observe the safety precautions regarding
flat tires on page 224.<
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. <
1. Place the foldable chock behind the front
wheel on the other side of the vehicle or in
front of the wheel if the vehicle is on an
incline. If the wheel is changed on a surface
with a more severe sl ope, take additional
precautions to secure the vehicle from roll-
ing.
2. Uncover the lug bolts if necessary.
3. Loosen the lug bolts by a half turn.
Jacking up the vehicle
The vehicle jack is designed for changing
wheels only. Do not attempt to raise
another vehicle model with it or to raise any load
of any kind. To do so could cause accidents and
personal injury. <
1. Place the jack at the jacking point closest to
the wheel.
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252
REFERENCEEverything from A to Z
Everything from A to Z
Index
A
ABS Antilock Brake System69
Accepting a call 159,171
Accessories, see Vehicle equipment 4
Acknowledgment signals for locking/unlocking vehicle 28
Activated-charcoa l filter for
automatic climate control 89
Adaptive Light Control 82
Adding engine oil 209
Additives
– coolant 210
– engine oil 209
Address, entering 118
Address for navigation
– entering 112,118
Adjusting temperature inside the car, refer to Air
conditioner 86
Adjusting temperature inside the car, refer to Automatic
climate control 87
Adjusting the tone during audio operation, refer to
Tone control 133
Airbags 78
– sitting safely 38
– warning lamp 79
Air conditioner 85
Air conditioning mode
– air conditioner 86
– automatic cl imate control87
– ventilation 89
Air distribution
– automatic 88
– individual 87
– manual 87 Air flow rate
86,88
– air conditioning system 86
– automatic climate control 88
– heating, ventilation 86
Airing, refer to Ventilation89
Air outlets, refe r to Air vents86
Air pressure, checking, refer to Tire inflation pressure 195
Air recirculation, refer to
Recirculated-air
mode 86,88
Air supply
– air conditioner 86
– automatic climate control 87
– ventilation 89
Air vents 86
AKI, refer to Fuel grade 193
Alarm system 32
All-season ti res, refer to Winter
tires 206
AM, waveband 135
Ambi ent a
ir, refer to
Recirculated-air
mode 86,88
Ambient lighting 84
Antenna, care 213
Antifreeze
– coolant 210
– washer fluid 54
Antilock Brake System ABS 69
Anti-theft alarm system, refer to Alarm system 32
Anti-theft system 27
Approved axle loads, refer to Weights 242
Approved engine oils 209
Approved gross vehicle weight, refer to Weights 242
Armrest, refer to Center armrest 95 Arrival time
– computer
59
– route guidance 121
Ashtray 96
Assistant systems, refer to
– Dynamic Stability Control
DSC 69
Audio 132
– controls 132
– switching on/off 132
– tone control 133
– volume 133
Audio device, external 94
Automatic
– air distribution 88
– air flow rate 88
– cruise control 55
– headlamp control 81
Automatic climate control 85
– automatic air distribution 88
Automatic transmission with Steptronic 49
– Interlock 50
– overriding selector lever lock 51
– Shiftlock 50
– sport program 51
AUTO program for automatic climate control 88
Auxiliary phone 168
AUX-In, refer to External audio device 94
AUX-In connection 145
Average fuel consumption 58
– setting the units 60
Average speed 59
Av oiding highways for
navigati o
n121
Axle loads, refer to Weights 242
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REFERENCEEverything from A to Z
258
Internal care215
Internet page 4
J
Jacking points 228
Jets, refer to Window washer
nozzles 54
Joystick, refer to Onboard computer 16
Jumpering, refer to Jump- starting 232
Jump-starting 232
K
Key, refer to Keys/remote
controls 26
Keyless-Go, refer to Comfort
Access 33
Keyless opening and closing, refer to Comfort Access 33
Key Memory, refer to Personal Profile 26
Keypad dialing 161,173
Kickdown 50
– automatic transmission with Steptronic 50
Knock control 193
L
Lamps, refer to Parking lamps/
Low beams 81
Lamps and bulbs, replacing bulbs 219
Lashing eyes, refer to Securing cargo 105
Last destinations 115
LATCH child restraint fixing system 45
Leather care 215
LEDs light-emitting diodes 219
Length, refer to Dimensions 239
License plate lamp
– bulb replacement 224Light alloy wheels, care
215
Light-emitting diodes LEDs 219
Lighter 96
– socket 97
Lighting
– lamps and bulbs 219
– of the instruments 83
– of vehicle, refer to Lamps 81
Light switch 81
Limit, refer to Speed limit 65
Load 104
Load securing equipment,
refer to Securing cargo 105
Lock buttons of doors, refer to Locking 30
Locking
– adjusting confirmation signal 28
– from inside 30
– from outside 28
– without remote control, refer
to Comfort Access 33
Locking and unlocking doors
– confirmation signals 28
– from inside 30
– from outside 27
Longlife oils
– approved motor oils 209
Low beams 81
– automatic 81
– replacing bulb 220
Lower back support, refer to
Lumbar support 39
Luggage compartment, refer to Cargo area 31
Luggage compartment doors, refer to Split Rear Barn
Doors 31
Luggage compartment lid, refer to Tailgate 31
Luggage compartment
partition net, refer to Cargo
net 104
Luggage rack, refer to Roof-
mounted luggage rack 106
Lumbar support 39
M
M+S tires, refer to Winter
tires 206
Main menu 17
Maintenance, refer to Service and Warranty Information
Booklet for US models and
Service Guide Booklet for
Canadian models
Maintenance system 211
Malfunction warnings, refer to Check Control 63
Manual air distribution 87
Manual mode
– automatic transmission with
Steptronic 51
Manual operation
– door lock 29
– fuel filler flap 192
– transmission lock, automatic transmission 51
Manual transmission 49
Manual washing 214
Map
– changing scale 124
Map for navigation
– entering destination 117
Master key, refer to Integrated key/remote control 26
Maximum cooling 88
Maximum speed
– with winter tires 206
Medical assistance, refer to First aid pouch 231
MENU button 16
Menus, refer to Onboard computer 16
Messages 182
Microfilter
– for air conditioner 87
– for automatic climate
control 89
– MINI Maintenance System 211
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