DRIVING TIPSThings to remember when driving
106
Hills
To prevent overheating 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-
sary. This strategy helps you avoid placing
excessive loads on the brake system. Downshift-
ing in manual mode of the automatic transmis-
sion, page 54.
Never drive with the clutch held down,
with the transmission in neutral or with
the engine switched off; otherwise, engine brak-
ing action will not be present or there will be no
power assistance to the brakes or steering.
Never allow floor mats, carpets or any other
objects to protrude into the area around the
pedals; otherwise, pedal function could be
impaired. <
Corrosion on brake rotors
When the vehicle is driven only occasionally,
during extended periods when the vehicle is not
used at all, and in op erating conditions where
brake applications are less frequent, there is an
increased tendency for corrosion to form on
rotors, while contaminants accumulate on the
brake pads. This occurs because the minimum
pressure which must be exerted by the pads
during brake applications to clean the rotors is
not reached.
Should corrosion form on the brake rotors, the
brakes will tend to respond with a pulsating
effect that even extended application will fail to
cure.
When the vehicle is parked
Condensation forms while the automatic climate
control is in operation, and then exits under the
vehicle. Traces of condensed water under the
vehicle are therefore normal. In the MINI Cooper S, the coolant pump may
continue to run for some time after the engine is
switched off. This will
generate noise in the
engine compartment.
Cargo loading
To avoid loading the tires beyond their
approved carrying capacity, never over-
load the vehicle. Overloading can lead to over-
heating and increases the rate at which damage
develops inside the tires. The ultimate result can
assume the form of a sudden blowout. <
Avoid fluid spills in the cargo area as they
could damage the vehicle. <
Expanding cargo area
Cargo area cover
Do not place any objects on the cover;
otherwise, they could endanger the car's
occupants, e.g. in the case of braking or sudden
swerving, or they may damage the cover. <
When you open the tailgate, the roll-up cover is
raised.
To load bulky luggage, the cover can be
removed.
1. Unhook the lift straps from the tailgate.
2. Lift the cover slightly, arrow 1, and pull it
rearward out of the bracket, arrow 2.
MINI Countryman:
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DRIVING TIPSThings to remember when driving
114
Avoid high engine speeds
Use first gear only for driving 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 vehicle 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 li ghts, 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 servic ed regularly to achieve
good economy and a long vehicle life. The man-
ufacturer of your MINI recommends having the
vehicle serviced by a MINI dealer. Also note the
MINI Maintenance System, page 218.
Driving on poor roads
Your MINI with ALL4 drive is at home on any
type of street or road. It combines an all-wheel
drive system with the ad vantages of a normal
passenger car.
Do not drive on unpa ved terrain, as other-
wise the vehicle may be damaged. <
When you are driving on poor roads, there are a
few points which you shou ld strictly observe for
your own safety, for that of your passengers,
and for the safety of the vehicle:
> Familiarize yourself with the vehicle before
beginning to drive and do not take risks
under any circumstances.
> Adapt your speed to road conditions. The
steeper and rougher the road surface is, the
lower the speed should be.
> When driving on very steep uphill or down-
hill grades, make sure in advance that the
engine oil and coolant levels are close to the
maximum mark, refer to page 215.
> While driving, watch carefully for obstacles
such as rocks or holes. Try to avoid these
obstacles whenever possible.
> Make sure that the un dercarriage does not
touch the ground, for example on hilltops
and bumpy roads. The ground clearance of
the vehicle is a maximum of approx. 6.0 in/
15 cm. Please note that the ground clear-
ance can vary depending on loading and the
driving conditions of the vehicle.
> Only drive through road surface water up to
a maximum water depth of 1 ft/30 cm and
only at walking speed ; do not remain sta-
tionary.
> After driving through water at low speed,
lightly press the brake pedal several times to
dry the brakes and to prevent the braking
effect from being reduced by wetness.
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External devicesEntertainment
157
1."CD/Multimedia"
2. "External devices"
3. Select the or symbol and press the
MINI joystick.
4. "Video"
5. Select the desired file.
Select category in file directory, if applicable.
6. Press the MINI joystick.
The playback of the selected video file is
started.
Notes
Do not subject the audio device to
extreme environmental conditions, e.g.
extremely high temperatures, refer to the oper-
ating instructions for the audio device. Other-
wise the audio device may be damaged, impair-
ing driving safety while driving. <
Depending on the config uration of the audio
files, e.g. bit rates greater than 256 Kbit/s,
proper playback cannot always be ensured.
Audio and video playback from using a snap-in
adapter may only be possible if a there is no
cable connected to the AV-In connector.
Information on connection
> The connected audio device is supplied with
a max. power of 500 mA if supported by the
device. Therefore, do not connect the device
to the power socket in the vehicle.
> Do not use force when plugging the connec-
tor into the USB interface.
> Do not connect any devices, e.g. fans or
lamps, to the USB audio interface.
> Do not connect USB hard drives.
> Do not use the USB audio interface to
recharge external devices.
Bluetooth audio
Overview
>It is possible to use Bluetooth to play music
files from external devices, e.g. audio
devices or mobile phones.
> Bluetooth® is a registered trademark of
Bluetooth® SIG, Inc.
> Sound is output over the vehicle speakers.
> The volume of the sound output depends on
the device. If necessary, change the volume
setting on the device.
> Up to four external devices can be paired
with the vehicle.
Requirements
>Suitable device. Information is available at
www.mini.com/connectivity.
> Device operational.
> Ignition switched on.
> Bluetooth activated in vehicle, refer to
page 175, and in the device.
> Bluetooth presets in the device are required,
e.g. connection not confirmed or visible,
refer to Owner's Ma nual for the device.
> A number with at least 4 and at most
16 digits has been established as the Blue-
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COMMUNICATIONSHands-free device Bluetooth
164
Hands-free device Bluetooth
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.
Overview
The concept
Mobile phones can be connected to the vehicle
through Bluetooth.
Bluetooth® is a registered trademark of Blue-
tooth® SIG, Inc.
After being paired once, when the ignition is
switched on, these devices are automatically
detected as soon as they are present in the vehi-
cle and can be controlled via the onboard com-
puter, the buttons on the steering wheel, and by
voice.
Up to four mobile phones can be paired.
It may be necessary for some functions to be
activated by the mobile phone provider.
Only make entries when traffic conditions
permit. Do not hold the mobile phone in
your hand while you are driving; use the hands-
free system instead. If you do not observe this
precaution, your being distracted can endanger
vehicle occupants and other road users.
Suitable mobile phones
Precise information as to which mobile phones
are supported by the hands-free device can be
found at www.mini.com/connectivity.
With a certain software version, these suitable
mobile phones support the vehicle functions
described below. With other mobile phones
or software versions,
malfunctions may occur.
A mobile phone that is connected to the vehicle
should not be operated via the mobile phone
keypad; otherwise, ma lfunctions may occur.
Displaying vehicle identification number
and software part number
To check which mobile phones are supported by
the hands-free device, th e vehicle identification
number and the software part number will be
required. The software version of the mobile
phone may also be required.
1. "Telephone"
2. Open "Options".
3. "Bluetooth® info"
4. "Display system information"
Notes
Do not expose your mobile phone to extreme
ambient conditions, for example, very high tem-
peratures; otherwise, fu nctions on your mobile
phone may not work. Follow the operating
instructions for yo ur mobile phone.
Pairing/unpairing mobile
phone
Requirements
>Suitable mobile phone, refer to page 164.
> Mobile phone operational.
> Bluetooth activated in vehicle, refer to
page 165, and in the mobile phone.
> Bluetooth presets in the mobile phone are
required, e.g. connection not confirmed or
visible, refer to Ow ner's Manual for the
mobile phone.
2 Q O L Q H ( G L W L R Q I R U 3 D U W Q R
COMMUNICATIONSMobile phone preparation Bluetooth
174
Mobile phone preparation Bluetooth
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.
Overview
The concept
Mobile phones or other external devices, e.g.
audio players, can be connected to the vehicle
via Bluetooth.
Bluetooth® is a registered trademark of Blue-
tooth® SIG, Inc.
After being paired once, when the ignition is
switched on, these devices are automatically
detected as soon as they are present in the vehi-
cle and can be controlled via the onboard com-
puter, the buttons on the steering wheel, and by
voice.
Depending on whether they are functioning as a
telephone and/or as an audio source, external
devices can be used via the vehicle. The tele-
phone functions will be described below. Oper-
ation of audio functions, refer to page 157.
It may be necessary for some functions to be
activated by the mobile phone provider.
Only make entries when traffic conditions
permit. Do not hold the mobile phone in
your hand while you are driving; use the hands-
free system instead. If you do not observe this
precaution, your being distracted can endanger
vehicle occupants and other road users. <
Snap-in adapter
The snap-in adapter, refer to page185, makes it
possible to:
> Accommodate the mobile phone.
> Recharge its battery.
> Connect it to an exte rnal antenna of the
vehicle.
This assures a better network connection
and constant sound quality.
A mobile phone that is connected to the vehicle
should not be operated via the mobile phone
keypad; otherwise, ma lfunctions may occur.
Suitable mobile phones
For precise information as to which mobile
phones and external devices with Bluetooth
interfaces are supported by the mobile phone
preparation package, go to www.mini.com/
connectivity.
With a certain software version, these suitable
mobile phones support the vehicle functions
described below.
With other mobile phones or software versions,
malfunctions may occur.
It is possible to perform a software update, refer
to page 161.
Displaying vehicle identification number
and software part number
Checking which mobile phones are supported
by the mobile phone preparation requires the
vehicle identification number and software part
number. The software version of the mobile
phone may also be required.
1."Telephone"
2. Open "Options".
3. "Bluetooth® info"
4. "Display system information"
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Mobile phone preparation BluetoothCOMMUNICATIONS
175
Notes
Do not expose your mobile phone to extreme
ambient conditions, for example, very high tem-
peratures; otherwise, functions on your mobile
phone may not work. Follow the operating
instructions for your mobile phone.
Pairing/unpairing mobile
phone
Overview
> Using a mobile phone as a telephone.
> Using the mobile phone as an auxiliary
phone.
> Using a mobile phone as an audio source.
> Using an audio device as an audio source,
refer to page 157.
Functions supported by the mobile phone and
audio device are displayed as symbols during
the pairing.
White symbol: function active.
Gray symbol: function inactive.
Up to four external devices can be paired. Two
devices can be connecte d to the vehicle at a
time and used for different functions. The phone
can be used to perform all of the following
phone functions.
Requirements
> Suitable mobile phone, refer to page 174.
> Mobile phone operational.
> Bluetooth activated in vehicle, refer to
page 175, and in the mobile phone. >
Bluetooth presets in the mobile phone are
required, e.g. connection not confirmed or
visible, refer to Ow ner's Manual for the
mobile phone.
> If necessary, deactivate the audio connec-
tion, refer to page 176.
> A number with at least 4 and at most
16 digits has been established as the Blue-
tooth passkey. Only required once for pair-
ing.
> Compare the control number on the Control
Display with the control number on the
mobile phone display. Confirm the control
number in the mobile phone and in the vehi-
cle.
> Ignition switched on.
Activating/deactivating Bluetooth link
Bluetooth is not permitted everywhere. Comply
with all safety guidel ines and regulations.
1. "Telephone"
2. Open "Options".
3. "Bluetooth®"
Activating/deactivating additional
functions
To use these functions in the vehicle, activate
them before pairing. For information on suitable
mobile phones that suppo rt this function, refer
to page 174.
1. "Telephone"
2. "Bluetooth® (phone)"
3. Open "Options".
SymbolFunction
Telephone
Auxiliary phone
Audio source
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Wheels and tiresMOBILITY
203
Wheels and tires
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.
Tire inflation pressures
Information for your safety
It is not merely the tires' service life, but also
driving comfort and, to a great extent, driving
safety that depend on the condition of the tires
and the maintenance of the specified tire pres-
sure.
Checking pressure
Check the tire inflatio n pressure regularly
and correct it, if nece ssary: at least twice a
month and before starting long trips. If you fail
to observe this precaution you may be driving
on tires with incorrect tire pressures, a condition
that can not only compromise your vehicle's
driving stability, but also lead to tire damage and
the risk of an accident. Do not drive with
deflated, i.e. flat tires, except when using run-
flat tires. A flat tire will seriously impair your
vehicle's handling and braking response.
Attempts to drive on a flat tire can lead to loss of
control over the vehicle. <
Check the tire inflation pressures only on cold
tires. This means after a maximum of 1.25 miles/
2 km driving or when the vehicle has been
parked for at least 2 hours. When tires are warm,
the tire inflation pressure is higher. After adjusting the tire inflation pressure,
reinitialize the Flat Tire Monitor, page 75,
or reset the Tire Pressure Monitor, page 78.<
Pressure specifications
The tables below provide all the correct inflation
pressures for the specifie d tire sizes at ambient
temperature.
The tire inflation pressures apply to the
tire sizes approved and the tire brands
recommended by the manufacturer of your
MINI. Your MINI dealer will be glad to advise
you. <
For correct identification of the right tire infla-
tion pressures, observe the following:
> Tire sizes for your vehicle
> Maximum allowable driving speed
Tire inflation pressures for driving up to
100 mph or 160 km/h
For normal driving up to 100 mph or 160 km/h
and to achieve optimum dr iving comfort, adjust
pressures to the respective tire inflation pres-
sures listed on the foll owing pages in the col-
umns for traveling speeds up to a maximum of
100 mph or 160 km/h.
These tire inflation pre ssures can also be found
on the driver's side door pillar when the driver's
door is open.
MINI Countryman:
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MOBILITYWheels and tires
212
Otherwise, tire damage can be extremely dan-
gerous for vehicle occupants and other road
users. <
Tire age
The manufacturing date of tires is contained in
the tire coding:
DOT ... 1012 means that the tire was manufac-
tured during the 10th 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.
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 continui ng to drive with a flat
tire, refer to Indication of a flat tire, page 76.
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 the specifications of the
MINI manufacturer. If this work is not carried out properly, there is a dang
er of subsequent dam-
age and related safety haza rds. 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 often wide variations in
tire age, which can resu lt 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. Although 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 manufacturer of your MINI can-
not evaluate non-approved wheels and tires to
determine if they are suited 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 combin ation 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. Afte r a tire has been dam-
aged, mount the previous wheel and tire combi-
nation again as soon as possible.
Wheels with Tire Pr essure 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
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