2013 MINI Countryman ABS

CONTROLSTechnology for driving comfort and safety
72
enter the sensors' blind spots before or after a
continuous audible signal is given. Higher, pro-
truding objects, such as wall ledges, may not be
detectable. Therefore, always drive cautiously;
otherwise, there is a risk of personal injury or
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The laws of physics cannot be repealed,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 brak-
ing. Safe steering response is maintained even
during full braking. Active safety is thus
increased.
Braking safely, refer to page 105.
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 dur-
ing 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 accel-
erate.
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 switch until the DSC OFF indicator
lamp on the speedometer lights up 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.

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Things to remember when drivingDRIVING TIPS
105
If special circumstances make it absolutely nec-
essary to drive with the tailgate open:
1. Close all windows and the glass sunroof.
2. Switch off recirculated -air mode and switch
the airflow control of the air conditioner or
automatic climate control to high, refer to
page 88 or 90.
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 sect ions of the exhaust sys-
tem, and never apply undercoating to them.
When driving, standing at idle and while park-
ing, take care to avoid possible contact between
the hot exhaust system and any highly flamma-
ble materials such as hay, leaves, grass, etc. Such
contact could lead to a fire, with the risk of seri-
ous 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 211.
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 driving off using Hill Assist,
refer to page 74.
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 appropri-
ately fastened. Make sure that the floor mats are
securely fastened again after they have been
removed, e.g. for cleaning. <
Driving in wet conditions
When roads are wet or there 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 avail-
able when it is needed.

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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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Giving and receiving assistanceMOBILITY
237
Connecting jumper cables
Connect the jumper cables in the correct
o r d e r , s o t h a t n o s parks which could cause
injury occur. <
1. Open the battery cover in the engine com-
partment to access the positive terminal of
your MINI.
2. Release the tabs on the left and right sides of
the positive termin al cover, arrows1, and lift
the cover to open, arrow 2.
3. Attach one terminal clamp of the plus/+
jumper cable to the positive terminal of the
battery or to a starting-aid terminal of the
vehicle providing assistance.
4. Attach the second terminal clamp of the
plus/+ jumper cable to the positive terminal
of the battery or a starting-aid terminal of
the vehicle to be started.
5. Attach one terminal clamp of the minus/–
jumper cable to the negative terminal of the
battery or to an engine or body ground of
the assisting vehicle. Body ground in MINI:
6.
Attach the second terminal clamp of the
minus/– jumper cable to the negative termi-
nal of the battery or to the engine or body
ground of the vehicle to be started.
Starting the engine
1.Start the engine of the donor vehicle and
allow it to run for a few minutes at slightly
increased idle speed.
2. Start the engine of the vehicle to be started
in the usual manner.
If the first start attempt is not successful,
wait a few minutes be fore another attempt
in order to allow the discharged battery to
recharge.
3. Let the engines run for a few minutes.
4. Disconnect the jumper cables by reversing
the above connecting sequence.
If necessary, have the battery checked and
recharged. Never use spray fluids to start the
engine.<
Tow-starting, towing
away
Observe applicable laws and regulations
for tow-starting and towing. <
Do not transport an y passengers other
than the driver in a vehicle that is being
towed. <

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260
REFERENCEEverything from A to Z
Everything from A to Z
Index
A
ABS Antilock Brake System72
Accepting a call 167,179
Accessories, see Vehicle equipment 4
Acknowledgment signals for locking/unlocking vehicle 28
Activated-charcoa l filter for
automatic climate control 91
Adaptive Light Control 85
Adding engine oil 216
Additives
– coolant 217
– engine oil 216
Address, entering 126
Address for navigation
– entering 120,126
Adjusting temperature inside the car, refer to Air
conditioner 88
Adjusting temperature inside the car, refer to Automatic
climate control 90
Adjusting the tone during audio operation, refer to
Tone control 141
Airbags 81
– sitting safely 38
– warning lamp 83
Air conditioner 88
Air conditioning mode
– air conditioner 88
– automatic cl imate control90
– ventilation 92
Air distribution
– automatic 90
– individual 89
– manual 89 Air flow rate
88,90
– air conditioning system 88
– automatic climate control 90
– heating, ventilation 88
Airing, refer to Ventilation92
Air pressure, checking, refer to
Tire inflation pressure 203
Air recirculation, refer to Recirculated-air
mode 89,90
Air supply
– air conditioner 88
– automatic climate control 90
– ventilation 92
AKI, refer to Fuel grade 201
Alarm system 32
ALL4 all-wheel drive system 74
All-season tires, refer to Winter
tires 213
A ll-wh
ee

l drive, refer to
ALL4 74
AM, waveband 143
Ambient air, refer to
Recirculated-air
mode 89,90
Ambient lighting 87
Antenna, care 220
Antifreeze
– coolant 217
– washer fluid 57
Antilock Brake System ABS 72
Anti-theft alarm system, refer
to Alarm system 32
Approved axle loads, refer to Weights 249
Approved engine oils 216
Approved gross vehicle weight, refer to Weights 249
Armrest, refer to Center armrest 97 Arrival time
– computer
62
– route guidance 129
Ashtray 100
Assistant systems, refer to
– Dynamic Stability Control
DSC 72
Audio 140
– controls 140
– switching on/off 140
– tone control 141
– volume 141
Audio device, external 97
Automatic
– air distribution 90
– air flow rate 90
– cruise control 58
– headlamp control 84
Automatic climate control 88
– automatic air distribution 90
Automatic transmission with Steptronic 52
– Interlock 53
– overriding selector lever lock 54
– Shiftlock 53
– sport program 54
AUTO program for automatic climate control 90
Auxiliary phone 176
AUX-In, refer to External audio device 97
AUX-In connection 153
Average fuel consumption 61
– setting the units 64
Average speed 62
Avoiding highways for navigation 129
Axle loads, refer to
Weights 249

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Everything from A to ZREFERENCE
261
B
Background lighting, refer to
Ambient lighting 87
Backrests, refer to Seats 39
Backup lamps
– replacing bulb 228
Band-aids, refer to First aid pouch 236
Bar, refer to Tow-starting,
towing away 239
Base plate for telephone or mobile phone
– refer to Snap-in adapter 185
Bass sounds, refer to Tone control 141
Battery 233
– disposal 35,234
– jump-starting 236
– temporary power failure 234
Battery renewal
– remote control 35
Being towed 238
Belts, refer to Safety belts 42
Belt tensioner, refer to Safety
belts 42
Beverage holders, refer to Cupholders 100
Black ice, refer to External temperature warning 61
Blower, refer to Air flow rate 88,90
Bluetooth, activating/
deactivating 165,175
Bluetooth audio 157
– device pairing 158
– disconnecting an audio connection 160
– playback 159
– unpairing device 160
– what to do if... 160
Bottle holders, refer to
Cupholders 100
Brake Assist 72
Brake fluid, refer to Service
requirements 64 Brake lamps
– replacing bulbs
228
Brake pads, breaking in 104
Brake rotors 106
– brakes 104
– breaking in 104
Brakes
– ABS 72
– breaking in 104
– MINI Maintenance
System 218
– parking brake 52
– service requirements 64
Brakes, refer to Braking safely 105
Br ake system
104
– breaki ng

in104
– disc brakes 106
– MINI Maintenance
System 218
Breakdown service, refer to Roadside Assistance 236
Breaking in the clutch 104
Break-in period 104
Brightness of Control
Display 70
Bulb changing, refer to Lamps and bulbs 224
Button for starting the engine 50
Buttons on the steering wheel 11
C
Calendar 191
– displaying appointment 191
– selecting calendar day 191
California Proposition 65
warning 5
Call
– ending 168,180
– muting the microphone 181
Calling, refer to Phone numbers, dialing 168,180
Can holders, refer to Cupholders 100 Capacities
251
Car battery, refer to Vehicle battery 233
Car care 220
Care 220
– car-care products 220
– car washes 220
– CD/DVD drives 223
– high-pressure washers 221
– leather 222
– manual washing 221
– upholstery and fabrics 222
– windows 221
– wiper blades 221
Cargo, securing 112
Cargo area 106
– capacity 249
– Comfort Access 34
– lamp 87
– opening from outside 31
– trunk lid, refer to Tailgate 31
Cargo area, expanding 106
Cargo area lamp 87
Cargo area lid, refer to Tailgate 31
Cargo area partition net, refer to Cargo net 109
Cargo loading 110
– securing cargo 112
– stowing cargo 111
– vehicle 106
Cargo net 109
Car key, refer to Keys/remote
controls 26
Carpets, care 222
Car phone
– installation location, refer to Center armrest 97
Car phone, refer to
Telephone 164,174
Car radio, refer to Radio 143
Car wash
– before driving in 52
Car wa sh, care
220
Car w a

shes220
Catalytic converter, refer to Hot exhaust system 105

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Everything from A to ZREFERENCE
269
Roof load capacity249
Roof-mounted luggage rack 112
Rope, refer to Tow-starting,
towing away 239
Route 129,130
– bypassing sections 130
– changing 129,130
– changing criteria 129
– displaying arrow view 130
– displaying map view 131
– displaying streets or towns/ cities 130
– selecting 129
Route guidance 129
– bypassing a route
section 130
– changing specified route 129
– distance and arrival 129
– voice instructions 133
– volume of voice instructions 133
Route section, changing 130
Route selection 129
RSC Run-flat System
Component, refer to Run-flat
tires 212
Rubber parts, care 222
Run-flat System Component RSC, refer to Run-flat
tires 212
Run-flat tires 212
– flat tire 76
– Flat Tire Monitor 76
– tire inflation pressure 203
– tire replacement 212
– winter tires 213
S
Safety belt
– number38
Safety Belt Reminder 44 Safety belts
42
– center belt 43
– damage 44
– indicator lamp 44
– reminder 44
– sitting safely 38
Safety belts, care 223
Safety systems
– airbags 81
– Antilock Brake System
ABS 72
– driving stability control systems 72
– Dynamic Stability Control DSC 72
– safety belts 42
Safety tires, refer to Run-flat tires 212
Satellite radio 145
– channel, activating or deactivating 146
– channel, selecting 146
– channel, storing 147
– favorites 148
– time shift 147
– Traffic Jump 149
Screen, refer to Onboard computer controls 16
Screw thread for tow fitting 238
SDARS, refer to Satellite radio 145
Seat adjustment
– mechanical 39
– rear 40
Seats 39
– adjusting the seats 39
– heating 42
– sitting safely 38
Securing the vehicle
– from inside 30
– from outside 27
Selecting navigation system 118
Selecting new scale for
navigation 132 Selector lever
– automatic transmission with
Steptronic 53
Selector lever lock
– automatic transmission with Steptronic, refer to
Shiftlock 53
– overriding manually 54
Selector lever positions
– automatic transmission with
Steptronic 53
Service, refer to Roadside Assistance 236
Service car, refer to Roadside Assi stance
236
Service data

in the remote
control 218
Service Interval Display, refer to Condition Based Service
CBS 218
Service requirement display, refer to Condition Based
Service CBS 218
Service requirements 64
Settings
– clock, 12 h/24 h mode 66
– date format 67
– language 69
Settings and information 62
Setting time and date 66
Setting time zone, time, and date 66
Shifting gears
– automatic transmission with Steptronic 54
– manual transmission 52
Shiftlock
– automatic transmission, refer to Changing selector lever
positions 53
Shift paddles 54
Short commands for the voice
activation system 252
Short route in navigation, refer to Selecting route 129

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