Closing the tailgateDrive with the tailgate closed
Only drive with the tailgate closed; other‐
wise, passengers and other road users may be
endangered or the vehicle may be damaged if
an accident occurs or during braking or swerv‐
ing. In addition, exhaust fumes may enter the
passenger compartment. ◀
If, despite this, the vehicle must be driven with
the tailgate open:▷Drive moderately.▷Coupe: close all windows.▷Switch off recirculated air mode and greatly
increase the blower speed.
Hot exhaust system
Hot exhaust system
High temperatures are generated in the
exhaust system.
Do not remove the heat shields installed and
never apply undercoating to them. Make sure
that flammable materials, e. g. hay, leaves,
grass, etc. do not come in contact with the hot
exhaust system during driving, while in idle po‐
sition mode, or when parked. Such contact
could lead to a fire, and with it the risk of seri‐
ous personal injury as well as property damage.
Do not touch hot exhaust pipes; otherwise,
there is the danger of getting burned. ◀
Mobile communication devices in the
vehicle
Mobile communication devices in the ve‐
hicle
It is not recommended to use mobile phones,
such as mobile phones without a direct con‐
nection to an external aerial in the vehicle's
passenger compartment. Otherwise, the vehi‐
cle electronics and mobile communication de‐
vices can interfere with each other. In addition,
there is no assurance that the radiation gener‐
ated during transmission will be discharged
from the vehicle interior. ◀
Hydroplaning On wet or slushy roads, a wedge of water can
form between the tires and road surface.
This phenomenon is referred to as hydroplan‐
ing. It is characterized by a partial or complete
loss of contact between the tires and the road
surface, ultimately undermining your ability to
steer and brake the vehicle.
Hydroplaning
When driving on wet or slushy roads, re‐
duce your speed to prevent hydroplaning. ◀
The risk of hydroplaning increases as the tire
tread depth decreases. Minimum tread depth,
refer to page 230.
Driving through water Drive though calm water only if it is not deeper
than 12 inches/30 cm and at this height, no
faster than walking speed, up to
6 mph/10 km/h.
Adhere to water depth and speed limita‐
tions
Do not exceed this water depth and walking
speed; otherwise, the vehicle's engine, the
electrical systems and the transmission may be
damaged. ◀
Using the handbrake on inclines Using the handbrake
On inclines, do not hold the vehicle sta‐
tionary with a slipping clutch for extended pe‐
riod; use the handbrake instead. Otherwise, the
clutch will be subject to increased wear. ◀
Support from the hill drive-off assistant, refer to
page 103.Seite 125Things to remember when drivingDriving tips125
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Braking safelyThe vehicle is equipped with ABS as a standardfeature.
Applying the brakes fully is the most effective
way of braking in situations when this is neces‐
sary.
The vehicle maintains steering responsiveness.
You can still avoid any obstacles with a mini‐
mum of steering effort.
Pulsation of the brake pedal and sounds from
the hydraulic circuits indicate that ABS is in its
active mode.
Do not let your foot rest on the brake
pedal
Do not drive with your foot resting on the brake
pedal. Even light but consistent pedal pressure
can lead to high temperatures, brake wear and
possibly even brake failure. ◀
Objects in the area around the pedals No objects in the area around the pedals
Keep floor mats, carpets, and any other
objects out of the area of motion of the pedals;
otherwise, the function of the pedals could be
impeded while driving
Do not place additional floor mats over existing
mats or other objects.
Only use floor mats that have been approved
for the vehicle and can be properly fixed in
place.
Ensure that the floor mats are securely fastened
again when they are returned after being re‐
moved, such as 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.
Ensure that this action does not endanger other
road users.The heat generated in this process helps dry
the brake discs and pads.
In this way braking efficiency will be available
when you need it.
HillsDrive long or steep downhill gradients in the
gear in which the least braking is required. Oth‐
erwise, the brake system may overheat, result‐
ing in a reduction in the brake system effi‐
ciency.
You can increase the engine's braking effect by
shifting down, going all the way to first gear, if
necessary.
Downshifting in manual mode of the automatic
transmission, refer to page 72.
Avoid load on the brakes
Avoid placing excessive load on the brake
system. Light but consistent brake pressure can
lead to high temperatures, brake wear and
possibly even brake failure. ◀
Do not drive in neutral
Never drive with the transmission in neu‐
tral, with the engine switched off or with the
clutch depressed; otherwise, you will have nei‐
ther the braking action of the engine or nor its
power assistance when braking or steering. ◀
Brake disc corrosion
Corrosion on the brake discs and contamina‐
tion on the brake pads are furthered by:▷Low mileage.▷Extended periods when the vehicle is not
used at all.▷Infrequent use of the brakes.
Corrosion occurs when the minimum pressure
that must be exerted by the pads during brake
applications to clean the discs is not reached.
Should corrosion form on the brake discs, the
brakes will tend to respond with a pulsating ef‐
fect that generally cannot be corrected.
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MINI Convertible
Securing cargo
▷Secure smaller and lighter pieces with tight‐
ening belts or straps.▷Secure larger and heavier pieces with cargo
straps.
Adhere to the information included with
the cargo straps.▷Four lashing eyes are available for fastening
the cargo straps. Two of them are located
on the inside wall of the cargo area.
Securing cargo
Stow and secure the cargo as described
above; otherwise it may present a danger to
the occupants, for instance during braking and
avoidance maneuvers.
Do not stow any heavy and hard objects in the
passenger compartment without securing
them; otherwise, they may present a danger to
occupants, for instance during braking and
avoidance maneuvers.
Never exceed either the approved gross vehicle
weight or either of the approved axle loads, as
excessive loads can pose a safety hazard, and
may also place you in violation of traffic safety
laws.
Do not secure cargo using the upper LATCH
mounting points, refer to page 61; otherwise,
these may become damaged. ◀
Rear luggage rack
Notes A special rear rack is available as an optional
accessory. It does not require a trailer hitch.
Follow the installation instructions for the rear
rack.
Anchorage points
The anchorage points are under the covers in
the bumper.
Push out the covers on the corresponding cut‐
outs.
Loading
When loading the vehicle, ensure that the ap‐
proved gross vehicle weight and the axle loads
are not exceeded. Adhere to the weight specifi‐
cations in the technical data.
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Switch off the engine during longer
stops
Switch off the engine during longer stops, e.g.,
at traffic lights, railroad crossings or in traffic
congestion.
Fuel savings are already achieved after the en‐
gine is turned off for as little as 4 seconds.
Automatic Engine Start/Stop Function
The Automatic Engine Start/Stop Function auto‐
matically switches the engine off during a stop.
If the engine is stopped and then started again,
fuel consumption and emissions drop com‐
pared to an engine that runs permanently.
Stopping the engine even for just a few sec‐
onds can result in savings.
In addition, fuel consumption depends on other
factors as well, such as driving style, road con‐
ditions, maintenance, and environmental fac‐
tors.
Switch off any functions that are not currently needed
Functions such as seat heating and the rear
window defroster require a lot of energy and
consume additional fuel, especially in city and
stop-and-go traffic.
Therefore, switch off these functions if they are
not actually needed.
Have maintenance carried out
Have vehicles maintained regularly to achieve
optimal vehicle economy and operating life.
Have the maintenance carried out by the serv‐
ice center.
Please also note the MINI maintenance system,
refer to page 241.Seite 132Driving tipsSaving fuel132
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Real Time Traffic Information End-User
Provisions
Certain MINI models equipped with navigation
have the capability to display real-time traffic
information. If your system has this capability
the following additional terms and conditions
apply:
An End-User shall no longer have the right to
use the Traffic Data in the event that the End-
User is in material breach of the terms and con‐
ditions contained herein.
A. Total Traffic Network, a division of Clear
Channel Broadcasting, Inc. (“Total Traffic Net‐
work”) holds the rights to the traffic incident
data and RDS-TMC network through which it is
delivered. You may not modify, copy, scan or
use any other method to reproduce, duplicate,
republish, transmit or distribute in any way any
portion of traffic incident data. You agree to in‐
demnify, defend and hold harmless MINI of
North America, LLC. (“MINI NA”) and Total Traf‐
fic Network, Inrix, Inc (and their affiliates)
against any and all claims, damages, costs or
other expenses that arise directly or indirectly
out of (a) your unauthorized use of the traffic
incident data or the RDS-TMC network, (b) your
violation of this directive and/or (c) any unau‐
thorized or unlawful activities by you in con‐
nection herewith.
B. Total Traffic Network traffic data is informa‐
tional only. User assumes all risk of use. Total
Traffic Network, MINI NA, and their suppliers
make no representations about content, traffic
and road conditions, route usability, or speed.
C. The licensed material is provided to license
“as is,” and “where is”. Total Traffic Network,
including, but not limited to, any and all third
party providers of any of the licensed material,
expressly disclaims, to the fullest extent permit‐
ted by law, all warranties or representations
with respect to the licensed material (including,
without limitation, that the licensed material
will be error-free, will operate without interrup‐
tion or that the traffic data will be accurate), ex‐
press, implied or statutory, including, withoutlimitation, the implied warranties of merchant‐
ability, non-infringement fitness for a particular
purpose, or those arising from a course of deal‐
ing or usage of trade.
D. Neither Total Traffic Network, Inrix, Inc. or
MINI NA will be liable to you for any indirect,
special, consequential, exemplary, or incidental
damages (including, without limitation, lost
revenues, anticipated revenues, or profits relat‐
ing to the same) arising from any claim relating
directly or indirectly to use of the traffic data,
and even if Total Traffic Network, Inrix, Inc., or
MINI NA are aware of the possibility of such
damages. These limitations apply to all claims,
including, without limitation, claims in contract
and tort (such as negligence, product liability
and strict liability). Some states do not allow the
exclusion or limitation of incidental or conse‐
quential damages, so those particular limita‐
tions may not apply to you.
Switching the reception on/off1."Navigation"2.Open "Options".3."Receive Traffic Info"
Open the traffic bulletins
1."Navigation"2."Map"3. "Traffic Info"
First, traffic bulletins for the calculated
route are displayed.
The traffic bulletins are sorted by their dis‐
tance from the current position of the vehi‐
cle.4.Select a traffic bulletin.
"More information": display additional
information.
5.Scroll to the next or previous traffic bulletin
if required.
Traffic bulletins on the map
"Traffic conditions/gray map" active:
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ToneVehicle equipmentThis chapter describes all series equipment as
well as country-specific and special equipment
offered for this model series.Therefore, it also
describes equipment that may not be found in
your vehicle, for instance due to the selected
special equipment or the country version. This
also applies to safety-related functions and sys‐
tems.
General information The sound settings are stored for the remote
control currently in use.
Treble, bass, balance,
and fader▷"Treble": treble adjustment.▷"Bass": depth adjustment.▷"Balance": left/right volume distribution.▷"Fader": front/rear volume distribution.
Setting treble, bass, balance, and fader
1."CD/Multimedia", "Radio" or "Settings"2."Tone"3.Select the desired tone settings.4.To set: turn the MINI joystick.5.To save: press the MINI joystick.
Volume
▷"Speed volume": speed-dependent volume
control.▷"PDC": volume of the PDC signal compared
to the entertainment sound output.▷"Gong": volume of the signal, such as the
safety belt reminder, compared to the en‐
tertainment sound output.
Bluetooth mobile phone preparation package
▷"Microphone": volume of the microphone
during a phone call.▷"Loudspeak.": volume of the loudspeakers
during a phone call.
The following volumes are only stored for the
respective paired telephone: "Microphone",
"Loudspeak.".
Adjusting the volume
1."CD/Multimedia", "Radio" or "Settings"2."Tone"3."Volume settings"Seite 158EntertainmentTone158
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4.Open "Options".5."Random"
To switch off random playback: press the
MINI joystick.
Fast forward/reverse
Press and hold the button for the
corresponding direction.
Automatic repeat
The selected track, directories, or CDs are re‐
peated automatically.
Notes
CD player Do not remove the cover
The CD players are officially designated
Class 1 laser products. Do not operate if the
cover is damaged; otherwise, severe eye dam‐
age can result. ◀
CDs Using CDs
▷Do not use self-recorded CDs with la‐
bels applied, as these can become
detached during playback due to
heat buildup and can cause irrepara‐
ble damage to the device.▷Only use round CDs with a standard diame‐
ter of 4.7 in/12 cm and do not play CDs
with an adapter, e.g., single CDs; otherwise,
the CDs or the adapter may jam and no lon‐
ger eject. ◀
General malfunctions
▷The CD players have been optimized for
performance in vehicles. In some instances
they may be more sensitive to faulty CDs
than stationary devices would be.▷If a CD cannot be played, first check if it has
been inserted correctly.
Humidity
High levels of humidity can lead to condensa‐
tion on the CD or the laser's scan lens, and tem‐
porarily prevent playback.
Malfunctions with particular CDs If malfunctions occur only with particular CDs,
this can be due to one of the following causes:
Self-recorded CDs
▷Possible reasons for malfunctions with self-
recorded CDs are inconsistent data creation
or recording processes, or poor quality or
old age of the blank CD.▷Only label CDs on the upper side with a pen
intended for this purpose.
Damage
▷Avoid fingerprints, dust, scratches and
moisture.▷Store CDs in a sleeve.▷Do not subject CDs to temperatures over
50 ℃/122 ℉, high humidity, or direct sun‐
light.
CDs with copy protection
CDs are often provided with a copy protection
feature by the manufacturer. This can mean
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Playback lists
Calling up playback lists.1."CD/Multimedia"2."External devices"3.Select the or symbol.4."Playlists"
Current playback
List of tracks currently being played.
1."CD/Multimedia"2."External devices"3.Select the or symbol.4."Current playback"
Random playback The current list of tracks is played back in ran‐
dom order.
1."CD/Multimedia"2."External devices"3.Open "Options".4."Random"
Fast forward/reverse
Buttons on the steering wheel or on the CD
player:
Press and hold the button for the
corresponding direction.
Video playback
At a glance
Video playback is only possible with a compati‐
ble iPod/iPhone. Connect using a video-capable
adapter cable or, if applicable, a snap-in
adapter.
Playback
The video image on the Control Display is dis‐
played while the vehicle is stationary; in some
countries, the handbrake must be set or P must
be engaged.1."CD/Multimedia"2."External devices"3.Select the or symbol.4."Video"5.Select the desired file.
Select the category in the file directory.6.Press the MINI joystick.
Playback of the selected video file starts.
Notes Do not expose the audio device to extreme en‐
vironmental conditions, such as very high tem‐
peratures; refer to the audio device operating
instructions.
Depending on the configuration of the audio
files, e.g., bit rates greater than 256 kbit/s, the
files may not play back correctly in each case.
Audio and video playback from the snap-in
adapter is only possible if no cable is connected
to the AV-IN port.
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