2013 MINI Coupe tow

Replacing componentsVehicle 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.
Tool kit Depending on the vehicle equipment, your ve‐
hicle contains a special onboard vehicle tool kit
that is stowed under the flat loading floor in the
cargo area.
With Mobility System1Sealant bottle2Hex key3Pulling hook4Vehicle jack5Lug bolts wrench6Screwdriver/cross-head, tow fitting7CompressorWith run-flat tires or compact wheel
The onboard vehicle tool kit contains a pouch
holding a plastic bag in which you can stow the
defective wheel.1Folding wheel chock and cover for the de‐
fective wheel2Pulling hook3Lug bolts wrench4Vehicle jack5Special wrench for releasing the compact
wheel6Screwdriver/cross-head7Tow fitting8Lifting handle
Wiper blade replacement
General information Do not fold down the wipers withoutwiper blades
Do not fold down the wipers if wiper blades
have not been installed; this may damage the
windshield. ◀
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MINI Coupe, MINI Roadster: replacing
the wiper blades1.Fold up and hold the wiper arm.2.Squeeze the locking spring, arrows 1, and
fold out the wiper blade, arrow 2.3.Take the wiper blade out of the catch
mechanism toward the front.4.Press the new wiper blade into the fixation
until it engages audibly.5.Fold down the wiper arm.
Risk of damage
Before opening the hood, ensure that the
wiper arms with wiper blades are folded onto
the window; otherwise, damage may occur. ◀
MINI Convertible: replacing the wiper
blades
1.Fold up and hold the wiper arm.2.Squeeze the locking spring, arrows 1.3.While squeezing the locking spring, pull the
wiper blade off of the wiper arm, arrow 2.4.Slide the new wiper blade onto the wiper
arm until it engages audibly.5.Fold down the wiper arm.
Risk of damage
Before opening the hood, ensure that the
wiper arms with wiper blades are folded onto
the window; otherwise, damage may occur. ◀
Lamp and bulb replace‐
ment
Notes
Lamps and bulbs Lamps and bulbs make an essential contribu‐
tion to vehicle safety. Therefore, exercise cau‐
tion when handling lamps and bulbs.
The manufacturer of the vehicle recommends
that you entrust corresponding procedures to
the service center if you are unfamiliar with
them or they are not described here.
You can obtain a selection of replacement
bulbs at the service center.
Danger of burns
Only change bulbs when they are cool;
otherwise, there is the danger of getting
burned. ◀
Working on the lighting system
When working on the lighting system,
you should always switch off the lights affected
to prevent short circuits.
To avoid possible injury or equipment damage
when replacing bulbs, observe any instructions
provided by the bulb manufacturer. ◀
Do not touch the bulbs
Do not touch the glass of new bulbs with
your bare hands, as even minute amounts of
contamination will burn into the bulb's surface
and reduce its service life.
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▷Mount the compact wheel, refer to
page 251.▷Tighten the lug bolts, refer to page 252.▷Drive with the compact wheel, refer to
page 250.
Removing the compact wheel
The screw fitting of the compact wheel is lo‐
cated in the cargo area under the floor mat, on
the floor of the storage compartment holding
the wheel change set.
1.Release the screw fitting with the special
wrench.2.Take out the cover.3.Screw the lifting handle from the onboard
vehicle tool kit onto the thread.4.Raise the lifting handle slightly.5.Squeeze the locking spring.6.Lower the compact wheel with the lifting
handle.7.Lower the compact wheel with the lifting
handle.8.Unscrew the lifting handle again.9.Pull the compact wheel out from under the
vehicle toward the back.10.Lay the compact wheel down with the
valve facing up.11.Unscrew the valve extension from the valve
of the compact wheel.12.Unscrew the dust cap from the extension
and attach it to the valve of the compact
wheel.
The defective wheel cannot be stowed in the
compact wheel holder because it has a differ‐
ent size.
Driving with compact wheel Do not exceed a speed of
50 mph/80 km/h.
Drive conservatively and do not exceed a speed
of 50 mph/80 km/h. Otherwise, changes in the
driving characteristics could result, for example
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the battery, or to the engine or body
ground of the vehicle to be started.
Body ground:
Starting the engine
Never use spray fluids to start the engine.
1.Start the engine of the assisting vehicle and
let it run for several minutes at a slightly in‐
creased idle speed.2.Start the engine of the vehicle being started
in the usual way.
If the first starting attempt is not successful,
wait a few minutes before making another
attempt in order to allow the discharged
battery to recharge.3.Let both engines run for several minutes.4.Disconnect the jumper cables in the reverse
order.
Check the battery and recharge if necessary.
Tow-starting and towing
Notes Observe applicable laws and regulations
Observe applicable laws and regulations
for tow-starting and towing. ◀
No additional passengers
Do not transport any passengers other
than the driver in a vehicle that is being
towed. ◀
Using a tow fitting
The screw-in tow fitting must always be carried
in the vehicle. It can be screwed in at the front
or rear of the MINI.
Tow fitting, information on use▷Use only the tow fitting provided with
the vehicle and screw it all the way in.▷Use the tow fitting for towing on paved
roads only.▷Avoid lateral loading of the tow fitting, e.g.,
do not lift the vehicle by the tow fitting.
Otherwise, damage to the tow fitting and the
vehicle can occur. ◀
Access to the screw thread Push out the tow fitting cover at the appropri‐
ate recess in the bumper.
Front
Rear
John Cooper Works with aerodynamic bumper:
Pull out the tow fitting cover in the bumper in
the lower section, arrow.
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Being towedFollow the towing instructions
Follow all towing instructions, or vehicle
damage or accidents may occur. ◀
▷Make sure that the ignition is switched on;
otherwise, the low beams, tail lamps, turn
signals, and windshield wipers may be un‐
available.▷Do not tow the vehicle with the rear axle
tilted, as the front wheels could turn.▷When the engine is stopped, there is no
power assist. Consequently, more force
needs to be applied when braking and
steering.▷▷Larger steering wheel movements are re‐
quired.▷Switch on the hazard warning system, de‐
pending on local regulations.
Manual transmission
Gearshift lever in neutral position.
Automatic transmission Towing vehicles with an automatic trans‐
mission
Only transport vehicles with an automatic
transmission on tow trucks or with raised front
wheels; otherwise, the transmission may be
damaged. ◀
Towing with a tow bar
Light towing vehicle
The towing vehicle must not be lighter
than your vehicle, or it will not be possible to
control vehicle response. ◀
Correctly attach the tow bar
Only secure the tow bar on the tow fit‐
tings; damage can occur when it is secured on
other parts of the vehicle. ◀
The tow fittings used should be on the same
side on both vehicles.
Should it prove impossible to avoid mounting
the tow bar at an offset angle, please observe
the following:▷Clearance and maneuvering capability will
be sharply limited during cornering.▷The tow bar will generate lateral forces if it
is attached offset.
Towing with a tow rope
When starting to tow the vehicle, make sure
that the tow rope is taut.
To avoid jerking and the associated stresses on
the vehicle components when towing, always
use nylon ropes or nylon straps.
Attaching the tow rope correctly
Only secure the tow rope on the tow fit‐
ting; otherwise, damage can occur when it is
secured on other parts of the vehicle. ◀
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Towing with a tow truck
Have the MINI transported with a tow truck
with a so-called lift bar or on a flat bed.
Do not lift the vehicle
Do not lift the vehicle by the tow fitting or
body and chassis parts; otherwise, damage
may result. ◀
Tow-starting
If possible, do not tow-start the vehicle but
start the engine by jump-starting, refer to
page 254. Vehicles with a catalytic converter
should only be tow-started when the engine is
cold; vehicles with an automatic transmission
cannot be tow-started.
1.Switch on the hazard warning system and
comply with local regulations.2.Switch on the ignition, refer to page 64.3.Shift into 3rd gear.4.Have the vehicle tow-started with the
clutch depressed and then slowly release
the clutch. After the engine starts, immedi‐
ately depress the clutch completely again.5.Stop at a suitable location, remove the tow
bar or rope, and switch off the hazard
warning system.6.Have the vehicle checked.Seite 258MobilityBreakdown assistance258
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Automatic transmission
Before driving into the car wash, note the fol‐
lowing to ensure that the vehicle can roll:1.Insert the remote control into the ignition
lock, even with Comfort Access.2.Move the selector lever to position N.3.Release the handbrake.4.Switch the engine off.5.Leave the remote control in the ignition
lock so that the vehicle can roll.
Hand car wash
If washing the vehicle by hand, use copious
quantities of water and car shampoo if neces‐
sary. Clean the vehicle with a sponge or a
washing brush by applying gentle pressure.
Before cleaning the windshield, deactivate the
rain sensor to avoid unintentional wiper activa‐
tion or switch off the ignition.
Adhere to the local regulations regarding
washing cars by hand.
Headlamps
Do not rub dry and do not use abrasive or caus‐
tic cleansers. Soak areas that have been soiled,
e.g., due to insects, with shampoo and rinse off
with copious quantities of water.
Thaw ice with a window deicer; do not use an
ice scraper.
Windows Clean the outside and inside surfaces of the
windows and the mirror glasses with window
cleaner.
Do not clean mirror glass with cleaners contain‐
ing quartz.
Wiper blades
Clean with soapy water and replace regularly to
avoid streaking.
Wax and preservative residue and soiling on
the windows cause streaking during window
wiping and lead to premature wear on the
wiper blades and malfunctions of the rain sen‐
sor.
Vehicle care
Car care products
Regular cleaning and care contributes signifi‐
cantly to vehicle value retention.
The manufacturer recommends using cleaning
and care products from MINI, since these have
been tested and approved.
Original MINI CareProducts have been tested
on materials, in the laboratory, and in the field,
and offer optimum care and protection for MINI
vehicles.
Do not use cleansers that contain alcohol
or solvents
Do not use cleansers that contain alcohol or
solvents, such as lacquer thinners, heavy-duty
grease removers, fuel, or such; this could lead
to surface damage. ◀
Car care and cleaning products
Follow the instructions on the container.
When cleaning the interior, open the doors or
windows.
Only use products intended for cleaning vehi‐
cles.
Cleansers can contain substances that are dan‐
gerous and harmful to your health. ◀
Caring for the convertible top The appearance and life of the convertible top
depend on proper care and operation.
Adhere to the following instructions:▷Do not fold the convertible top and stow it
in the convertible top box while it is wet orSeite 260MobilityCare260
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Vehicle information
Computer
FunctionCommandOpen the computer.›Onboard info‹Open the trip computer.›Trip computer‹
Vehicle
FunctionCommandOpen the vehicle information.›Vehicle info‹Open the vehicle status.›Vehicle status‹
Navigation
General information
FunctionCommandNavigation menu.›Navigation‹Open the destination entry.›Enter address‹Enter the address.›Enter address‹Enter the town/city.›City‹Enter the country.›State‹Enter the postal code.›Postal Code‹Open destination guidance.›Guidance‹Start destination guidance.›Start guidance‹Terminate destination guidance.›Stop guidance‹Open the home address.›Home address‹Open the route criteria.›Route preference‹Open the route.›Route information‹Switch on the spoken instruction.›Switch on voice instructions‹Repeat the spoken instruction.›Repeat voice instructions‹Seite 275Short commands for voice activation systemReference275
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