Things to remember when drivingVehicle 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.
Breaking-in period General information Moving parts need to be broken in to adjust to
each other.
The following instructions will help achieve a
long vehicle life and good economy.
Engine and differential
Always obey all official speed limits.
Up to 1,200 miles/2,000 kmDrive at various engine and vehicle speeds, but
do not exceed:▷For a gasoline engine, 4,500 rpm and
100 mph/160 km/h.
Avoid full-throttle operation and use of the
transmission's kickdown mode for the initial
miles.
From 1,200 miles/2,000 km
The engine and vehicle speed can gradually be
increased.
Tires Due to technical factors associated with their
manufacture, tires do not achieve their full trac‐
tion potential until after an initial breaking-in
period.
Drive conservatively for the first
200 miles/300 km.
Brake system Brakes require an initial break-in period of ap‐
prox. 300 miles/500 km to achieve optimized
contact and wear patterns between brake pads
and discs. Drive cautiously during this break-in
period.
Clutch
The clutch requires an initial break-in period of
approx. 300 miles/500 km to function at an op‐ timal level.
During this break-in period, engage the clutch
gently.
Following part replacementThe same breaking in procedures should be ob‐
served 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 Ensure adequate ground clearance
Ensure adequate ground clearance, e.g.,
when driving into underground garages, when
driving over curbs, or when driving in winter;
otherwise, damage may occur to the vehicle. ◀Seite 100Driving tipsThings to remember when driving100
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Closing the tailgate/split doorDrive with the tailgate/split door closed
Only drive with the tailgate/split door
closed; otherwise, passengers and other road
users may be endangered or the vehicle may
be damaged if an accident occurs or during
braking or swerving. In addition, exhaust fumes
may enter the passenger compartment. ◀
If, despite this, the vehicle must be driven with
the tailgate/split door open:▷Drive moderately.▷Close all windows and the glass sunroof.▷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 148.
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 78.Seite 101Things to remember when drivingDriving tips101
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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 52.
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.
Seite 102Driving tipsThings to remember when driving102
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When the vehicle is parked
When using the automatic climate control, con‐
densation water develops that exits under‐
neath the vehicle.
Therefore, traces of condensed water under the
vehicle are normal.
After the engine is switched off, the coolant
pump may continue running for some time in
the MINI Cooper S. This causes noises in the en‐
gine compartment.Seite 103Things to remember when drivingDriving tips103
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Saving fuelVehicle equipment
This 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 Your vehicle contains advanced technology for
the reduction of fuel consumption and emis‐
sions.
Fuel consumption depends on a number of dif‐
ferent factors. The implementation of certain
measures, driving style and regular mainte‐ nance can have an influence on fuel consump‐
tion and on the environmental impact.
Remove unnecessary cargo Additional weight increases fuel consumption.
Remove attached parts following use Remove unneeded auxiliary mirrors, roof or
rear luggage racks after use.
Attached parts on the vehicle impair the aero‐
dynamics and increase the fuel consumption.
Close both windows Open windows causes higher air resistance and
thus increases fuel consumption.
Check the tire inflation pressure
regularly
Check and, if necessary, correct the tire infla‐
tion pressure, refer to page 142, at least twice
a month and before starting on a long trip.Low tire inflation pressure increases rolling re‐
sistance and thus raises fuel consumption and
tire wear.
Drive away without delayDo not wait for the engine to warm-up while
the vehicle remains stationary. Start driving
right away, but at moderate engine speeds.
This is the fastest way for the cold engine to
reach its operating temperature.
Look well ahead when driving Avoid unnecessary acceleration and braking. To
achieve this, maintain a suitable distance to the
vehicle driving ahead of you.
Driving smoothly and looking ahead reduces
fuel consumption.
Avoid high engine speeds Use 1st gear to get the vehicle in motion. Be‐
ginning with 2nd gear, accelerate rapidly. When
accelerating, shift up before reaching high en‐
gine speeds.
When you reach the desired speed, shift into
the highest applicable gear and drive with the
engine speed as low as possible and at a con‐
stant speed.
As a rule: driving at low engine speeds lowers
fuel consumption and reduces wear.
Use coasting conditions
When approaching a red light, take your foot
off the accelerator and coast to a halt in the
highest applicable gear.
On a downhill slope, take your foot off the ac‐
celerator and coast in a suitable gear.
The flow of fuel is interrupted while coasting.Seite 108Driving tipsSaving fuel108
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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 160.Seite 109Saving fuelDriving tips109
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▷"LANG": select the language of the dis‐
play texts.▷"CONSMP": change the unit of measure
for the average fuel consumption.▷"TEMP": change the unit of measure for
the external temperature.5.Highlight the desired menu item and press
the button.6.Create the desired setting.
Computer
The following vehicle information can be call up
via the computer:
▷Average fuel consumption▷Average speed▷Range
Displaying information
1.Switch on the radio ready state or the igni‐
tion.2. Press the button.3."COMP"
Average fuel consumption
The average fuel consumption is calculated for
the time during which the engine is running.
To start calculation of the average fuel con‐
sumption:
1."CONSMP"2."RESET"
The previous display is set to zero and the sys‐
tem begins recalculating the average fuel con‐
sumption.
Average speed
The average speed is calculated for the time
during which the engine is running.
To start calculation of the average speed:
1."SPEED"2."RESET"
Estimated range
"RANGE"
The display shows the estimated distance that
can be still be driven on the remaining fuel,
taking into consideration the driving style over
the last 18 miles/30 km.
Radio
Listening to the radio
The radio is designed for reception in the FM
and AM wavebands.
1.Switch on the radio, refer to page 113.2. Press this button if necessary.3."TUNER"4."FM" or"AM"
Press the corresponding button repeatedly
until the desired waveband is displayed.▷FM: FM1, FM2, FMA▷AM: AM, AMA
Selecting a station
The setting is stored for the remote control cur‐
rently in use.
Next station
Press the button.
The next station with reception is selected.
Selecting the station manually by
frequency
1. Press the button.2.▷Press the respective function button to
set the desired frequency.▷Turn the right knob until the desired
frequency is set.Seite 115Radio MINI Boost CDEntertainment115
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3."PHONE"4."BT-ON"
To deactivate the connection again:
1."BT"2."BT-OFF"3."YES"
Pairing and connectingPairing the mobile phone
To avoid becoming distracted and posing
an unnecessary hazard both to your own vehi‐
cle's occupants and to other road users, only
pair the mobile phone while the vehicle is sta‐
tionary. ◀
1.Switch on the radio ready state or the igni‐
tion.2. Press the button.3."PHONE"4."BT"5."PAIR"
Turn the right knob to display the Bluetooth
name of your vehicle.6.To perform additional steps on the mobile
phone, refer to the mobile phone operating
instructions: for instance, search for or con‐
nect the Bluetooth device or a new device.
The Bluetooth name of the vehicle appears
on the mobile phone display.7.Select the Bluetooth name of the vehicle on
the mobile phone display.
You are prompted by the radio or mobile
phone to enter the same Bluetooth pass‐
key.8.Enter the passkey on the mobile phone and
confirm it.9."ADD"10.Enter the same passkey on the radio using
the function buttons and confirm it.To delete the last digit: "DELETE"11."OK"
Press twice if necessary.
If pairing was successful, the mobile phone ap‐
pears on the radio display.
Four mobile phones can be paired with the ve‐
hicle at once.
If pairing was unsuccessful: What to do if..., re‐
fer to page 129.
Repeating the pairing procedure/help If pairing failed:
1."REPEAT"2.Repeat steps 6 to 10.
To display the Customer Relations phone num‐
ber: "CALLS"
Turn the right knob to display the Customer Re‐
lations phone number and information needed
for pairing.
Following the initial pairing
▷The mobile phone is detected/connected in
the vehicle within a short period of time
when the engine is running or the ignition
is switched on.▷The phone book entries of the telephone
stored on the SIM card or mobile phone are
transmitted to the vehicle after detection,
depending on the mobile phone.▷Specific settings may be necessary in some
mobile phones, e.g., authorization or a se‐
cure connection; refer to the mobile phone
operating instructions.
Connecting a particular mobile phone
1.Switch on the radio ready state or the igni‐
tion.2. Press the button.3."PHONE"4."BT"Seite 128CommunicationTelephone128
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