CoolantVehicle 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 Danger of burns from hot engine
Do not open the cooling system while the
engine is hot; otherwise, escaping coolant may
cause burns. ◀
Suitable additives
Only use suitable additives; otherwise,
engine damage may occur. The additives are
harmful to your health. ◀
Coolant consists of water and additives.
Not all commercially available additives are
suitable for your MINI vehicle. Ask your service
center for suitable additives.
Coolant temperature
If the coolant and therefore the engine over‐
heat, a warning lamp lights up. A message ap‐
pears on the Control Display.
Coolant level Checking1.Do not open the hood until the engine has
cooled down.2.Turn the expansion tank cap counterclock‐
wise slightly to allow any accumulated
pressure to escape; then continue turning
to open.3.The coolant level is correct if it is between
the markings. The markings are located on
the side of the coolant reservoir.
Refilling
1.Do not open the hood until the engine has
cooled down.2.Turn the expansion tank cap counterclock‐
wise slightly to allow any accumulated
pressure to escape, then continue turning
to open.3.If the coolant level is low, slowly add cool‐
ant up to the specified level; do not overfill.4.Twist the cap closed.5.Have the cause of the coolant loss elimi‐
nated as soon as possible.
Disposal
Comply with the appropriate environ‐mental protection regulations when dis‐
posing of coolant additives.
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Socket for OBD Onboard
Diagnosis
Socket for Onboard Diagnosis
The socket for Onboard Diagnosis may
only be used by the service center, by work‐
shops that operate according to the specifica‐
tions of the vehicle manufacturer with appro‐
priately trained personnel, and by other
authorized persons. Otherwise, its use may
lead to vehicle malfunctions. ◀
Primary components in the vehicle emissions
can be checked via the OBD socket using a de‐
vice.
Emissions The warning lamps light up. The vehicle
is producing higher emissions. You can
continue your journey, but moderate
your speed and exercise due caution. Have the
vehicle checked as soon as possible.
Under certain circumstances, one of the lamps
flashes or lights up continuously. This indicates
that there is excessive misfiring or a malfunc‐
tion in the engine. If this happens, reduce the
vehicle speed and drive to the next service cen‐
ter promptly. Serious engine misfiring within a
brief period can seriously damage emission
control components, in particular the catalytic
converter. In addition, the mechanical engine
components may become damaged.
If the fuel filler cap is not properly tight‐
ened, the OBD system may conclude
that fuel vapor is escaping; this will cause a dis‐
play to light up. If the filler cap is then tight‐
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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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Use a clean tissue, cloth or something similar,
or hold the bulb by its base. ◀
Caring for the headlamps, refer to page 260.
For bulb replacement that is not described
here, please contact the service center or a
workshop that works according to the repair
procedures of the manufacturer with corre‐
spondingly trained personnel.
For checking and adjusting headlamp aim,
please contact your MINI dealer.
Light-emitting diodes LEDs Light-emitting diodes installed behind translu‐
cent lenses serve as the light source for many
of the controls and displays in the vehicle.
These light-emitting diodes, which operate us‐
ing a concept similar to that applied in conven‐
tional lasers, are officially designated as Class 1
light-emitting diodes.
Do not remove the covers
Do not remove the covers, and never
stare into the unfiltered light for several hours;
otherwise, irritation of the retina could result. ◀
Headlamp glass
Condensation can form on the inside of the
headlamps in cool or humid weather. When the
light is switched on, the condensation evapo‐
rates after a short time. The headlamps do not
need to be changed.
If the condensation in the headlamps does not
evaporate after trips with the lights switched
on, and the amount of moisture in the head‐
lamps increases, for example if water droplets
form, have them checked by your service cen‐
ter.
Bi-xenon headlamps These bulbs have a very long life and the likeli‐
hood of failure is very low, provided that they
are not switched on and off excessively. If a
bulb should nevertheless fail, you can continuedriving cautiously with the front fog lamps, pro‐
vided this is permitted by local laws.
Do not perform work/bulb replacement
on xenon headlamps
Have any work on the xenon lighting system,
including bulb replacement, performed only by
a service center.
Due to the high voltage present in the system,
there is the danger of fatal injuries if work is
carried out improperly. ◀
Front lamps, bulb replacement
Halogen low beams and high beams
Bulb H13, 60/55 watt
Wear protective goggles and gloves
Halogen bulbs are pressurized. Therefore,
wear protective goggles and gloves. Otherwise,
there is a danger of injuries if the bulb is acci‐
dentally damaged during replacement. ◀
Attach the cover carefully
When attaching the cover, proceed care‐
fully; otherwise, leaks may occur, causing dam‐
age to the headlamp system. ◀
Access to the bulbs through the engine
compartment
Follow the general instructions on lamps and
bulbs, refer to page 244.
Low beam/high beam bulbs can be changed
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▷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
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3.Mount the new wheel.4.Screw in at least two bolts crosswise.5.Screw in the remaining lug bolts.6.Fully tighten all lug bolts in a diagonal pat‐
tern.7.Lower the vehicle.8.Remove the jack.
Retightening the lug bolts
Retighten the lug bolts diagonally.
Checking that the lug bolts are tight
Always have the lug bolts checked with a
calibrated torque wrench as soon as possible to
ensure that they are tightened to the specified
torque. Otherwise, incorrectly tightened lug
bolts are a hidden safety risk. ◀
The tightening torque equals
103.3 lb ft/140 Nm.
Replace the defective tire as soon as possible
and have the new wheel balanced.
Vehicle battery Maintenance
The battery is maintenance-free, i.e., the elec‐
trolyte will last for the life of the battery in tem‐
perate climate conditions.
The service center will be happy to answer any
questions on the battery.
Battery replacement Use approved vehicle batteries
Only use vehicle batteries that have been
approved for your vehicle by the manufacturer;
otherwise, the vehicle could be damaged and
systems or functions may not be fully availa‐
ble. ◀
Have the vehicle battery registered by the serv‐
ice center after it is replaced to ensure that all comfort functions are available without restric‐
tions and that any associated Check Control
messages are no longer displayed.
Charging the battery
Note Do not connect the charger to the socket
Do not connect the battery charger to the
socket installed in the vehicle at the factory as
this could damage the battery. ◀
Only charge the battery in the vehicle when the
engine is switched off. Connections, refer to
page 254.
General information Ensure that the battery is sufficiently charged to
achieve the full battery life.
It may be necessary to charge the battery in
the following cases:▷When the vehicle is frequently used to
travel short distances.▷When the vehicle has not been driven for
more than one month.
Power failure
After a temporary power failure, some equip‐
ment will be restricted in its use and will need
to be reinitialized. In addition, certain individual
settings will be lost and must be updated:
▷Time and date: the values must be up‐
dated, refer to page 79.▷Radio: the stations need to be stored again,
refer to page 161.▷Onboard monitor: full functionality will be
restored after some time.
Indicator/warning lamps
Lights up red: the vehicle battery is no
longer being charged. Alternator mal‐
function.
Switch off all unnecessary electrical consumers.
Have the battery checked immediately.
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Lights up yellow: the battery charge
level is very low, the battery is old, or it
is not securely connected.
Charge the battery by taking a long drive or us‐
ing an external charger. If the indicators appear
again, have the battery checked as soon as
possible.
Disposing of old batteries Have used batteries disposed of by the
service center after they are replaced or
take them to a recycling center.
Maintain the battery in an upright position for
transport and storage. Secure the battery so
that it does not tip over during transport.
Fuses Replacing fuses
Never attempt to repair a blown fuse and
do not replace a defective fuse with a substi‐ tute of another color or amperage rating; this
could lead to a circuit overload, ultimately re‐
sulting in a fire in the vehicle. ◀
Fuses should be replaced by the service center.
Information on the fuses can be found on the
inside of the covers.
In the engine compartment
Opening the cover
Press the snap lock.
In interior
On the right side of the footwell.
Opening the cover
Push out at the recess.
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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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