Engine compartmentVehicle equipment
This chapter describes all series equipment as
well as country-specific and special equipment
offered for this model series.Therefore, it alsodescribes 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.
Important features in the engine compartment
1Vehicle identification number2Battery, under the cover 2523Dip stick for engine oil 2384Engine oil filler neck 2385Coolant expansion tank 2406Reservoir for washer fluid for the headlamp
and window washer system 707Engine compartment fuse box 253Hood
Notes Working in the engine compartment
Never attempt to perform any service or
repair operations on your vehicle without the
necessary professional technical training.If you are unfamiliar with the statutory guide‐
lines, have any work on the vehicle performed
only by a service center.
If this work is not carried out properly, there is
the danger of subsequent damage and related
safety hazards. ◀Seite 236MobilityEngine compartment236
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To avoid damage, make sure that the
wiper arms are resting against the wind‐
shield before you open the engine compart‐
ment. Do not open the engine hood before the
engine has cooled down; otherwise, injuries
may result. ◀
Unlocking and opening the hood1.Pull the lever.2.Lift the hood all the way.3.Press the release handle and open the
hood.
Danger of injury when the hood is open
There is a danger of injury from protrud‐
ing parts when the hood is open. ◀
Closing the hood
Close the hood from a height of ap‐
prox. 16 in/40 cm with momentum. It must be
clearly heard to engage.
Hood open when driving
If you see any signs that the hood is not
completely closed while driving, pull over im‐
mediately and close it securely. ◀
Danger of pinching
Make sure that the closing path of the
hood is clear; otherwise, injuries may result. ◀
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Engine oilVehicle 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.
Engine oil General information
Engine oil consumption depends on the driving
style and the conditions of use. A highly sporty
driving style, for example, results in considera‐
bly higher engine oil consumption.
Therefore, regularly check the engine oil level
after refueling.
Checking the oil level with a dip stick1.Park the vehicle on level ground when the
engine is at operating temperature, i.e., af‐
ter driving continuously for at least
6 2 miles/10 km.2.Switch the engine off.3.After approx. 5 minutes, pull out the dip
stick and wipe it off with a lint-free cloth,
paper towel, etc.4.Carefully insert the dip stick all the way into
the measuring tube and pull it out again.The oil level must be between the two
marks on the dip stick.
The oil quantity between the two marks on the
dip stick equals approx. 1 US quart/1 liter.
Do not exceed the high mark.
Do not exceed the high mark of the dip
stick. Overfilling oil damages the engine. ◀
Adding engine oil
Filler neck
Add a maximum quantity of 1 US quart/1 liter
of oil only after the corresponding message ap‐
pears on the Control Display or, in diesel en‐
gines, after the oil level is just above the low
mark of the dip stick, refer to page 238.
Add oil promptly
Add oil within the next 30 miles/50 km;
otherwise, engine damage could result. ◀
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Too much engine oil
Have the vehicle checked immediately;
otherwise, surplus oil can lead to engine dam‐
age. ◀
Protect children
Keep oil, grease, etc., out of reach of chil‐
dren and heed the warnings on the containers
to prevent health risks. ◀
Oil types for refilling
Notes No oil additives
Do not use oil additives as these may
cause engine damage. ◀
Viscosity classes of engine oils
When selecting an engine oil, ensure that
the engine oil belongs to one of the SAE viscos‐
ity classes 0W-40, 0W-30, 5W-40, or 5W-30, or
malfunctions or engine damage may occur. ◀
The engine oil quality is critical for the life of the
engine.
Due to national regulations, some oil types are
not available in every country.
Approved oil typesGasoline engineBMW High Performance SAE 5W-30BMW Longlife-01BMW Longlife-01 FE
Further information on approved oil types can
be obtained from the service center.
Alternative oil types
If the approved engine oils are not available, up
to 1 US quart/1 liter of an oil with the following
specification can be used:
Gasoline engineAPI SM or a higher quality standard
Oil change
An oil change should be carried out by the serv‐
ice center only.
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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‐
ened, the display should go out in a few days.Seite 242MobilityMaintenance242
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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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driving characteristics could result, for example
reduced track stability on braking, extended
braking distance, and altered self-steering
characteristics in the limit range. In conjunction
with winter tires, these characteristics are more
pronounced. ◀
Only mount one compact wheel
Only one compact wheel may be
mounted. Restore the wheels and tires to their
original size as quickly as possible. Failure to do
so is a safety risk. ◀
Check the tire inflation pressure at the next op‐
portunity and correct it if necessary. Replace
the defective tire as soon as possible and have
the new wheel balanced.
Preparing wheel change
Observe the safety precautions regarding flat
tires, refer to page 232.
Additional safety precautions in the event
of a wheel change
Change the wheel only on a level, firm surface
which is not slippery.
The vehicle or the jack could slip to the side if
you attempt to raise the vehicle on a soft or
slippery surface, snow, ice, tiles, etc. Do not use
a wooden block or similar object as a support
base for the jack, as this would prevent it from
extending to its full support height and reduce
its load-carrying capacity.
To avoid serious or fatal injury: never lie under
the vehicle, and never start the engine while it
is supported by the jack. ◀1.Place the folding wheel chock behind the
front wheel of the other vehicle side; if the
vehicle is on an incline, place it in front of
this wheel. If the vehicle is parked on a
steep incline, additionally secure the vehi‐
cle against rolling.2.Expose the lug bolts if necessary.3.Loosen the lug bolts a half turn.Jacking up vehicle
The vehicle jack is designed for changing
wheels only.
The vehicle jack is designed for changing
wheels only. Do not attempt to raise another
vehicle model with it or to raise any load of any
kind. To do so could cause accidents and per‐
sonal injury. ◀
1.Position the vehicle jack at the jacking point
closest to the wheel.
The entire surface of the jack base must
rest on the ground vertically beneath the
jacking point.2.Guide the jack head into the rectangular re‐
cess of the jacking point when cranking up.3.Jack the vehicle up until the wheel you are
changing is raised from the ground.
Mounting the compact wheel
1.Unscrew the lug bolts and remove the
wheel.2.Remove accumulations of mud or dirt from
the mounting surfaces of the wheel and
hub. Also clean the lug bolts.Seite 251Replacing componentsMobility251
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