2014 MINI Coupe tow

▷Tighten the lug bolts, refer to page 184.▷Drive with the compact wheel, refer to
page 182.
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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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 186. 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 55.3.Shift into 3rd gear.4.Have the vehicle tow-started with the
clutch is 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 190MobilityBreakdown assistance190
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CareVehicle 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.
Car washes Notes Steam jets or high-pressure washers
When using steam jets or high-pressure
washers, hold them a sufficient distance away
and use a maximum temperature of
140 ℉/60 ℃.
Holding them too close or using excessively
high pressures or temperatures can cause dam‐
age or preliminary damage that may then lead
to long-term damage.
Follow the operating instructions for the high-
pressure washer. ◀
Do not direct steam or high-pressure washers
toward the labels applied by the manufacturer;
otherwise, damage may result.
Cleaning sensors/cameras with high-pres‐
sure washers
When using high-pressure washers, do not
spray the seals of the retractable hardtop and
the exterior sensors and cameras, for Park Dis‐ tance Control, for instance, for extended peri‐ods of time and only from a distance of at least
12 in/30 cm. ◀During the winter months
Ensure that the vehicle is washed more
frequently in winter. Intense soiling and road
salt can damage the vehicle. ◀
After washing the vehicle, apply the brakes
briefly to dry them; otherwise, braking action
can be reduced and corrosion of the brake
discs can occur.
Regularly remove foreign bodies, such as
leaves, from the area of the windshield when
the hood is open.
Washing in automatic car washes Give preference to cloth car washes or those
that use soft brushes in order to avoid paint
damage.
Do not use automatic high-pressure washers;
otherwise, water may drip into the interior in
the area of the windows.
Before driving into the car wash, check whether
the system is suitable for your MINI. Note the
following points:▷Vehicle dimensions, refer to page 210.▷If necessary: fold in the exterior mirrors, re‐
fer to page 48.▷Maximum permissible tire width.
Guide rails in car washes
Avoid car washes with guide rails higher
than 4 in/10 cm; otherwise, the vehicle chassis
could be damaged. ◀
Preparations before driving into the car wash:
▷Unscrew the road antenna.▷MINI Coupe, MINI Roadster: retract the rear
spoiler.▷Deactivate the rain sensor to avoid unin‐
tentional wiper activation.Seite 191CareMobility191
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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 or
frozen; otherwise, water marks, fabric
stains, and chafing may occur.▷If water marks nevertheless occur on the
headliner, these can be removed using a
microfiber cloth and interior cleaner.▷When parking the vehicle in an enclosed
space for lengthy periods, ensure that the
area is adequately ventilated.▷Remove bird droppings immediately as
their corrosive properties may damage the
convertible top and the rubber seals.
Stain removal
To remove stains from the convertible
top, do not use stain remover, paint thinner,
solvents, benzine, or similar substances. These
agents can destroy the rubber coating. Im‐
proper care and cleaning can cause the
convertible top and its seams to become per‐
meable to water. ◀
To remove severe soiling, use a special
convertible top cleaner.
Follow the instructions for use from the manu‐
facturer.
Treat the convertible top with an impregnating
agent once a year.
MINI Coupe, MINI Roadster: rear spoiler
box
To ensure that proper functioning of the rear
spoiler is not impaired, for example due to
leaves, snow or ice, clean the rear spoiler box
at regular intervals.
Vehicle paint
Regular care contributes to vehicle value reten‐
tion and protects the paintwork against the
long-term effects of paint-damaging substan‐
ces.
Environmental influences in areas with higher
air pollution or natural contaminants, such as
tree resin or pollen, can have an impact on the
vehicle paint. Therefore, it is important to tailor
the frequency and extent of your car care to
these influences.
Immediately remove especially aggressive sub‐
stances, such as spilled fuel, oil, grease, or bird
droppings, to prevent damage to the paint‐
work.
Correcting paint damage
Depending on the severity of the damage, re‐
pair stone impact damage or scratches imme‐
diately to prevent rust formation.
The manufacturer recommends having paint
damage corrected with a professional repair
paint job according to factory specifications us‐
ing original MINI paint materials.
Preservation
Preservation is needed when water no longer
beads off of the clean paint surfaces. Only use
paint preservation products that contain car‐
nauba or synthetic waxes.
Leather care The leather processed by the manufacturer is a
high quality natural product. Light graininess is
a typical feature of natural leather.
Particles of dust and road grime chafe in pores
and folds, and lead to increased wear and pre‐
mature degradation of the leather surface.
Therefore, remove dust from the leather regu‐
larly, using a cloth or vacuum cleaner.
Make especially sure that light-colored leather
is cleaned regularly as it is more susceptible to
soiling.
Twice a year, treat the leather with a leather lo‐
tion as dirt and grease will attack the protective
layer of the leather.Seite 193CareMobility193
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Shift paddles on the steeringwheel 63
Side airbags 80
Side windows, refer to Win‐ dows 31
Slot for remote control 55
Snap-in adapter, mobile phone 145
Socket, OBD Onboard Diagno‐ sis 174
Special equipment, series equipment 6
Speed, average 67
Speedometer 14
Speed, with winter tires 164
Sport button 91
Sport program, automatic transmission with Step‐
tronic 63
Stability control systems 89
Start/Stop button 55
Start/Stop button, starting the engine 56
Start/Stop button, switching off the engine 57
Starting the engine 56
Start problems, refer to Jump- starting 186
Steering wheel 49
Steering wheel– Shift paddles 63
Steering wheel, adjusting 49
Steering wheel lock 55
Stopping, engine 57
Storage, tires 164
Storing the vehicle 195
Summer tires, refer to Wheels and tires 154
Summer tires, tread 161
Switches, refer to Cockpit 12
Switching off, engine 57
Switching off, vehicle 57
Symbols 6
T
Tachometer 66
Tailgate– Comfort Access 29– Emergency activation 28– Emergency unlocking 28– Opening/closing 27– Opening from the out‐
side 27– Unlocking manually 27– Unlocking with remote con‐
trol 24
Tail lamps 179
Tank gauge, refer to Fuel gauge 66
Technical changes, refer to Safety 6
Technical data 210
Telephone 138
Temperature
– Air conditioner 97– Automatic climate con‐
trol 100
Temperature, coolant, refer to
Coolant temperature 66
Temperature display
– External temperature 65– External temperature warn‐
ing 65– Setting the units 69
Temperature warning 65
Theft alarm system, refer to Alarm system 31
Time
– Setting the time 70
Tire age 162
Tire identification marks 160
Tire inflation pressure 154
Tire inflation pressure
– Pressure loss 84
Tire pressure monitor, refer to
Flat Tire Monitor 83
Tire Pressure Monitor TPM
– System limits 85– System reset 86– Warning lamp 86
Tire Quality Grading 160
Tires– Flat tire 84– Inflation pressure 154– Inflation pressure loss 86– Pressure monitoring, refer to
Tire Pressure Monitor
TPM 85
Tires, breaking in 112
Tires, changing 163
Tires, condition 161
Tires, damage 162
Tire size 160
Tires, minimum tread 162
Tires, retreaded tires 163
Tires, storage 164
Tire tread 161
Tool kit, refer to Onboard ve‐ hicle tool kit 175
Tools, refer to Onboard vehi‐ cle tool kit 175
Torque, refer to Engine data 210
Towing another vehicle 188
Towing, being towed 188
Tow-starting 188
TPM, refer to Tire Pressure Monitor 85
Traction control 90
Transmission
– Overriding selector lever
lock in case of automatic
transmission with Step‐
tronic 64
Transmission lock
– Refer to Changing selector
lever positions 62
Transmission, manual 61
Transporting children safely 50
Trip-distance counter, refer to Trip odometer 65
Triple turn signal activa‐ tion 58
Trip odometer 65
Trunk
– Opening from the inside 27Seite 221Everything from A to ZReference221
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