2015 MINI COOPER Owners Manual

General driving notes
Closing the tailgate WARNING
An open tailgate protrudes from the vehi‐
cle and can endanger occupants and other traf‐
fic participants or damage the vehicle in the
event of an accident, braking or evasive ma‐
neuvers. In addition, exhaust fumes may enter
the vehicle interior. There is risk of injuries or
risk of property damage. Do not drive with the
tailgate open. ◀
If driving with the tailgate open cannot be
avoided:▷Close all windows and the glass sunroof.▷Greatly increase the air flow from the vents.▷Drive moderately.
Hot exhaust system
WARNING
During driving operation, high tempera‐
tures can occur underneath the body, for ex‐
ample caused by the exhaust gas system. If
combustible materials, such as leaves or grass,
come in contact with hot parts of the exhaust
gas system, these materials can ignite. There is
risk of injuries or risk of property damage.
Do not remove the heat shields installed and
never apply undercoating to them. Make sure
that no combustible materials can come in con‐
tact with hot vehicle parts in driving operation,
idle or during parking. Do not touch the hot ex‐
haust system. ◀
Mobile communication devices in the vehicle
WARNING
Vehicle electronics and mobile phones
can influence one another. There is radiation
due to the send operations of mobile phones.
There is risk of injuries or risk of property dam‐
age. If possible, in the car's interior use only
mobile phones with direct connections to an
exterior antenna in order to exclude mutual
disturbance and deflect the radiation from the
car's 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.
Driving through water CAUTION
When driving too quickly through too
deep water, water can enter into the engine compartment, the electrical system or the
transmission. There is risk of property damage.
When driving through water, do not exceed the
maximum indicated water level and the maxi‐
mum speed for driving through water. ◀
When driving through water, observe the fol‐
lowing:▷Drive through calm water only.▷Drive through water only if it is not deeper
than maximum 9.8 inches/25 cm.▷Drive through water no faster than walking
speed, up to 3 mph/5 km/h.
Braking safely
Your vehicle is equipped with ABS as a standard
feature.
Perform an emergency stop in situations that require such.
Steering is still responsive. You can still avoid
any obstacles with a minimum of steering ef‐
fort.
Pulsation of the brake pedal and sounds from
the hydraulic circuits indicate that ABS is in its
active mode.
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Objects in the area around the pedalsWARNING
Objects in the driver's floor area can limit
the pedal distance or block a depressed pedal.
There is risk of an accident. Stow objects in the
vehicle such that they are secured and cannot
enter into the driver's floor area. Use floor mats
that are suitable for the vehicle and can be
safely attached to the floor. Do not use loose
floor mats and do not layer several floor mats.
Make sure that there is sufficient clearance for
the pedals. Ensure that the floor mats are se‐
curely fastened again after they were removed,
for example for cleaning. ◀
Driving in wet conditions When roads are wet, salted, or in heavy rain,
press brake pedal ever so gently every few
miles.
Ensure that this action does not endanger other
traffic.
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.
Hills WARNING
Light but consistent brake pressure can
lead to high temperatures, brakes wearing out
and possibly even brake failure. There is risk of
an accident. Avoid placing excessive stress on
the brake system. ◀
WARNING
In idle or with the engine switched off,
safety-relevant functions are restricted or not
available anymore, for example braking effect
of the engine or braking force and steering
support. There is risk of an accident. Do not
drive in idle or with the engine switched off. ◀
Drive long or steep downhill gradients in the
gear that requires least braking efforts. Other‐wise the brakes may overheat and reduce
brake efficiency.
You can increase the engine's braking effect by
shifting down, going all the way to first gear, if
needed.
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 will built up when the maximum
pressure applied to the brake pads during brak‐
ing is not reached - thus discs don't get
cleaned.
Corrosion buildup on the brake discs will cause
a pulsating effect on the brakes in their re‐
sponse - generally that cannot be corrected.
Condensation under the parked vehicle When using the automatic climate control, con‐
densation water develops collecting under‐
neath the vehicle.
Ground clearance CAUTION
If ground clearance is insufficient, there
might be contact with the front or rear spoiler
for example when driving over curbs or enter‐
ing into underground car parking garages.
There is risk of property damage. Ensure that
there is sufficient ground clearance available. ◀
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LoadingVehicle features and op‐tions
This chapter describes all standard, country-
specific and optional features offered with the
series. It also describes features that are not
necessarily available in your car, e. g., due to
the selected options or country versions. This
also applies to safety-related functions and sys‐
tems. The respectively applicable country provi‐
sions must be observed when using the respec‐
tive features and systems.
Information WARNING
High gross weight can overheat the tires,
damage them, and cause a sudden drop in tire
inflation pressure. There is risk of an accident.
Pay attention to the permitted load capacity of
the tires and never exceed the permitted gross
weight. ◀
WARNING
Loose objects or devices with a cable
connection to the vehicle, for example mobile
phones, can be thrown into the car's interior
while driving, for example in the event of an
accident or during braking and evasive maneu‐
vers. There is risk of injuries. Secure loose ob‐
jects or devices with a cable connection to the
vehicle in the car's interior. ◀
CAUTION
Fluids in the cargo area can cause dam‐
age. There is risk of property damage. Make
sure that no fluids leak in the cargo area. ◀Determining the load
limit1.Locate the following statement on your ve‐
hicle’s placard:▷The combined weight of occupants and
cargo should never exceed XXX kg or
YYY lbs. Otherwise, damage to the ve‐
hicle and unstable driving situations
may result.2.Determine the combined weight of the
driver and passengers that will be riding in
your vehicle.3.Subtract the combined weight of the driver
and passengers from XXX kilograms or YYY
pounds.4.The resulting figure equals the available
amount of cargo and luggage load ca‐
pacity.
For example, if the YYY amount equals
1,000 lbs and there will be four 150 lbs pas‐
sengers in your vehicle, the amount of
available cargo and luggage load capacity
is 400 lbs: 1,000 lbs minus 600 lbs =
400 lbs.5.Determine the combined weight of luggage
and cargo being loaded on the vehicle.
That weight may not safely exceed the
available cargo and luggage load capacity
calculated in Step 4.Seite 163LoadingDRIVING TIPS163
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LoadOn 3-door modelsOn 5-door models
The maximum load is the sum of the weight of
the occupants and the cargo.
The greater the weight of the occupants, the
less cargo that can be transported.
Stowing cargo
▷Cover sharp edges and corners on the
cargo.▷Heavy cargo: stow as far forward as possi‐
ble, directly behind and at the bottom of
the rear passenger seat backrests.▷Very heavy cargo: when the rear seat is not
occupied, secure each of the outer safety
belts in the opposite buckle.▷If necessary, fold down the rear backrests
to stow cargo.▷Do not stack cargo above the top edge of
the backrests.Securing cargo
Information WARNING
Improperly stowed objects can shift and
be thrown into the car's interior, for example in
the event of an accident or during braking and
evasive maneuvers. Vehicle occupants can be
hit and injured. There is risk of injuries. Stow
and secure objects and cargo properly. ◀▷Small and light cargo: secure with retaining
straps or draw straps.▷Larger and heavy cargo: secure with cargo
straps.
Attach the cargo straps, retaining straps or
draw straps to the lashing eyes in the cargo
area.
Lashing eyes in the cargo area
Without storage compartment package: to se‐
cure the cargo there are two lashing eyes, ar‐
row 1, in the cargo area.
With storage compartment package: to secure
the cargo there are six lashing eyes, arrows 1
and 2, in the cargo area.
Roof-mounted luggage
rack
Information Installation only possible with roof rack.
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Roof racks are available as special accessories.Securing
Follow the installation instructions of the roof
rack.
Loading
Because roof racks raise the vehicle's center of
gravity when loaded, they have a major effect
on vehicle handling and steering response.
Therefore, note the following when loading and
driving:▷Do not exceed the approved roof/axle
loads and the approved gross vehicle
weight.▷Be sure that adequate clearance is main‐
tained for tilting and opening the glass sun‐
roof.▷Distribute the roof load uniformly.▷The roof load should not extend past the
loading area.▷Always place the heaviest pieces on the
bottom.▷Secure the roof luggage firmly, e.g., tie with
ratchet straps.▷Do not let objects project into the opening
path of the tailgate.▷Drive cautiously and avoid sudden acceler‐
ation and braking maneuvers. Take corners
gently.
Rear luggage rack
General information Installation only possible with rear luggage rack
preparation.
Rear racks are available as special accessories.
Information Follow the installation instructions of the rear
luggage rack.
Drive cautiously and avoid sudden acceleration
and braking maneuvers. Take corners gently.
SecuringCOOPERCOOPER S
The anchorage points, arrow 1, and the socket,
arrow 2, are located below the covers in the
bumper.
Remove the covers before installing the rear
luggage rack.
Power consumption
Before starting to drive, check the function of
the rear luggage rack lights.
The rear luggage rack lights must not consume
more than:
▷Turn signals: 42 watts per side.▷Rear lights: 50 watts per side.▷Brake lights: 84 watts in total.▷Rear fog lights: 42 watts in total.▷Backup lamp: 42 watts in total.Seite 165LoadingDRIVING TIPS165
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Saving fuelVehicle features and op‐tions
This chapter describes all standard, country-
specific and optional features offered with the
series. It also describes features that are not necessarily available in your car, e. g., due to
the selected options or country versions. This
also applies to safety-related functions and sys‐
tems. The respectively applicable country provi‐
sions must be observed when using the respec‐
tive features and systems.
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, driv‐
ing style and regular maintenance can influ‐
ence fuel consumption and environmental im‐
pact.
Remove unnecessary
cargo
Additional weight increases fuel consumption.
Remove attached parts
following use
Remove roof-mounted or rear luggage racks
which are no longer required following use.
Attached parts on the vehicle impair the aero‐
dynamics and increase the fuel consumption.Close the windows and
glass sunroof
Driving with the glass sunroof and windows
open results in increased air resistance and
raises fuel consumption.
Tires
General information Tires can affect fuel consumption in various
ways, for example, tire size may influence fuel
consumption.
Check the tire inflation pressure
regularly
Check and, if needed, correct the tire inflation
pressure 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 de‐lay
Do 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.Seite 166DRIVING TIPSSaving fuel166
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By maintaining a suitable distance to the vehi‐
cle driving ahead of you.
Driving smoothly and proactively reduces fuel
consumption.
Avoid high engine speeds
As a rule: driving at low engine speeds lowers
fuel consumption and reduces wear.
Use 1st gear to get the vehicle moving. Starting
with the 2nd gear, accelerate rapidly. When ac‐
celerating, shift up before reaching high engine
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.
The gear shift indicator, refer to page 83, of
your vehicle indicates the most fuel efficient gear.
Use coasting conditions When approaching a red light, take your foot
off the accelerator and let the vehicle coast to a
halt.
For going downhill take your foot off the accel‐
erator and let the vehicle roll.
The flow of fuel is interrupted while coasting.
Switch off the engine
during longer stops
Switch off the engine during longer stops, for
example, at traffic lights, railroad crossings or in
traffic congestion.
Auto Start/Stop function
The Auto Start/Stop function of your vehicle au‐
tomatically switches off the engine during a
stop.If the engine is switched off and then restarted
rather than leaving the engine running con‐
stantly, fuel consumption and emissions are re‐
duced. Savings can begin within a few seconds
of switching off the engine.
In addition, fuel consumption is also deter‐
mined by other factors, such as driving style,
road conditions, maintenance or environmental
factors.
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 car‐
ried out
Have vehicles maintained regularly to achieve
optimal vehicle efficiency and service life. MINI
recommends that maintenance work be per‐
formed by a MINI service center.
Also note the MINI maintenance systems, refer
to page 202.
GREEN Mode
The concept The GREEN Mode supports a driving style that
saves on fuel consumption. For this purpose,
the engine control and comfort features, e. g.
the climate control output, are adjusted.
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The Coasting driving condition is enabled under
certain conditions.
Under certain conditions the engine is auto‐
matically decoupled from the transmission in
selector lever position D. The vehicle continues
traveling with the engine idling to reduce fuel
consumption. Selector lever position D remains
engaged. An indicator provides information
about the distance traveled in Coasting mode.
In addition, context-sensitive instructions are
displayed to assist with an optimized fuel con‐
sumption driving style.
The achieved extended range is displayed in
the instrument cluster.
Overview The system includes the following MINIMAL
functions and displays:▷GREEN bonus range, refer to page 169.▷GREEN tips driving instruction, refer to
page 169.▷GREEN climate control, refer to page 168.▷MINIMALISM analyzer, refer to page 171.▷Coasting driving condition, refer to
page 170.
Activating GREEN Mode
Turn Driving Dynamics Control to
the right until GREEN Mode is
displayed in the instrument clus‐
ter.
Configuring GREEN Mode
Via the Driving Dynamics Control
1.Activating GREEN Mode.2."Configure GREEN"3.Configure the program.
Via onboard monitor:
1. "Settings"2."GREEN Mode"
Or
1. "Settings"2."Driving mode"3."Configure GREEN"
Configure the program.
GREEN tip
▷"Tip at:"
Set the GREEN Mode speed at which a
GREEN Mode tip is to be displayed.▷"GREEN speed warning":
Displays a reminder when the set GREEN
Mode speed is exceeded.
Coasting
Fuel-efficiency can be optimized by disengag‐
ing the engine and Coasting, refer to page 170,
with the engine idling.
This function is only available in GREEN Mode.
GREEN climate control
"GREEN climate control"
Climate control is set to be fuel-efficient.
By making a slight change to the set tempera‐
ture, or adjusting the rate of heating or cooling
of the car's interior fuel consumption can be
economized.
The outputs of the seat heater and the exterior
Additionally heat output to seats and exterior
mirror is reduced.
Exterior mirror heat is available when outside
temperatures are very low.
GREEN potential
The percentage of potential savings that can be
achieved with the current configuration is dis‐
played.
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