Closing the tailgateDrive with the tailgate closed
Only drive with the tailgate closed; other‐
wise, passengers and other road users may be
endangered or the vehicle may be damaged if
an accident occurs or during braking or swerv‐
ing. In addition, exhaust fumes may enter the
passenger compartment. ◀
If, despite this, the vehicle must be driven with
the tailgate 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 158.
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.
Using the parking brake on inclines Using the parking brake
On inclines, do not hold the vehicle sta‐
tionary with a slipping clutch for extended pe‐
riod; use the parking brake instead. Otherwise, the clutch will be subject to increased wear. ◀
Support from the hill drive-off assistant, refer to
page 83.
Braking safely The vehicle is equipped with ABS as a standard
feature.
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.Seite 111Things to remember when drivingDRIVING TIPS111
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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 Steptronic
transmission, refer to page 56.
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.
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 112DRIVING TIPSThings to remember when driving112
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Securing cargoLashing eyes in the cargo area
MINI Countryman
MINI Paceman
Securing cargo
▷Secure smaller and lighter pieces with tight‐
ening belts or straps.▷Secure larger and heavier pieces with cargo
straps.
Adhere to the information included with
the cargo straps.▷Eight mounting eyes are available for fas‐
tening the cargo straps.
Two of them are located on the side wall of
the cargo area, arrows 1, and two are lo‐
cated on the rear wall of the cargo area, ar‐
rows 2.Securing cargo
Stow and secure the cargo as described
above; otherwise it may present a danger to
the occupants, for instance during braking and
avoidance maneuvers.
Do not stow any heavy and hard objects in the
passenger compartment without securing
them; otherwise, they may present a danger to
occupants, for instance during braking and
avoidance maneuvers.
Never exceed either the approved gross vehicle
weight or either of the approved axle loads, as
excessive loads can pose a safety hazard, and
may also place you in violation of traffic safety
laws.
Do not secure cargo using the upper LATCH
mounting points, refer to page 45; otherwise,
these may become damaged. ◀
Roof-mounted luggage
rack
NotesA special rack system is available as an optionalaccessory.
Attachment Follow the installation instructions for the roof-
mounted luggage rack.
Ensure that adequate clearance is available for
the movement of the glass sunroof.
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.Seite 116DRIVING TIPSLoading116
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If all points in this list have been checked and
the required function is still not available, con‐
tact Customer Relations or the service center.
Controls▷Accept/reject a call.▷Dial a phone number.▷Dial a phone number from the phone book.▷Dial a stored phone number, such as from
the list of accepted calls.▷End the call.
When the ignition and the radio ready state are
switched off, such as after the remote control is
removed, an existing call can be continued for
up to 25 minutes on the hands-free system.
Adjusting the volume
Turn the knob until the desired volume is se‐
lected. The setting is stored for the remote con‐
trol currently in use.
The ringer volume of incoming calls and the call
volume can be adjusted independently.
When a call is placed using the hands-free sys‐
tem, the audio sources are muted.
Switching the microphone to mute
When a call is active, the microphone can be
muted.
"MUTE"
A microphone that has been switched to mute
is automatically reactivated when a new con‐
nection is established.
Incoming call
Receiving calls If the number of the caller is stored in the
phone book and is transmitted by the network,
the name of the contact is displayed. Other‐
wise, only the phone number is displayed.
Accepting a call Briefly press the button on the steering
wheel or radio.
or
"YES"
Rejecting a call
"NO"
Ending a call Briefly press the button on the steering
wheel or radio.
or
"END"
Entering a phone number
Dialing a number1.Switch on the radio ready state or the igni‐
tion.2. Press the button.3."PHONE"4."#"5.Enter the desired phone number on the
buttons 0–9.Seite 140COMMUNICATIONTelephone140
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To delete the last digit: "DEL"6. Briefly press the button on the
steering wheel or radio.
or
Press the right knob to dial the phone num‐
ber.
Phone book
Dialed phone numbers, incoming calls and en‐
tries in the phone book are stored on lists if the
mobile phone is connected to the vehicle via
Bluetooth.
Five lists are available:
▷"A-Z"
Entries of the phone book of the SIM card
or of the mobile phone, which consist of a
name and phone number, are sorted in al‐
phabetical order.▷"TOP8"
The Top 8 list contains the eight phone
numbers that were dialed most frequently.▷"LAST8"
The last eight phone numbers that were di‐
aled are stored. The phone number dialed
last is at the top of the list.▷"CALLS"
The phone numbers of the last eight ac‐
cepted calls are stored. For this to be possi‐
ble, it must be possible to transmit the
phone number of the caller.▷"MISSED"
The phone numbers of the last eight calls
that were not accepted are stored. For this
to be possible, it must be possible to trans‐
mit the phone number of the caller.
Dialing a phone number from the phone
book
The list A-Z is available for phone book entries.
If entries with different names but the same
phone number are transferred to the vehicle
from the mobile phone, only one entry is dis‐
played.
The display of the phone book entries on the
radio may differ from the display on the mobile
phone, such as the order of the first and last
names.1.Switch on the radio ready state or the igni‐
tion.2. Press the button.3."PHONE"4."A-Z"5. The arrows indicate that additional
letters can be displayed.
Turn the right knob to display additional
letters if necessary.6.Turn the right knob to select the first letter
of the entry.7.Select the entry with the function button.
The phone number is dialed.
To display all entries:
1.Turn the right knob to select the first letter
of the entry and press the knob.2.Turn the right knob to select the desired
entry and press the knob.
or
Press the button on the steering
wheel or radio to dial the number.
The phone number is dialed.
Editing and dialing a phone number
from the phone book
You can edit the phone number of an entry be‐
fore making a call. This change is not stored in
the phone book.
1.Selecting an entry.2."EDIT"3.To delete a digit: "DEL"Seite 141TelephoneCOMMUNICATION141
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4.Enter additional digits on the buttons 0–9.5.Press the right knob to dial the phone num‐
ber.
Dialing a phone number from the phone
book using the buttons on the steering
wheel
1. Press and hold the button to dis‐
play the Telephone menu.2.Press the arrow buttons on the steering
wheel to leaf through the phone book.3. Press the button to dial the phone
number.
Dialing a phone number stored in a list
To select an entry and establish a connection:
1.Switch on the radio ready state or the igni‐
tion.2. Press the button.3."PHONE"4.Select a list, for instance "TOP8"5.Turn the right knob to select an entry and
press the knob to dial the phone number.
Deleting an individual entry
1.Select an entry from the list.2."DEL"
DTMF suffix dialing
DTMF suffix dialing can be used for gaining ac‐
cess to network services or for controlling devi‐
ces, e.g., to make a remote inquiry of an an‐
swering machine. The DTMF code is needed for
this purpose.
This function is only available if a connection
exists and if the hands-free system is being
used.
1."KEYPAD"2.Enter the DTMF code on the buttons 0–9.3.If necessary, press and hold the function
button on the right or left to enter special
characters.
Displaying the call duration
During a call:
"DURAT"
Hands-free system
General information
Calls that are being made on the hands-free
system can be continued on the mobile phone
and vice versa.
From the mobile phone to the hands-
free system
Calls that were begun outside of the Bluetoothrange of the vehicle can be continued on the
hands-free system with the ignition switched
on.
Depending on the mobile phone, the system
automatically switches to the hands-free sys‐
tem.
If the system does not switch over automati‐
cally, follow the instructions on the mobile
phone display; refer also to the mobile phone
operating instructions.
From the hands-free system to the
mobile phone
Calls that are made on the hands-free system
can in some cases be continued on the mobile
phone; this depends on the mobile phone.
Follow the instructions on the mobile phone
display; refer also to the mobile phone operat‐
ing instructions.
MINI phone numbers When the ignition is switched on, various serv‐ice phone numbers can be displayed.
Seite 142COMMUNICATIONTelephone142
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Maximum speed of winter tires
If the maximum speed of the vehicle is higher
than the permissible speed for the winter tires,
then display a corresponding sign in the field of
vision. You can obtain this sign from the tire
specialist or from your service center.
Maximum speed for winter tires
Do not exceed the maximum speed for
the winter tires; otherwise, tire damage and ac‐
cidents can occur. ◀
Run-flat tires When mounting new tires or changing fromsummer to winter tires or vice versa, use run-
flat tires for your own safety. Also, a compact
wheel is not available in case of a flat tire. Your
service center will be glad to advise you.
Rotating wheels between axles
Different wear patterns occur on the front and
rear axles, depending on the individual condi‐
tions of use.
To ensure even wear on the tires, the wheels
can be rotated between the axles. Your service
center will be glad to advise you.
After changing the tires, check the tire inflation
pressure and correct it if necessary.
Storage Store wheels and tires in a cool, dry place with
as little exposure to light as possible.
Always protect tires against all contact with oil,
grease and fuels.
Do not exceed the maximum tire inflation pres‐
sure indicated on the side wall of the tire.Run-flat tires
Label
The symbol identifying run-flat tires is a circle
with the letters RSC on the sidewall.
Run-flat tires are tires that support themselves
for a limited period of time, and they may also
come with special rims. The sidewall reinforce‐
ment ensures that the tire can continue to be
used to a limited extent if it has lost pressure
and even if it has become completely depres‐
surized.
For continued driving in the event of a flat tire,
refer to page 75.
Correcting a flat tire Safety measures in case of a breakdown
▷Park the vehicle as far as possible
from passing traffic and on solid
ground. Switch on the hazard warn‐
ing system.▷Let the steering wheel lock engage with the
wheels in the straight-ahead position, set
the parking brake, and engage first gear or
reverse, or engage selector lever position P.▷Have all vehicle occupants get out of the
vehicle and ensure that they remain out‐
side the immediate area in a safe place,
such as behind a guardrail.Seite 160MOBILITYWheels and tires160
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▷If a warning triangle or portable hazard
warning lamp is required, set it up on the
roadside at an appropriate distance from
the rear of the vehicle. Comply with all
safety guidelines and regulations. ◀
The procedure to correct a flat tire depends on
the equipment in the vehicle:
▷Run-flat tires, refer to page 160.▷MINI Mobility System, refer to page 161.
MINI Mobility System
Notes
▷Follow the instructions on using the Mobi‐
lity System found on the compressor and
sealant bottle.▷Use of the Mobility System may be ineffec‐
tive if tire damage is greater than approx.
1/8 in/4 mm in size.▷Contact the nearest service center if the tire
cannot be made drivable.▷If possible, do not remove foreign bodies
that have penetrated the tire.▷Pull the speed limit sticker off the sealant
bottle and apply it to the steering wheel.
Sealant and compressor
1Sealant bottle and speed limit sticker2Filling hose
Note the use-by date on the sealant bottle.3Holder for the sealant bottle4Compressor5Connector and cable for the lighter socket/
socket in passenger compartment 99.6Connection hose for connecting the com‐
pressor and sealant bottle or the compres‐
sor and wheel7On/off switch8Pressure gauge for displaying the tire infla‐
tion pressure9Release button for reducing the tire infla‐
tion pressure
The connector, cable, and connecting hose are
stowed in the compressor housing.
Using the Mobility System
To repair a flat tire with the Mobility System,
proceed as follows:
▷Filling the tire with sealant▷Distributing the sealant▷Correcting the tire inflation pressure
Filling the tire with sealant
Adhere to the specified sequence
Adhere to the specified sequence of the
steps; otherwise, sealant may escape under
high pressure. ◀
1.Shake the sealant bottle.2.Pull the connection hose 6 fully out of the
compressor housing and screw it onto the
sealant bottle connection. Ensure that the
connection hose is not kinked.Seite 161Wheels and tiresMOBILITY161
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