Things to remember when drivingVehicle 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.
When using the features and systems described
here, adhere to local regulations.
Breaking-in period
General information Moving parts need to be broken in to adjust to
each other.
The following instructions will help achieve a
long vehicle life and good economy.
Engine and differential
Always obey all official speed limits.
Up to 1,200 miles/2,000 kmDrive at various engine and vehicle speeds, but
do not exceed:▷For a gasoline engine, 4,500 rpm and
100 mph/160 km/h.
Avoid full-throttle operation and use of the
transmission's kickdown mode for the initial
miles.
From 1,200 miles/2,000 km
The engine and vehicle speed can gradually be
increased.
Tires
Due to technical factors associated with their
manufacture, tires do not achieve their full trac‐
tion potential until after an initial breaking-in
period.
Drive conservatively for the first
200 miles/300 km.
Brake system Brakes require an initial break-in period of ap‐
prox. 300 miles/500 km to achieve optimized
contact and wear patterns between brake pads
and discs. Drive cautiously during this break-in
period.
Clutch
The clutch requires an initial break-in period of
approx. 300 miles/500 km to function at an op‐
timal level.
During this break-in period, engage the clutch
gently.
Following part replacement
The same breaking in procedures should be ob‐
served if any of the components mentioned
above have to be renewed in the course of the
vehicle's operating life.
General driving notes
Ground clearance CAUTION
If ground clearance is insufficient, there
might be contact with the front or rear spoiler
e.g. when driving over curbs or entering into
underground car parking garages. There is risk
of property damage. Ensure that there is suffi‐
cient ground clearance available. ◀Seite 112DRIVING TIPSThings to remember when driving112
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Closing the tailgateWARNING
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, 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
WARNING
During driving operation, high tempera‐
tures can occur underneath the body, e.g.
caused by the exhaust gas system. If combusti‐
ble materials, such as leaves or grass, come in
contact with hot parts of the exhaust gas sys‐
tem, 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
The vehicle's performance may be af‐
fected by interference from high frequency
radio signals. These signals are emitted by a
series of transmission systems, such as from air
traffic beacons or relay stations for mobile tele‐
communications.
If you have problems of this nature, we recom‐
mend that you consult your dealer’s service
center or another qualified service center or re‐
pair shop. ◀
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.
The risk of hydroplaning increases as the tire
tread depth decreases. Minimum tread depth,
refer to page 160.
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 On inclines, do not hold the vehicle stationary
with a slipping clutch for extended period; use
the parking brake instead. Otherwise, the
clutch will be subject to increased wear.
Support from the hill drive-off assistant, refer to
page 86.
Braking safely The vehicle is equipped with ABS as a standardfeature.
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.
Pulsation of the brake pedal and sounds from
the hydraulic circuits indicate that ABS is in its
active mode.Seite 113Things to remember when drivingDRIVING TIPS113
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Run-flat tiresWhen 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. A
dealer’s service center will be glad to answer
any questions you may have.
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. A dealer’s
service center will be glad to answer any ques‐
tions you may have.
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 78.
Correcting a flat tire
Safety measures▷Park the vehicle as far as possible from
passing traffic and on solid ground. Switch
on the hazard warning 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.▷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 162.▷MINI Mobility System, refer to page 162.
MINI Mobility System
Information
▷Follow the instructions on using the Mobi‐
lity System found on the compressor and
sealant bottle.Seite 162MOBILITYWheels and tires162
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MINI Paceman1.Push the light to the left in the catch of the
light housing using the screwdriver, ar‐
row 1.2.Take out the light, arrow 2.3.Replace the bulb.4.Insert the light.
Center brake light
This light uses LED technology for operation. In
case of a malfunction, contact a dealer’s service
center or another qualified service center or re‐
pair shop.
Changing wheels InformationThe vehicle may be equipped with conven‐tional tires with the Mobility System, refer to
page 162, or with run-flat tires, refer to
page 162.
No spare tire is available in the case of a flat
tire.
The suitable tools for changing wheels are
available as accessories from a dealer’s service
center or another qualified service center or re‐
pair shop.
Safety measures
▷Park the vehicle as far as possible from
passing traffic and on solid ground. Switch
on the hazard warning system.▷Set the parking brake and move the selec‐
tor lever to 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.▷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.▷Change the wheel only on a level, firm sur‐
face 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 sur‐
face such as 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 ca‐
pacity.▷To avoid serious or fatal injury: never lie un‐
der the vehicle, and never start the engine
while it is supported by the jack.
Jacking points for the vehicle jack
MINI Countryman:
MINI Paceman:
Seite 181Replacing componentsMOBILITY181
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▷Insert the remote control into the ignition
lock.
Steptronic transmission
Before driving into the car wash, note the fol‐
lowing to ensure that the vehicle can roll:
1.Insert the remote control into the ignition
lock, even with Comfort Access.2.Move the selector lever to position N.3.Release the parking brake.4.Switch the engine off.5.Leave the remote control in the ignition
lock so that the vehicle can roll.
Hand car wash
If washing the vehicle by hand, use copious
quantities of water and car shampoo if neces‐
sary. Clean the vehicle with a sponge or a
washing brush by applying gentle pressure.
Before cleaning the windshield, deactivate the
rain sensor to avoid unintentional wiper activa‐
tion or switch off the ignition.
Adhere to the local regulations regarding
washing cars by hand.
Headlights Do not rub dry and do not use abrasive or caus‐
tic cleansers. Soak areas that have been soiled,
e.g., due to insects, with shampoo and rinse off
with copious quantities of water.
Thaw ice with a window deicer; do not use an
ice scraper.
Windows
Clean the outside and inside surfaces of the
windows and the mirror glasses with window
cleaner.
Do not clean mirror glass with cleaners contain‐
ing quartz.
Wiper blades
Clean with soapy water and replace regularly to
avoid streaking.
Wax and preservative residue and soiling on
the windows cause streaking during window
wiping and lead to premature wear on the
wiper blades and malfunctions of the rain sen‐
sor.
Vehicle care
Car care products
Regular cleaning and care contributes signifi‐
cantly to vehicle value retention.
The manufacturer of your vehicle recommends using car care and cleaning products from
MINI.
WARNING
Cleansers can contain substances that are
dangerous and harmful to your health. There is
risk of injuries. When cleaning the interior, open
the doors or windows. Only use products in‐
tended for cleaning vehicles. Follow the instruc‐
tions on the container. ◀
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.Seite 191CareMOBILITY191
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12CauseHow to respondLights up briefly:
Approx. 2.1 US gal/8 liters of fuel remain in
the tank.
Remains on:
The remaining range is no more than
30 miles/50 km, refer to page 62.The engine refuses to start.Depress the brake or clutch to start
the engine, refer to page 51.The ignition is switched on and driver's door
is open.Switch off the ignition, refer to
page 50, or close the driver's door.The lights are still switched on.Switch off the lights, refer to
page 69.The roadside parking lamps are still on.Switch off the roadside parking
lights, refer to page 70.A door is open.The hood is open.The tailgate is open.The fuel cap is missing or loose.Make sure that the fuel cap is cor‐
rectly positioned and close it until it
clicks audibly. Do not jam the strap
between the fuel cap and the vehi‐
cle.The windshield washer fluid level is too low.Add washer fluid, refer to page 56,
as soon as possible.Lights up in red:Service is due.Arrange a service appointment.
Check the service requirements, re‐
fer to page 172.Seite 195Indicator/warning lampsMOBILITY195
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12CauseHow to respondEngine malfunction with adverse effect on
emissions.Further driving at a moderate pace
is possible. Have the vehicle
checked as soon as possible.Lights up in red:The engine is overheating.Carefully bring the car to a stop,
switch off the engine and allow it to
cool down. Do not open the hood;
otherwise, there would be a risk of
injury due to scalding. Contact a
dealer’s service center or another
qualified service center or repair
shop.Lights up in yellow:The engine is too hot.Continue driving at more moderate
speed so that the engine can cool
down. Have the engine checked
without delay if the situation reoc‐
curs.Lights up in red:Battery is no longer being charged. Alterna‐
tor malfunction.Switch off all unnecessary electrical
consumers. Have the power supply
system checked without delay.Lights up in yellow:The battery charge level is very low, the bat‐
tery is old or is not securely connected.Charge the battery by taking a long
drive or using an external charger.
If necessary, switch off automatic
power consumers. Have the battery
checked as soon as possible.Indication in US models
The parking brake is set.Indication in Canadian models
The parking brake is set.Seite 197Indicator/warning lampsMOBILITY197
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12CauseHow to respondIndication in US models
The parking brake is set while driving.Release the parking brake.Indication in Canadian models
The parking brake is set while driving.Release the parking brake.Indication in US modelsLights up in red:
The brake fluid level is too low.Reduced braking effect, stop the
car carefully. Contact a dealer’s
service center or another qualified
service center or repair shop.Indication in Canadian modelsLights up in red:
The brake fluid level is too low.Reduced braking effect, stop the
car carefully. Contact a dealer’s
service center or another qualified
service center or repair shop.Indication in US models.Brake pads worn.Have the condition of the brake
pads checked without delay.Indication in Canadian modelsBrake pads worn.Have the condition of the brake
pads checked without delay.Indication in US modelsSeite 198MOBILITYIndicator/warning lamps198
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