MINI COOPER 2003 Owners Manual
Page 111 of 148
109
OVERVIEW REPAIRSOPERATION CONTROLS DATA INDEX
LAMPS AND BULBSTail lamps Rear lamp – 3: bulb 21/5 Watts
Other bulbs: 21 Watts 
1Rear fog lamp – not active red
2Turn signal indicator yellow
3Rear lamp red
4Rear lamp/Brake lamp red
To make this clear, the illustration shows a 
dismantled tail lamp with the bulb holder 
removed. All of the bulbs are integrated in 
the bulb holder.
To reach the bulb holder, remove the cover 
of the side trim panel in the cargo area. Replacing bulbs1. Unplug the power supply
2. Release the bulb holder, see arrow, and 
remove
3. Apply gentle pressure to the bulb while 
turning it to the left
4. Remove and replace the bulb
5. Plug in the power supply receptacle
6. Press the bulb holder into position until 
you hear it engage.
Backup lampMINI COOPER:
Access to the lamp via the back or under-
side of the bumper.
1. Press the clips together
2. Push the lamp out of the bumper
3. Apply gentle pressure to the bulb while 
turning it to the left
4. Remove and replace the bulb.
MINI COOPER S:
Please contact a MINI Dealer in case of a 
malfunction.
ba.book  Seite 109  Montag, 5. August 2002  8:09 20
ProCarManuals.com 
Page 112 of 148
110
LAMPS AND BULBSCenter high-mount brake lamp LED strip on the tailgate.
Please contact a MINI Dealer in case of a 
malfunction.
License plate lamps 5 Watt bulb 
1. Apply a screwdriver to the recess and 
lever out the lamp cover
2. Replace the bulb.
Interior lamps6 Watt xenon bulb
1. Press out the lamp cover with a screw-
driver
2. Remove and replace the bulb.Reading lamps2 x 6 Watt xenon bulbs
1. Press out the lamp cover with a screw-
driver
2. Unscrew the entire lamp with a screw-
driver
3. Remove the bulb from above and 
replace.
ba.book  Seite 110  Montag, 5. August 2002  8:09 20
ProCarManuals.com 
Page 113 of 148
111
OVERVIEW REPAIRSOPERATION CONTROLS DATA INDEX
LAMPS AND BULBSIlluminated vanity mirror Lamps in the vanity mirror in the sun visor.
Please contact a MINI Dealer in case of a 
malfunction.
Cargo area lamps5 Watt bulb
1. Press the lamp cover to the left and out 
with a screwdriver.
2. Remove and replace the bulb.
Footwell lamps 5 Watt bulb 
1. Press out the lamp cover with a screw-
driver
2. Remove and replace the bulb.Glove compartment lamp5 Watt bulb1. Press out the lamp cover with a screw-
driver
2. Remove and replace the bulb.
ba.book  Seite 111  Montag, 5. August 2002  8:09 20
ProCarManuals.com 
Page 114 of 148
112
REPAIRING A FLAT TIRE CHANGING TIRES – MINI WITH SPACE-SAVER SPARE TIRE
*
Safety measures in the event of a flat 
tire: 
Stop the vehicle as far as possible from 
passing traffic. Switch on the hazard warn-
ing flashers.
Turn the steering wheel to the straight-
ahead wheel position and engage the 
steering lock. Engage the parking brake and 
shift into 1st or reverse gear – selector lever 
in P.
All passengers should be outside the vehi-
cle and well away from your immediate 
working area – behind a guardrail, for 
instance. 
If a warning triangle or portable hazard 
warning lamp is available, set it up on the 
roadside at an appropriate distance from 
the rear of the vehicle. Comply with all 
safety guidelines and regulations.<
In the event of a flat tire, different proce-
dures should be followed depending on the 
equipment included in your MINI:
>Vehicles with space-saver spare tire, see 
the next chapter
>Vehicles with Run Flat tires, see page 116
>Vehicles with MINI Mobility System, see 
page 118.
Additional safety measures in the 
event of a wheel change: 
Change the wheel only on a level, firm sur-
face which is not slippery.
Avoid jacking the vehicle on a soft or slip-
pery support surface – on snow, ice, loose 
gravel, etc. – as either the vehicle or the 
jack could slip sideways. 
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 capac-
ity. 
Do not lie under the vehicle or start the 
engine when the vehicle is supported by 
the jack – risk of fatal injury.<
To change a space-saver tire, proceed as 
follows:
>Remove the space-saver spare tire, see 
page 113
>Prepare the vehicle, see page 114
>Jack up the vehicle, see page 114
>Fit the space-saver spare tire, see 
page 115
>Tighten the lug bolts, see page 115
>Drive with space-saver spare tire, see 
page 115.
Tire change setOn vehicles with a space-saver spare tire, 
the tire change set is stored in the cargo 
area under the floor mat.
1Chock, folding
2Hubcap remover
3Wheel stud wrench
4Jack
5Spanner 
6Tow fitting
7Lifting handle
ba.book  Seite 112  Montag, 5. August 2002  8:09 20
ProCarManuals.com 
Page 115 of 148
113
OVERVIEW REPAIRSOPERATION CONTROLS DATA INDEX
CHANGING TIRES – MINI WITH SPACE-SAVER SPARE TIRE
*
Removing the space-saver spare tire
The screw connection of the space-saver 
spare tire is in the cargo area under the 
floor mat, on the base of the storage com-
partment for the tire change set.
1. Loosen the screw connection using the 
wheel lug bolt wrench
2. Take out the cover panel
3. Screw the lifting handle from the on-
board tool kit onto the thread
4. Raise the lifting handle slightly
5. Squeeze the securing springs
6. The space-saver spare tire is released 
and must be held by the lifting handle
7. Lower the space-saver spare tire with 
the lifting handle
8. Unscrew the lifting handle again
ba.book  Seite 113  Montag, 5. August 2002  8:09 20
ProCarManuals.com 
Page 116 of 148
114
CHANGING TIRES – MINI WITH SPACE-SAVER SPARE TIRE
*
9. Pull out the space-saver spare tire 
towards the rear underneath the vehi-
cle
10. Position the space-saver spare tire with 
the valve facing upwards
11. Unscrew the valve extension from the 
valve of the space-saver spare tire
12. Unscrew the dust cap from the exten-
sion and attach to the space-saver 
spare tire.
Preparing the vehicle
Read and comply with the safety pre-
cautions provided on page 112.<
1. Secure the vehicle to prevent it from roll-
ing:
Place the folding chock behind the front 
wheel on the other side of the vehicle; 
on downward inclines, place it in front of 
this wheel. 
If the wheel is changed on a surface with 
a more severe slope, take additional pre-
cautions to secure the vehicle from roll-
ing
2. Loosen the lug bolts by a half turn. 
Jacking up the vehicle1. Place the jack at the jacking point closest 
to the wheel.
The jack base must be perpendicular to 
the surface beneath the jacking point
ba.book  Seite 114  Montag, 5. August 2002  8:09 20
ProCarManuals.com 
Page 117 of 148
115
OVERVIEW REPAIRSOPERATION CONTROLS DATA INDEX
CHANGING TIRES – MINI WITH SPACE-SAVER SPARE TIRE
*
2. Insert the jack head for jacking up in the 
square recess of the jacking point
3. Jack the vehicle up until the wheel you 
are changing is raised from the ground.
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 personal 
injury.<
Fitting the space-saver spare tire1. Unscrew the lug bolts and remove the 
wheel
2. Remove accumulations of mud or dirt 
from the mounting surfaces of the 
wheel and hub. Clean the lug bolts
3. Fit the space-saver spare tire
4. Screw at least two lug bolts finger-tight 
into opposite bolt holes 
5. Screw in the remaining bolts 
6. Tighten all the lug bolts firmly in a diag-
onal pattern
7. Lower the vehicle
8. Remove the jack.Tightening the lug boltsTighten the lug bolts in a diagonal pattern.
As soon as possible, have the secure 
seating of the lug bolts – tightening 
torque 88.5 lb ft / 120 Nm – checked using 
a calibrated torque wrench. Otherwise, a 
wheel coming loose can lead to a severe 
accident.<
Replace the defective tire as soon as possi-
ble and have the new wheel/tire assembly 
balanced.
Driving with the space-saver spare tireDrive cautiously. Do not exceed a speed of 
50 mph / 80 km/h.
You must expect changes in vehicle hand-
ling such as delayed braking response, 
longer braking distances, and changes in 
self-steering properties when close to the 
handling limits.
Only one space-saver spare tire may 
be mounted at one time. Reinstall 
wheels and tires of the same size and speci-
fication as soon as possible. Maintain pre-
scribed tire pressures, see page 85.<
Do not try to fit a full hubcap to the space-
saver spare tire, as the hubcap could be 
damaged.
Check and correct the tire inflation 
pressure at the earliest opportu-
nity.<
ba.book  Seite 115  Montag, 5. August 2002  8:09 20
ProCarManuals.com 
Page 118 of 148
116
FLAT TIRE– RUN FLAT TIRES
*
You will recognize Run Flat tires by a circu-
lar symbol containing the letters RSC on 
the side of the tire.
Run Flat tires consist of self-contained tires 
and special rims. The tire reinforcement 
ensures that the tire retains some residual 
safety in the event of pressure drop and 
driving remains possible to a restricted 
degree.
The reinforcement on the flanks of 
the Run Flat tires means that it is usu-
ally not possible to detect an air loss from 
outside.<
Flat tire The yellow indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster lights up to indicate a flat tire. 
In addition, a gong sounds, see pages 17, 
64.
1. Reduce vehicle speed carefully to under 
50 mph / 80 km/h, avoiding hard brake 
applications and steering maneuvers.
2. Do not exceed a speed of 50 mph / 
80 km/h.
3. Identify damaged tires; check tire infla-
tion pressures on all four wheels at the 
next opportunity, see page 85
4. Correct the tire inflation pressure if you 
wish to continue your journey and this is 
permitted, see next text section
5. Have damaged tires changed by your 
MINI Dealer, see page 88.Your MINI Dealer has the information 
needed for working with Run Flat 
tires and is equipped with the necessary 
special tools. They provide advice if you 
wish to replace the tires on your MINI, or re-
equip from summer to winter tires or vice 
versa, also see pages 85, 88, 89.<
For safety reasons, do not have a 
damaged safety tire repaired.<
ba.book  Seite 116  Montag, 5. August 2002  8:09 20
ProCarManuals.com 
Page 119 of 148
117
OVERVIEW REPAIRSOPERATION CONTROLS DATA INDEX
FLAT TIRE – RUN FLAT TIRES
*
Continuing driving with a damaged 
tire
With Run Flat tires, you can continue driv-
ing under certain conditions, depending on 
the vehicle load and the severity of the tire 
damage, at a maximum speed of 50 mph / 
80 km/h.
You can determine the possible mileage for 
continued driving on the basis of the fol-
lowing general indications:
>Tire inflation pressure 0 psi / 0 kPa:
approx. 95 miles / 150 km
>Tire inflation pressure 7.2 – 14.5 psi /
50 – 100 kPa:
approx. 300 miles / 500 km
>Tire inflation pressure greater than 
14.5 psi / 100 kPa: 
approx. 600 miles / 1,000 km.
Tire change setYour MINI is additionally equipped with a 
tire change set. This is located in the MINI 
COOPER in the cargo area under the floor 
mat.
In the MINI COOPER S the tire change set is 
located in a separate bag which is attached 
to the eyelets on the cargo area floor by 
means of tie-down straps, see page 75.
When changing a tire, always observe the 
safety measures on page 112, and follow 
the procedure described on page 114 ff.
In case of a flat tire the tire change 
set is not needed, since your MINI has 
Run Flat tires.<
ba.book  Seite 117  Montag, 5. August 2002  8:09 20
ProCarManuals.com 
Page 120 of 148
118
FLAT TIRE – MINI MOBILITY SYSTEM
*
MINI Mobility System
To repair a flat tire you will find a MINI 
Mobility System in your MINI. With the 
help of this system you can apply a liquid 
sealant on the inside of the tire, which seals 
the damaged area and enables you to con-
tinue to drive. Using the MINI Mobility SystemIn order to repair a flat tire with the MINI 
Mobility System, proceed as follows:
>Prepare for tire repair, see page 119
>Pump in liquid sealant, see page 119
>Reinflate the tire, see page 120
>Distribute liquid sealant, see page 120
>Check tire inflation pressure, see 
page 121
>Drive on, see page 121.
MINI Mobility System with on-board 
toolsThe MINI Mobility System with tire change 
set and on-board tools is located in the 
cargo area under the floor mat:
1Jack
2Chock, folding
3Wheel stud wrench
4Hubcap remover
5Lug wrench, Phillips screwdriver, tow-
ing eyelet
6Compressor, hose with manometer and 
plug for cigarette lighter socket
7Package with filling hose, valve 
remover, valve core and spare valve
8Filling canister
9Hex wrench/screwdriver
10 Adapter for wheel lug lock
ba.book  Seite 118  Montag, 5. August 2002  8:09 20
ProCarManuals.com