flat tire MINI Hardtop 2 Door 2004 User Guide

92
WHEEL AND TIRE REPLACEMENT
Unprofessional attempts by laymen
to service tires can lead to damage
and accidents.
Have this work performed by skilled profes-
sionals only. Your MINI Dealer will be glad
to assist you with both their expertise and
the proper equipment for your vehicle.<
The correct wheel and tire combination
also affects various systems that would
otherwise be impaired, e.g. ABS or DSC.
Have the wheels balanced after each tire or
wheel replacement.
The manufacturer of your MINI rec-
ommends that you avoid using
retread tires, as this could impair driving
safety. This is due to the possible variations
in casing structures and, in some cases, to
their extreme age, which can lead to a
decrease in their durability.<
The correct wheels and tires
The manufacturer of your MINI rec-
ommends never mounting wheels
and tires that have not been specifically
approved by the manufacturer for use on
your particular model. Although other
wheels and tires may theoretically have the
same dimensions, variations in factors such
as manufacturing tolerances can result in
contact between tire and bodywork, ulti-
mately leading to serious accidents. The
manufacturer of your MINI cannot evaluate
non-approved wheels and tires to deter-
mine if they are suited for use, and there-
fore cannot ensure the operating safety of
the vehicle if they are fitted.<
Recommended tire makes:
To maintain good handling and vehicle
response, use only tires of a single tread
configuration from a single manufacturer.
In the event of a flat tire, remount the pre-
vious wheel and tire combination as soon
as possible.
Run Flat tires:
If your MINI is equipped with Run Flat tires
– refer to Run Flat tires – use only these
tires, since no space-saver spare tire may be
available in the event of a flat. Special characteristics of winter tires The manufacturer of your MINI recom-
mends winter tires for driving in adverse
winter road conditions. While all-season
tires with the M+S designation provide bet-
ter winter traction than summer tires, they generally do not achieve the full perfor-
mance of winter tires.
For mounting winter tires, refer to the
descriptions under Tire condition, page 91,
and Wheel and tire replacement.
Run Flat tires:
If your MINI is equipped with Run Flat tires
– refer to Run Flat tires – use only these
tires, since no space-saver spare tire may be
available in the event of a flat.
Observing speeds:
Never exceed the maximum speed
for which the winter tires are rated.
Unprofessional attempts by laymen to ser-
vice tires can lead to damage and accidents.
Have this work performed by skilled profes-
sionals only. The technicians at your MINI
Dealer will be glad to assist you with the
required professional knowledge and spe-
cialized equipment.<
StorageStore tires in a cool, dry place, protecting
them against light whenever possible. Pro-
tect the tires against contact with oil,
grease and fuel. Do not exceed the maxi-
mum tire inflation pressure specified on
the tire sidewall.

93
OVERVIEW REPAIRSOPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
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 driving
remains possible to a restricted degree in
the event of a pressure drop or even a flat
tire.
When mounting or replacing summer
Run Flat tires with winter tires, or vice
versa, use Run Flat tires again since no
space-saver spare tire is available in the
event of a flat. In this event, the manufac-
turer of your MINI recommends consulting
your MINI Dealer. Your MINI Dealer has the
necessary special equipment and expertise
for handling Run Flat tires.<
Continuing driving with a damaged
tire Depending on the load, you can continue
driving with Run Flat tires at a maximum
speed of 50 mph / 80 km/h.
If there is a total loss of tire inflation pres-
sure, 0 psi / 0 kPa, or obvious tire damage,
you can gauge the mileage for continued
driving on the basis of the following indica-
tions:
>With a light load:
1 to 2 persons without luggage:
approx. 155 miles / 250 km
>With a medium load:
2 persons, full cargo area, or
4 persons without luggage:
approx. 95 miles / 150 km
>With a full load:
4 persons or more, full cargo:
approx. 30 miles / 50 km.Drive cautiously. Do not exceed a
speed of 50 mph / 80 km/h. In case of
tire pressure loss you must expect changes
in vehicle handling such as lower track sta-
bility during braking, longer braking dis-
tances and changes in self-steering proper-
ties when close to the handling limit.
For safety reasons, the manufacturer of
your MINI recommends not having dam-
aged Run Flat tires repaired. In this case,
consult your MINI dealer.<
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.
When changing a tire, always observe the
safety measures on page 116, and follow
the procedure described on page 117 ff.
In case of a flat tire, the tire change
set is not needed, since your MINI has
Run Flat tires.<

94
SNOW CHAINS
*
Only certain types of snow chains have
been tested by the manufacturer of your
MINI, classified as road-safe and approved.
Contact your MINI Dealer for more details.
The manufacturer of your MINI recom-
mends that you use only these approved
fine-link snow chains. Their use is only per-
mitted in pairs on the front wheels on win-
ter tires of the following types:
>175/65 R 15 M+S
>175/60 R 16 M+S.
When fitting, comply with the manufac-
turer's instructions. With chains, do not
exceed a speed of 30 mph / 50 km/h.
Do not initialize the Flat Tire Monitor
after attaching snow chains to the
tires.
When driving with snow chains, it can be
helpful to switch off the ASC or DSC for a
brief period, refer to pages 59, 60.<

110
ONBOARD TOOL KIT WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES The picture shows as an example the tire
change set with onboard tools for vehicles
with the space-saver spare tire.
Depending on the level of equipment
options, your MINI is fitted with a special
onboard tool kit stored at the locations
described below:
Storage locationMINI Mobility System with tire change set
and onboard tools:
>In the cargo area under the floor mat.
Tire change set and onboard tools for Run
Flat tires:
>Tire change set:
In the cargo area in a separate pouch,
refer to page 123
>Onboard tool kit:
on the left-hand side of the cargo area
behind the side trim panel.
Tire change set with space-saver spare tire:
>In the cargo area under the floor mat.
Windshield wiper1. Rotate the wiper arm completely out
from the windshield
2. Set the wiper blade at an angle
3. Press the securing spring, arrow
4. Unhook the wiper blade towards the
windshield
5. Pull the wiper blade past the wiper arm
toward the top
6. Insert the new wiper blade
7. Press into position until you hear it
engage.

116
LAMPS AND BULBS REPAIRING A FLAT TIRE Cargo area lamps 5 Watt bulb
1. Press the lamp cover to the left and out
with a screwdriver.
2. Remove and replace the bulb.
Footwell lamps5 Watt bulb
1. Press out the lamp cover with a screw-
driver
2. Remove and replace the bulb.Glove compartment lamp5 Watt bulb
1. Press out the lamp cover with a screw-
driver
2. Remove and replace the bulb.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 portable hazard warning lamp is avail-
able, set it up on the roadside at an appro-
priate distance from the rear of the vehicle.
Comply with all safety guidelines and regu-
lations.<
In the event of a flat tire, different proce-
dures should be followed depending on the
equipment included in your MINI:
>Vehicles with Run Flat tires, refer to
page 93
>Vehicles with a space-saver spare tire,
refer to the following section
>Vehicles with MINI Mobility System,
refer to page 121.

120
CHANGING TIRES: MINI WITH SPACE-SAVER SPARE TIRE
*
Fitting the space-saver spare tire
1. 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 bolts Tighten 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 han-
dling such as lower track stability during
braking, longer braking distances and
changes in self-steering properties when
close to the handling limit. These effects
are more pronounced when driving with
winter tires.
Only one space-saver spare tire may
be mounted at one time. Reinstall a
wheel and tire of the original size as soon
as possible.<
Check the tire inflation pressure at
the earliest opportunity and correct it
if necessary.<

121
OVERVIEW REPAIRSOPERATION CONTROLS DATA INDEX
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.Preparing for tire repair
Before using the MINI Mobility Sys-
tem read the warning and danger
precautions on the equipment.<
If possible, leave objects in which have
been forced into the tire.
Take off the tag regarding speed limits and
stick it onto the steering wheel.
Using the MINI Mobility SystemIn order to repair a flat tire with the MINI
Mobility System, proceed as follows:
>Pump in liquid sealant, refer to page 122
>Reinflate the tire, refer to page 122
>Distribute liquid sealant, refer to
page 123
>Check tire inflation pressure, refer to
page 123
>Drive on, refer to page 123.
MINI Mobility System with onboard
tools The MINI Mobility System with tire change
set and onboard tools is located in the
cargo area under the floor mat:
1Jack
2Chock, folding
3Wheel stud wrench
4Hubcap remover
5Wrench, screwdriver/Phillips screw-
driver, towing eyelet
6Compressor, hose with manometer and
plug for cigarette lighter socket
7Package with filling hose, valve
remover and valve core
8Filling canister
9Hex wrench/screwdriver
10 Adapter for wheel lug lock

122
MINI MOBILITY SYSTEM
*
Pumping in liquid sealant
1. Shake the filling canister
2. Screw the filling hose onto the filling
canister
3. Unscrew the dust protection cap from
the valve of the defective tire
4. Screw out the valve core with the valve
remover. The valve remover is located in
a package with the filling hose
Place the valve core and valve
remover only on clean surfaces.<
5. Remove the cap from the filling hose
6. Push the filling hose onto the tire valve
7. Hold the filling canister with the cap
down and squeeze.
Squeeze the entire contents of the canis-
ter into the tire
8. Remove filling hose
9. Screw valve core into the tire valve with
the valve remover.
In the event of a lost or dirty valve
core you will find another valve core
in a package with the filling hose.<
Please remember that the liquid can-
ister must be replaced every four
years if the equipment has not been
used.<
Reinflating the tire1. Screw hose 1 with manometer onto the
tire valve
2. Connect plug 3 to the cigarette lighter
socket in the vehicle interior, refer to
page 74
3. Ignition key in position 1:
Turn on compressor 2
4. Inflate the tires to at least 26 psi /
180 kPa, but not to more than 36 psi /
250 kPa.
To check the current air pressure, shut
off the device for a short time
Do not run the compressor for
longer than 6 minutes, otherwise
the device will overheat and possibly be
damaged.<

123
OVERVIEW REPAIRSOPERATION CONTROLS DATA INDEX
MINI MOBILITY SYSTEM
*
If an air pressure of 26 psi /
180 kPa cannot be reached,
unscrew the hose 1 and drive back and
forth about 33 ft / 10 m so that the liq-
uid sealant is distributed in the tire.
Afterwards repeat the procedure.
If an air pressure of 26 psi / 180 kPa is
still not reached, the tire is too badly
damaged. Please contact the nearest
MINI Dealer.<
5. Turn off compressor 2
6. Unscrew hose 1 from the tire valve
7. Store the MINI Mobility System back in
the vehicle.
The instructions for using the MINI
Mobility System are also given on the
equipment.<
Distributing liquid sealantImmediately drive for approx. 10 minutes,
so that the liquid sealant is uniformly dis-
tributed.
Do not exceed a speed of 40 mph /
60 km/h.
If possible do not drive at a speed lower
than 10 mph / 20 km/h.<
Checking tire inflation pressure 1. After driving for approx. 10 minutes, pull
over at a suitable location
2. Screw hose with manometer back onto
the tire valve
3. Check tire pressure
The tire inflation pressure must be at
least 18 psi / 130 kPa betragen.
If it is not, do not continue driving.<
If 18 psi / 130 kPa are displayed:
4. Ignition key position 1:
Turn on compressor 2. Correct the tire
inflation pressure to the specified value,
refer to the tire inflation pressure table
on page 88
5. Replace the tire as soon as possible.
The use of the MINI Mobility System
may be ineffective with tire damage
larger than approx. 1/6 in / 4 mm. Please
contact the nearest MINI Dealer if the tire
cannot be made drivable with the MINI
Mobility System.<
Driving on
Do not exceed the permitted maxi-
mum speed of 50 mph / 80 km/h;
otherwise an accident could happen.<
Replace the defective tire as soon as
possible and have the new wheel/tire
assembly balanced.
Have the MINI Mobility System refilled.
Please contact your MINI Dealer.<
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.
When changing a tire, always observe the
safety measures on page 116, and follow
the procedure described on page 119 ff.
In case of a flat tire the tire change
set is not necessary due to the avail-
ability of the MINI Mobility System.<

EVERYTHING FROM A TO Z
138
A
ABS Antilock Brake System 61
indicator lamp 16, 17
Accessories, refer to
For your own safety 7
Your individual vehicle 6
Activated-charcoal filter 72
Air circulation, refer to
Recirculated air mode 68, 71
Air conditioning
air conditioning system 68
automatic climate control 71
Air conditioning system 67
Air distribution
air conditioning system 68
automatic climate control 71
Air outlets, refer to
Ventilation 69, 72
Air pressure, refer to Tire
inflation pressure 87
Air supply
air conditioning system 68
automatic climate control 72
Air, drying, refer to Air
conditioning 68, 71
Airbags 65
indicator lamp 16
safe seating position 31
AKI, refer to Fuel quality 85 All Season traction Control
(ASC) 59
indicator lamp 16, 17
All-season tires, refer to Winter
tires 92
Antenna 103
Antifreeze
coolant 100
washer fluid 98
Antilock Brake System (ABS) 61
indicator lamp 16, 17
Approved axle load, refer to
Weights 134
Approved engine oils 99
Approved gross vehicle weight,
refer to Weights 134
ASC All Season traction
Control 59
indicator lamp 16, 17
Ashtray 74
Assistant systems, refer to
All Season traction Control
(ASC) 59
Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC) 60
AUTO program, refer to
Automatic air distribution 71
Automatic
air distribution 71
air supply 71
cruise control 52 Automatic car washes 103
Automatic climate control 70
Automatic headlamp range
control for xenon lamps,
refer to Daytime driving
lamps 48
Average consumption
setting units 58
Average speed
setting units 58
Axle loads, refer to
Weights 134
B
Backrests, refer to
Adjusting seats 33
Backup lamp 44
bulb replacement 114
Bar, towing 128
Battery 124
disposal 22, 124
indicator lamp 15
jump-starting 126
remote control 22
Belts, refer to Safety belts 35
Beverage holders 74
Blower
air conditioning system 68
automatic climate control 72
Blower, refer to Air flow 68, 72 Blowers, refer to Draft-free
ventilation 69, 72
BMW 6
Bonnet 95
indicator lamp 16
Bore, refer to Engine data 132
Bottle holders, refer to
Beverage holders 74
Brake discs
brake system 86
break-in procedures 82
Brake fluid 101
adding 101
level 86
warning lamp 15
Brake lamps
bulb replacement 114
Brake pads 86
break-in procedures 82
warning lamp 16
Brake system 86
brake fluid level 86
brake pads 86
disc brakes 86
warning lamp 16
Brake wear warning
brake pads 86
warning lamp 16