wheel MINI Hardtop 2 Door 2005 User Guide
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OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
IGNITION LOCK
STARTING THE ENGINE
0 Steering locked 
The key can be inserted or removed in this 
position only.To lock the steering:1. Remove the key2. Turn the steering wheel slightly to the 
left or right until the lock engages.A sound alarm goes off if the key remains in 
the ignition after opening the driver's door.Interlock Vehicles with Continuously Variable auto
-
matic Transmission (CVT): 
 
The ignition key cannot be turned to 
position
 0 and removed until the selector 
lever is in position
 P.
1 Steering unlocked
Individual electrical accessories are ready 
for operation.You will find that it is often easier to turn 
the ignition key from position
 0 to 
position
 1 when you move the steering 
wheel slightly to help disengage the lock.
2 Ignition switched on
All electrical accessories are ready for oper
-
ation.3 Starting the engine
Vehicles with manual transmission:
 
Step on the clutch when starting the 
vehicle. A lockout prevents the engine from 
starting if the clutch is not depressed.<
Do not allow the engine to run in enclosed spaces. Breathing the nox
-
ious exhaust gases can lead to uncon
-
sciousness and death. The exhaust gases 
contain carbon monoxide, an odorless and 
colorless, but highly toxic gas.
 
Do not leave the vehicle unattended with 
the engine running. This is a safety hazard.
 
When driving, standing at idle, and parking 
the vehicle, take care to avoid contact 
between the hot exhaust system and flam
-
mable materials, e.g. hay, grass, leaves, etc. 
Such contact could lead to a fire resulting in 
serious personal injury and property dam
-
age.<When starting the engine, do not press the 
accelerator pedal.Do not let the engine warm up with the 
vehicle at a standstill. Move off immedi
-
ately at a moderate engine speed. 
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OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
PARKING BRAKE 
MANUAL TRANSMISSION 
The parking brake is designed primarily to prevent the vehicle from rolling when it is 
parked. It operates against the rear wheels.To engageLever automatically locks in position. 
 
The indicator lamp in the instrument clus
-
ter lights up from ignition key position
 2, 
refer to page
 17.
To release1. Pull up slightly2. Press the button3. Push the lever downwards.
If, in exceptional circumstances, it should be necessary to engage the 
parking brake while the vehicle is in 
motion, do not pull the lever with excessive 
pressure. Keep your thumb pressed against 
the release button while carefully pulling 
the lever up to apply moderate pressure.
 
Excessive pressure can lead to overbraking 
and loss of traction, i.e. fishtailing, at the 
rear axle. The brake lamps do not come on 
when the parking brake is engaged.<
To avoid corrosion and one-sided braking, apply the parking brake 
lightly from time to time when coasting to 
a standstill, for instance at a traffic light, 
provided that it is safe to do so.<
6-speed transmission*
When changing gear in the 5th/6th gear plane, press the gearshift lever 
to the right to prevent inadvertently shift
-
ing to a gear of the
 3rd/4th gear plane.< 
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OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (CVT)
*
selector lever to position
 P and engage the 
parking brake before getting out of your 
vehicle with the engine running.
 
Do not leave the vehicle unattended with 
the engine running. This is a safety haz
-
ard.<
If the selector lever is not placed in position
 P when the vehicle is parked, 
the position display of the selector lever 
stays on. This can lead to battery dis
-
charge.<
P Park
Select only when the vehicle is completely 
stopped. The transmission locks to prevent 
the rear wheels from turning.R Reverse 
Select only when the vehicle is completely 
stopped.N Neutral Idle
Engage this gear, for example, when you 
are in a car wash. The vehicle can roll.D Drive: CVT driving position
This position is designed for driving under 
all normal operating conditions. Kickdown Kickdown can be used to achieve maxi
-
mum vehicle performance.
 
Press the accelerator pedal past the 
increased resistance point at the full-throt
-
tle position.
M/S
 + – Manual mode and Sport 
program Switch from D into M/S
  + –: 
Activates the Sport program and displays 
SD in the gear indicator in the speedome
-
ter. Press selector lever once:Shifts from the Sport program to the man
-
ual mode.Shifting with the selector lever>Press selector lever briefly towards +:
 
Transmission shifts upwards>Press selector lever briefly towards –:
 
Transmission shifts downwards.1 to 6 appear in the gear indicator. 
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CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (CVT)
*
Shifting on the steering wheel* The shift paddles allow the gears to be 
changed rapidly and, above all, safely, since 
both hands can remain on the steering 
wheel.Use one of the two shift paddles to shift 
upwards or downwards:>Pull shift paddle toward body:
 
Transmission shifts upwards>Push shift paddle away from body:
 
Transmission shifts downwards.1 to 6 appear in the gear indicator.
The transmission will only execute upshifts 
or downshifts that will result in a plausible 
combination of vehicle speed and engine 
rpm, e.g. downshifts that would result in 
excessive engine speed are not executed.
In order to accelerate rapidly in the M/S
 + – Manual mode and in the 
Sport program, e.g. when passing, shift 
downwards manually or by kickdown.<
Whenever you want to return to automatic 
shifting, just move the selector lever 
toward the left to position D.Switching from M/S
 + – Manual mode into 
the selector lever positions P, R and N is 
only possible via D.
Available displaysP R N D SD 1 2 3 4 5 6 EPMalfunctionEP appears on the display. The transmission 
system is malfunctioning. Avoid high loads.
 
All selector lever positions can still be 
engaged; in the forward driving positions, 
however, the vehicle can only be driven 
with a limited gear selection. 
 
Have the system checked immediately.Jump-starting and towing, refer to 
pages
 134
, 136
. 
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OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
CRUISE CONTROL
* 
On the multifunction steering wheel 
and sports steering wheelAbove approx. 20
 mph
 / 30
 km/h the cruise 
control maintains and stores any desired 
speed. 
Do not use cruise control on twisting roads, when high traffic density pre
-
vents driving at a constant speed, or when 
the road surface does not permit driving at 
a constant speed, e.g. due to snow, rain, ice, 
or loose surfaces.<
To activate via the multifunction steering wheelFrom ignition key position
 1:
Press button
 2.
The indicator lamp in the instrument clus
-
ter lights up.
 
Cruise control is active.To activate via the sports steering 
wheel1. Start the engine2. Press button
 2.
The indicator lamp in the instrument clus
-
ter lights up.
 
Cruise control is active.
To deactivate Press button
 2 repeatedly until the indica
-
tor lamp goes out.The cruise control is deactivated when the 
ignition key is turned to position
 0.
The stored speed is cleared.To maintain and store speed or to 
acceleratePress button
 3.
The system maintains and stores the cur
-
rent vehicle speed. Every time you tap the 
button, the speed increases by approx. 
1 mph
 / 2
 km/h. 
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62
CRUISE CONTROL
*
Press and hold button
 3.
The vehicle accelerates without pressure 
on the accelerator pedal. When you release 
the button, the system maintains and 
stores the current speed.
If, on a downhill gradient, the engine braking effect is not sufficient, the 
controlled speed may be exceeded. Speed 
can drop on uphill grades if the engine out
-
put is insufficient.<To deceleratePress button
 4.
If you are already driving with active cruise 
control, the speed is decreased by approx. 
1 mph
 / 2
 km/h every time you briefly tap 
the button.
Press and hold button
 4.
With the cruise control active, the system 
automatically reduces the throttle opening 
to slow the vehicle. When you release the 
button, the system maintains and stores 
the current speed.To cancel the cruise controlThe cruise control is automatically can
-
celed:
>When the brakes are applied>When the clutch pedal is depressed>If the cruising speed is either exceeded or 
not met for an extended length of time, 
for example if you press the accelerator 
pedal and exceed the stored speed.The indicator lamp stays lit. 
 
You can use the cruise control again as 
required.On the multifunction steering wheel, the 
cruise control can be interrupted manually:When the system is activated, press 
button
 2. 
To continue cruise controlPress button
 1.
The vehicle accelerates to and maintains 
the last speed stored. 
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ALL SEASON TRACTION CONTROL (ASC)
* 
The conceptThis system optimizes driving stability and 
traction, especially when just starting off, 
when accelerating or when cornering. ASC recognizes the danger present in trac
-
tion loss and will increase driving stability 
and traction by reducing the engine's out
-
put and, if necessary, by applying the 
brakes to the front wheels. ASC is operational each time you start the 
engine. It contains the following functions:>Antilock Brake System (ABS)>Cornering Brake Control (CBC)>Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD).
The laws of physics cannot be repealed, even with ASC. An appropri
-
ate driving style always remains the 
responsibility of the driver. Avoid using the 
additional safety margin provided by the 
system as an excuse for taking unnecessary 
risks.
 
Do not make any modifications to the ASC 
system. Allow only authorized technicians 
to perform service procedures on the 
ASC.<
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp will go out shortly after the ignition has been 
switched on, refer to pages
 17, 18
.
If the indicator lamp flashes:
 
ASC controls the drive and braking forces.The indicator lamp stays lit:
 
The system is defective or was turned off 
using the button. Have the system checked 
as soon as possible.
To switch off the ASCBriefly press the switch.
 
The indicator lamp stays lit.When driving with snow chains or to 'rock 
free' in snow, it can be helpful to switch off 
the ASC for a brief period.
To maintain vehicle stability, always drive with the ASC switched on 
whenever possible.<
To switch the ASC back onBriefly press the switch once again.
 
Indicator lamp goes out. 
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OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
DYNAMIC STABILITY CONTROL (DSC)
* 
The conceptThis system optimizes driving stability and 
traction, especially when just starting off, 
when accelerating or when cornering. It 
also maintains driving stability even in crit
-
ical driving situations.DSC recognizes unstable vehicle conditions, 
such as understeering or oversteering, and, 
as far as is possible within the laws of phys
-
ics, helps keep the vehicle on a steady 
course by reducing the rpms and by brake 
applications to the individual wheels.The DSC is operational every time you start 
the engine. It contains the following func
-
tions:>All Season traction Control (ASC)>Antilock Brake System (ABS)>Cornering Brake Control (CBC)>Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD).
The laws of physics cannot be repealed, even with DSC. An appro
-
priate driving style always remains the 
responsibility of the driver. Avoid using the 
additional safety margin provided by the 
system as an excuse for taking unnecessary 
risks.
 
Do not make any modifications to the DSC 
system. Allow only authorized technicians 
to perform service procedures on the 
DSC.<Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp will go out shortly after the ignition has been 
switched on, refer to pages
 17, 18
.
If the indicator lamp flashes:
 
DSC controls the drive and braking forces. The indicator lamp stays lit:
 
The system is defective or was turned off 
using the button. Have the system checked 
as soon as possible.
To switch off the DSCBriefly press the switch.
 
The indicator lamp stays lit.When driving with snow chains, it may be 
effective to switch off the DSC for a brief 
period.
To maintain stability, always drive with the DSC switched on whenever 
possible.<
To switch the DSC back onBriefly press the switch once again.
 
Indicator lamp goes out. 
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ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) The concept The ABS keeps the wheels from locking 
while braking, thereby enhancing active 
driving safety. ABS also includes Electronic Brake Force 
Distribution (EBD).Safe brakingYour vehicle is equipped with ABS as a stan
-
dard feature. The best way to brake the 
vehicle in critical situations requiring brak
-
ing is to apply maximum pressure to the 
brake pedal: panic stop. 
 
Since the vehicle remains maneuverable, 
you can still go around any obstacles with 
the smallest possible steering movements.The pulsation of the brake pedal, together 
with the sound of hydraulic regulation, 
indicates to you that ABS is actively taking 
effect.
Cornering Brake Control (CBC)Cornering Brake Control (CBC) is an 
enhancement of ABS that improves vehicle 
stability especially when braking during 
cornering. 
 
When the vehicle is being braked, the rear 
wheels are relieved from load, and this can 
cause the vehicle to oversteer in curves. 
CBC counteracts this by making use of uni
-
lateral braking pressure to generate a sta
-
bilizing counter torque while braking out
-
side of the ABS control range.Electronic Brake Force Distribution 
(EBD)In order to achieve a short braking distance 
when the vehicle is fully loaded, your vehi
-
cle is equipped with relatively large brakes 
on the rear axle. EBV continuously moni
-
tors the speeds of the rear wheels in rela
-
tion to the front wheels in order to prevent 
overbraking of the rear wheels even when 
the vehicle has a light load. If the rear 
wheels tend to lock, the EBV controls their 
slip, ensuring operating stability. 
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OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
FLAT TIRE MONITOR The conceptAs you drive, the Flat Tire Monitor keeps 
track of the tire inflation pressure in all four 
tires. The system alerts you when there is a 
substantial pressure loss in one of the tires 
relative to another.The tire inflation pressures are monitored 
based on the speeds of the four wheels in 
relation to one another. A flat tire is 
detected as the result of differences in cer
-
tain speed ratios, and a warning is gener
-
ated.System requirementsSo that the system can 'familiarize' itself 
with the correct inflation pressure, please 
do the following:1. Check the tire inflation pressure in all 
tires2. Compare them with the inflation pres
-
sure table, refer to page
 98, and adjust 
the pressures if necessary
3. Initialize the system.
System limitations
The Flat Tire Monitor cannot alert you to severe and sudden tire damage 
caused by external factors, nor does it 
detect the gradual and minor loss of pres
-
sure in all four tires.<On the other hand, the following situations 
could lead to a delayed detection of pres
-
sure loss or to the system not functioning:>Driving on snow-covered or slippery 
roads>Performance-oriented driving: slip at the 
drive wheels, high rates of lateral accel
-
eration>When driving with snow chains, false 
warnings and undetected pressure loss 
may occur>When driving with a space-saver spare 
tire, the Flat Tire Monitor cannot func
-
tion. 
Initializing the system 
The system must be reinitialized immediately after changing a tire 
and wheel, or after correcting the pressure 
in any tire. This requires a bit of driving.<
1. Before a journey, start the engine, but do 
not start driving2. Press the button long enough for the 
indicator lamp in the display elements 
to light up for a few seconds3. Drive off.It takes a few minutes before the Flat Tire 
Monitor can detect a flat tire and issue an 
alert.