wheel MINI COOPER 2003 User Guide

40
AIRBAGS 1Side airbags in seatback on the driver
and passenger side – front
2Head airbags on the driver and passen-
ger sides for both rows of seats –
front/rear
3Front airbags on the driver and passen-
ger sidesProtective effectThe front airbags supplement the safety
belts by providing additional protection for
the driver and front passenger in the event
of a frontal collision in which the protec-
tion afforded by the belts alone may no
longer be sufficient.
When needed, the head and side airbags
help to furnish protection in the event of
side impact.
Each of the side airbags is designed to help
support the seat occupant's upper body.
For information on sitting posture, refer to
page 33.
The airbags do not deploy in response
to minor collisions, rear impacts and
certain kinds of vehicle rollover.<
Even when all safety guidelines are
observed, there is a small residual risk that
passengers will sustain facial, hand or arm
injuries in isolated instances. The ignition
and inflation noise may induce a mild tem-
porary hearing loss in sensitive individuals.
Do not apply adhesive materials to
the cover panels of the airbags, cover
them or modify them in any other way. Do
not fit covers, cushions or other items to
the front seats that have not been specially
approved for seats with side airbags. Do
not hang clothing, e. g. jackets, over the
backrests. Do not attempt to remove the
airbag restraint system from the vehicle. In
the event of malfunctions, immobilization
or use, i. e. triggering, of the airbag restraint
system in accordance with its intended
function, commission a MINI Dealer with
the inspection, repair or disassembly. Do
not make any changes yourself to the indi-
vidual components and wiring. This
includes the padded covers of the steering
wheel, instrument panel and the roof sup-
ports, as well as the sides of the roofliner
and the original backrest covers on the
front seats. Do not attempt to remove or
dismantle the steering wheel. In view of
the applicable safety regulations, arrange
for your MINI Dealer to dispose of the air-
bag generators. Unprofessional attempts
to service the system could lead to failure
in an emergency or undesired airbag acti-
vation, either of which could result in per-
sonal injury. Do not touch the individual
components directly after the system has
been triggered, as otherwise there is a dan-
ger of burns.<
At all times, occupants should sit
upright and be properly restrained,
infants and small children in appropriate
child-restraint systems, larger children and
adults using the safety belts. Never let an
occupant's head rest near or on a head air-
bag because the inflating airbag could
cause serious or fatal injury. A child which
is not properly restrained could place his or
her head on or near the airbag.<
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OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
IGNITION LOCK 0Steering locked
1Steering unlocked
2Ignition switched on
3Starting the engine0Steering locked The key can be inserted or removed in this
position only.
To lock the steering:
1. Remove the key
2. 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.<
You can have this function activated/
deactivated by your MINI Dealer.<
Vehicles with Continuously Variable
automatic Transmission (CVT):
Do not move the selector lever from
position P until the engine is running.
Your vehicle is equipped with an interlock.
Therefore, the ignition key cannot be
turned to position 0 and removed until the
selector lever is in position P – Interlock.<
1Steering 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.2Ignition switched onAll electrical accessories are ready for oper-
ation.3Starting 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.<
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OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
SWITCHING OFF THE ENGINE PARKING BRAKE
You should never remove the ignition
key when the vehicle is in motion, as
the steering lock could engage.
When you leave the vehicle, always remove
the ignition key and engage the steering
lock.
When you park on downward slopes,
engage the parking brake.<
Manual transmissionTurn the ignition key to position 1 or 0.Continuously Variable automatic
Transmission (CVT)*Engage selector lever position P, turn the
ignition key to position 1 or 0.
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 warning lamp in the instrument cluster
comes on when the ignition key is in
position 2, see page 16.To release1. Pull up slightly
2. Press the button
3. 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.
Vehicles with manual transmission:
Always engage the parking brake when
parking on hills and inclined surfaces, as
first gear or reverse may not provide ade-
quate resistance to rolling.
Vehicles with CVT:
Place the selector lever in P.<
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CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (CVT)
*
PPark
Select "P" only when the vehicle is com-
pletely stopped. The transmission locks to
prevent the rear wheels from turning.RReverseSelect "R" only when the vehicle is com-
pletely stopped.NNeutralSelect "N" only if your journey is inter-
rupted for a long period.DDrive – CVT driving positionThis position is designed for driving under
all normal operating conditions. KickdownIn "kickdown" mode, you achieve maxi-
mum acceleration and maximum speed in
position D.
Press the accelerator pedal past the
increased resistance point at the full-throt-
tle position.
M/S + – Manual mode and
Sport programSwitch from D into M/S + –:
Activates the Sport program and displays
SD in the gear indicator in the speedome-
ter.
>Press briefly:
CVT shifts from the Sport program to the
manual mode
>Press selector lever briefly towards +:
Transmission shifts upwards
>Press selector lever briefly towards – :
Transmission shifts back.
1 to 6 appear in the gear indicator.
The transmission will only execute upshifts
and downshifts that will result in a plausi-
ble combination of vehicle speed and
engine rpm. For instance, downshifts that
would result in excessive engine speed are
not executed.
Switching from M/S + – into the selector
lever positions P, R and N and switching
from manual mode back into the Sport pro-
gram is only possible via D.
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AUTOMATIC STABILITY CONTROL PLUS TRACTION (ASC+T)
*
The concept
This system optimizes vehicle stability and
traction, especially when just starting off,
when accelerating or when cornering.
ASC+T recognizes the danger present in
traction loss and will increase driving sta-
bility and traction by reducing the engine's
output and, if necessary, by applying the
brakes to the front wheels. ASC+T is opera-
tional each time you start the engine.
The laws of physics cannot be
repealed, even with ASC+T. 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
ASC+T system. Allow only authorized tech-
nicians to perform service procedures on
the ASC+T.<
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp on the instru-
ment cluster will go out shortly
after the ignition has been
switched on, see pages 16, 17.
If the indicator lamp flashes:
ASC+T controls the drive and braking
forces.
If the indicator lamp fails to go out
after the engine is started, or if it
comes on during normal driving and stays
on:
The system is defective or was turned off
using the button.
The described stabilizing operations are no
longer available.
You can, however, drive the vehicle nor-
mally without ASC+T.
In the event of a malfunction, please see
your MINI Dealer, see pages 16, 17.<
Switch off the ASC+TBriefly 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+T for a brief period.
To maintain vehicle stability, always
drive with the ASC+T switched on
whenever possible. Indicator lamp goes out.
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OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
DYNAMIC STABILITY CONTROL (DSC)
*
The concept
This system maintains driving stability
even in critical driving situations.
The system optimizes vehicle stability dur-
ing acceleration and when starting from a
full stop, as well as optimizing traction. In
addition, it recognizes unstable vehicle
conditions, such as understeering or over-
steering, and, as far as is possible within
the laws of physics, 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. DSC contains the functions
Antilock Brake System (ABS), Electronic
Brake Force Distribution (EBD), and ASC+T.
The laws of physics cannot be
repealed, even with DSC. An appro-
priate driving style always remains the
responsibility of the driver. We therefore
urge you to avoid using the additional
safety margin of the system as an excuse
for taking 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 on the instru-
ment cluster will go out shortly
after the ignition has been
switched on, see pages 16, 17.
If the indicator lamp flashes:
DSC controls the drive and braking forces.
If the indicator lamp fails to go out
after the engine is started, or if it
comes on during normal driving and stays
on:
The system is defective or was turned off
using the button.
The described stabilizing operations are no
longer available.
The vehicle will remain completely opera-
tional, however, without DSC.
In the event of a malfunction, please see
your MINI Dealer, see pages 16, 17.<
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. Indicator lamp goes out.
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OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
FLAT TIRE MONITORInitializing the systemOnly initialize the system if the inflation
pressure has been corrected or changed,
e.g. after a tire change.
1. Ignition key in position 2
2. Press the button long enough for the
yellow indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster to light up for a few seconds
3. Start the engine.
After a few minutes driving time, the Flat
Tire Monitor sets the current inflation pres-
sure in the tires as the target values to be
monitored.Do not initialize the system when
snow chains are fitted. When driving
with snow chains, false alarms can occur or
pressure losses might not be detected.<
In the following situations false
alarms can also occur under certain
circumstances or the detection of inflation
pressure loss can be delayed:
>When driving on roads covered with
snow or on other slippery road surfaces
>With a sporty driving style – slip at the
driven wheels, high lateral accelera-
tions.<
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OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL
*
Automatic air distribution and supply
Automatic program (AUTO):
Indicator lamp lights up.
Automatic adjustment of the air distribution
and supply, and adaptation of the specified
temperatures to external influences, i.e. out-
side temperature and sunlight.
In the automatic program (AUTO), the air
conditioner is activated automatically.
Switching the automatic climate
control on/off
The blower, heating and air condi-
tioner are switched off.
To switch the automatic climate control on
again: Press any button of the automatic
climate control.
Air conditioning
Air conditioner switched on:
Indicator lamp lights up.
The air is cooled and dehumidified and –
depending on the temperature setting –
rewarmed.
In the automatic program (AUTO), the air
conditioner is activated automatically.
After the engine start, the windshield may
fog over briefly. Switching on the air condi-
tioner reduces condensation on the windows.
Condensation forms in the air condi-
tioner system during operation, and
then exits under the vehicle. Traces of con-
densed water on the ground are therefore
normal.<
Recirculated air mode
Supply of outside air into the vehi-
cle is blocked: Indicator lamp lights
up.
The air within the vehicle is recirculated.
In the automatic program (AUTO) in hot
weather conditions, the recirculated air
mode is activated temporarily to enable
faster cooling.
Do not run the recirculated air mode
for longer than approx. 30 minutes,
as otherwise the air quality in the interior
will deteriorate.<
If the windows fog up in the recircu-
lated air mode, turn the recirculated
air mode off and if necessary increase the
air supply.<
Rear window defroster and windshield
heating*
Rear window defroster and wind-
shield heating switched on:
Indicator lamp lights up.
As long as the indicator lamp is lit, the
heating operates at high power output –
rapid defrosting.
Indicator lamp goes out.
The heating continues to run with reduced
power output and then switches itself off
automatically.Temperature
Setting the temperature:
Move or turn the wheel in the
appropriate direction to increase
the temperature step by step.
The figures in the display provide a general
indication of interior temperature. When
you start the vehicle, the system ensures
that the selected temperature is achieved
as quickly as possible and then maintained.
Permanent heating with maximum
power output at temperature selec-
tion HI. Permanent cooling at LO.<
Air supply

Press the left or right half of the
button: the air supply varies.
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OVERVIEW REPAIRSOPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
FUEL SPECIFICATIONS ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS)The engine uses lead-free gasoline only.
Required fuel:
>Premium Unleaded Gasoline,
min. 91 AKI.
AKI = Anti Knock Index.
Do not use leaded fuels. The use of
leaded fuels will cause permanent
damage to the emissions-control system's
oxygen sensor and the catalytic con-
verter.<
The concept The ABS keeps the wheels from locking
while braking, thereby enhancing active
driving safety.
ABS also includes Electronic Brake Force
Distribution (EBD).Braking with ABSTo achieve optimal performance from ABS
when reacting to critical situations, you
should 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.
Pulsation of the brake pedal in conjunction
with the sound of hydraulic regulation indi-
cates to you that you are driving at the limit
and reminds you to readapt your vehicle's
speed to road surface conditions.
Electronic Brake Force Distribution
(EBD)The system regulates the brake force distri-
bution between the front and rear axles. In
order to avoid an over-braking of the rear
wheels in certain situations, the EBD per-
manently monitors the slip values and reg-
ulates the slip on the rear axle depending
on that of the front axle.
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OVERVIEW REPAIRSOPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
TIRE CONDITION TIRE REPLACEMENTTire tread/tire damageInspect your tires frequently for tread wear,
signs of damage and for foreign objects
lodged in the tread. Check the tread depth.
The tread depth should not fall below1/8 in / 3 mm.
Below
1/8 in / 3 mm tread pattern depth,
there is an increased risk of hydroplaning,
even at relatively moderate speeds and
with only small amounts of water on the
road.
Wear indicators in the tread-groove base,
see arrow, are spread around the circum-
ference of the tire and are marked on the
side wall of the tire with TWI – Tread Wear
Indicator. The indicators in the tread indi-
cate at 1/16 in / 1.6 mm tread depth that
the legally permitted wear limit has been
reached.
Never continue to drive with a flat,
pressureless tire, except with Run Flat
tires. A pressureless, flat tire greatly
impairs steering and braking response, and
can lead to complete loss of control over
the vehicle. Avoid overloading the vehicle
so that the permitted load on the tires is
not exceeded. Overloading can lead to
overheating and increases the rate at
which damage develops inside the tires.
The ultimate result can assume the form of
a sudden air loss.
Unusual vibrations while driving, caused
for example by driving over a curb or simi-
lar, can indicate wheel or tire damage or
other damage to the vehicle. This is also
true for irregularities in the vehicle's han-
dling characteristics, such as a pronounced
tendency to pull to the left or right. Should
this occur, respond by immediately reduc-
ing your speed. Proceed carefully to the
nearest MINI Dealer or professional tire
center, or have the vehicle towed there to
have its wheels and/or tires inspected or
controlled. Tire damage – up to and includ-
ing blowouts – can endanger the lives of
both the vehicle occupants and other road
users.<
To maintain good handling and vehicle
response, use only tires of a single tread
configuration from a single manufacturer.
The manufacturer of your MINI tests and
approves wheel and tire combinations.
Do not use retreaded tires, since driv-
ing safety may be impaired. 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. Traction AA A B C
Temperature A B C
All passenger car tires must conform
to Federal Safety Requirements in
addition to these grades.<
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