air condition MINI COOPER 2003 Owners Manual

3
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATION CONTROLS DATA INDEX

Driving:
Ignition lock45
Starting the engine46
Switching off the engine47
Parking brake47
Manual transmission48
Continuously Variable automatic Trans-
mission (CVT)49
Parking lamps/Low beams52
Turn signal indicator/Headlamp
flasher52
Instrument lighting53
Fog lamps53
Interior lamps53
Light-emitting diodes54
Washer/wiper system54
Cruise control56
Everything under control:
Odometer58
Tachometer58
Fuel gauge58
Coolant temperature gauge59
Service interval display60
Clock60
Computer60
Technology for safety and driving
convenience:
Automatic Stability Control plus Traction
(ASC+T)62
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)63
Flat Tire Monitor64
Park Distance Control (PDC)66
Controlling the climate for pleasant
driving:
Air conditioning system67
Automatic climate control70
Interior conveniences:
Glove compartment73
Ashtray/Beverage holder73
Cigarette lighter/12 V power supply73
Loading and transporting cargo:
Cargo area cover74
Foldable rear backrest74
Loading cargo75
Roof-mounted luggage rack76

Operation, care, maintenance
Special operating instructions:
Break-in procedures80
General driving notes81
Refueling82
Fuel specifications83
Antilock Brake System (ABS)83
Brake system84
Wheels and tires:
Tire inflation pressure85
Tire condition87
Tire replacement87
Wheel and tire combinations89
Winter tires89
Snow chains90
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OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATION CONTROLS DATA INDEX

Editorial notice
The manufacturer pursues a policy of con-
tinuous, ongoing development that is con-
ceived to ensure that the MINI continues to
embody the highest quality and safety
standards combined with advanced, state-
of-the-art technology. For this reason, the
features described in this Owner's Manual
could differ from those on your vehicle. Nor
can errors and omissions be entirely ruled
out.
You are therefore asked to appreciate that
no claims can be entertained on the basis
of the data, illustrations or descriptions in
this Owner's Manual.
For your own safety
Use unleaded gasoline only. Fuels
containing up to and including 10 %
Ethanol or other oxygenates with up to
2.8 % oxygen by weight – i. e. 15 % MTBE or
3% methanol plus an equivalent amount of
co-solvent – will not void the applicable
warranties with respect to defects in mate-
rials or workmanship. Field experience has
indicated significant differences in fuel
quality – i. e. volatility, composition, addi-
tives, etc. – among gasolines offered for
sale in the United States and Canada. The
use of poor-quality fuels may result in
driveability, starting and stalling problems,
especially under certain environmental
conditions such as high ambient tempera-
ture and high altitude.
Should you encounter driveability prob-
lems which you suspect could be related to
the fuel you are using, we recommend that
you respond by switching to a recognized
high-quality brand.
Failure to comply with these recommenda-
tions may result in unscheduled mainte-
nance.
Obey pertinent safety rules when you are
handling gasoline.
<


Important safety information.
For your own safety, use genuine
parts and accessories approved by the
manufacturer of the MINI.
When you purchase accessories tested
and approved by the manufacturer of the
MINI and Original MINI Parts, you simulta-
neously acquire the assurance that they
have been thoroughly tested by the manu-
facturer of the MINI to ensure optimum
performance when installed on your
vehicle.
The manufacturer of the MINI warrants
these parts to be free from defects in
material and workmanship.
The manufacturer of the MINI will not
accept any liability for damages resulting
from installation of parts and accessories
not approved by the manufacturer of the
MINI.
The manufacturer of the MINI cannot test
every product from other manufacturers to
verify if it can be used on a MINI safely and
without risk to either the vehicle, its opera-
tion, or its occupants.
Original MINI Parts, MINI Accessories and
other products approved by the manufac-
turer of the MINI, together with profes-
sional advice on using these items, are
available from all MINI Dealers.
NOTES

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OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
CENTRAL LOCKING SYSTEM OPENING AND CLOSING – FROM OUTSIDEThe conceptThe central locking system is ready for
operation whenever the driver's door is
closed. The doors, the tailgate and the fuel
filler door are unlocked or locked.
The central locking system secures your
MINI:
>When operated from the outside via the
remote control as well as via the door
lock
>When operated from the inside via a
switch
>Automatically, as soon as you start driv-
ing.
If operated from outside, the anti-theft sys-
tem is activated at the same time. This pre-
vents the doors from being unlocked via
safety lock buttons or door handles.
The alarm system is also armed or dis-
armed; refer to page 31.
In the event of an accident, the central lock-
ing system unlocks automatically. The haz-
ard warning system and interior lamps are
also switched on.
Via remote controlThe remote control gives you an exception-
ally convenient method for unlocking and
locking your vehicle. It also offers another
function:
To open the tailgate, refer to page 24.
The tailgate will open slightly, the vehicle is
unlocked at the same time.
Whenever you unlock/lock the vehicle, you
simultaneously deactivate/activate the
anti-theft system and optional alarm sys-
tem and the interior lamps are switched
on/off.
If the vehicle has been properly locked
using the remote control, the hazard warn-
ing system lights up once.
When the vehicle is unlocked, the hazard
warning system does not react.
Children might be able to lock the
doors from the inside. Always take
the vehicle keys with you so that the vehi-
cle can be opened again from the outside at
any time.<
For US owners only The transmitter and receiver units comply
with part 15 of the FCC, Federal Communi-
cations Commission, regulations. Opera-
tion is governed by the following:
FCC ID: LX8765S
LX8765E
LX8CAS
Compliance statement:
This device complies with part 15 of the
FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the fol-
lowing two conditions:
>This device may not cause harmful inter-
ference, and
>this device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation.
Any unauthorized modifications or
changes to these devices could void
the user's authority to operate this equip-
ment.<
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OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
TAILGATE To open from the outsidePress the button in the handle.
The tailgate opens slightly.
Opening with the remote control, see
page 24.
Manual operationIn the event of an electrical malfunction,
you can also operate the tailgate manually.
1. Fold the rear seat bench upwards
2. Pull the ring.
The tailgate is unlocked.
To closeThe handle recesses in the interior trim
panel of the tailgate make it easier to pull
the lid down.
To avoid injuries, be sure that the
travel path of the tailgate is clear
when it is closed, as with all closing proce-
dures.
Operate the vehicle only when the tailgate
is closed. Otherwise, exhaust fumes could
penetrate the interior of the vehicle.
Should it be absolutely necessary to oper-
ate the vehicle with the tailgate open:
1. Close all windows. Shut the sliding/tilt
sunroof
2. Sharply increase the air supply for the air
conditioning or automatic climate con-
trol, see pages 67 or 70.<
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OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (CVT)
*
You can drive with a continuously variable
shifting CVT. In addition, you can also shift
manually.
When you move the selector lever from the
D position to the right into the M/S + –
range, the performance-oriented shift pro-
grams of the CVT are engaged. Steptronic
enters the manual selection mode and
executes the desired shift whenever you
tap the selector lever in the direction
indicated by + or –.
Whenever you want to use automatic
again, just move the selector lever toward
the left to position D.
Under normal operating conditions, fuel
consumption is lowest when driving in
position D.
Selector lever positions
P R N D M/S + –
Range selectionInadvertent engaging of certain selector
lever positions is prevented by a lock.
Press the button on the front side of the
selector lever knob. The lock is released.
While the vehicle is stationary, and
before shifting out of P or N, press the
brake pedal in order to disengage the selec-
tor lever lock mechanism – Shiftlock.
If the engine speed is too high when the
vehicle is at a standstill, the selector lever is
also blocked to protect the transmission.
Hold the brake pedal down until starting
off. Otherwise the vehicle will "creep" when
a drive position is engaged.<
To prevent the vehicle from starting
off on its own, always move the
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.<
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OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
INSTRUMENT LIGHTING FOG LAMPS INTERIOR LAMPS To control the instrument lighting, press
the button.To increase the illumination intensityKeep the button pressed until the desired
brightness is reached.To decrease the illumination intensityPress the button briefly.
With each brief pressing of the button, the
illumination intensity is reduced in steps.
When the parking lamps/low beams are
switched on:
Briefly press the switch upwards or down-
wards.
Briefly press once again to switch off.Fog lamps*
Fog lamps switched on:
Green light-emitting diode in the
switch lights up.
The fog lamps are deactivated whenever
the high beams are switched on.
The interior light is controlled automatically.Switching the interior lamps on and
off manuallyPress button 1 briefly.
Permanently turn off interior light:
Press button 1 until the interior light comes
on briefly.
To reverse this condition, repeat the proce-
dure.Footwell and cargo area lampsThese lamps are controlled in the same way
as the interior light.Switching the reading lamps on and offPress button 2.
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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
AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM
*
1Air onto the windshield and onto the
side windows
2Air for the upper body area69
3Air for the front and rear footwells4Temperature68
5Windshield heating68
6Blower for air supply68
7Air conditioner688Air distribution68
9Recirculated air mode68
10 Rear window defroster68
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AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM
*
Air supply
You can select blower speeds
from 1 to 4. Position 0: fan is
turned off. The button for recir-
culated air mode fully blocks the
supply of air from outside.
Heating and ventilation operate as of
position 1.
Temperature
Turn to the right – red – to
increase the temperature of the
passenger compartment.
Rapid heating: turn to the
extreme right. Then select a pleasant inte-
rior temperature.
Air distribution
Air distribution in upper body
region , upper body region
and footwell , footwell ,
footwell and windows , and
windows .
All intermediate positions are possible, see
illustration and overview on page 67.
Rear window defroster
Rear window defroster 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.
Windshield heating*
Windshield heating switched on:
Indicator lamp lights up.
As long as the indicator lamp is
lit, the heating operates at high power out-
put – rapid defrosting.
Indicator lamp goes out.
The heating continues to run with reduced
power output and then switches itself off
automatically.
Air conditioning
Air conditioner switched on:
Indicator lamp lights up.
The air is cooled and dehumidi-
fied and – depending on the temperature
setting – rewarmed.
After the engine start, the windshield may
fog over briefly.
When the air conditioner is operat-
ing, condensation is formed which
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
vehicle is blocked:
Indicator lamp lights up.
The air within the vehicle is recirculated.
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.<
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AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM
*
Draft-free ventilation
Air supply for the upper body area:
Button 1: air outlets can be opened and
closed by turning.
The points indicate the position in each
case.
Nozzle 2: air vent direction is controlled by
turning.Particle filter The particle filter removes dust and pollen
from the incoming air.
Your MINI Dealer will replace it during rou-
tine maintenance. A substantial reduction
in the air supply indicates that the filter
must be replaced before scheduled mainte-
nance.
Defrosting and demisting windows 1. Set the rotary blower speed control for
the airflow rate to position 4
2. Turn the rotary temperature control
completely to the right – red
3. Rotary control for air distribution in posi-
tion
4. To defrost the rear window: switch on
the rear window defroster and, if
required, the windshield heating.
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