ESP MINI COOPER 2005 Owner's Manual

94
REFUELING
Always switch off the engine before refueling. If you do not, fuel cannot
be filled into the tank and the SERVICE
ENGINE SOON lamp may come on.<
1. Open the fuel filler door2. Turn the gas cap counterclockwise3. Put the gas cap in the bracket attached
to the fuel filler door.
Always observe all applicable precau
-
tions and regulations when handling
fuels. Never carry spare fuel containers in
your vehicle. Whether empty or full, these
containers can leak, cause an explosion,
and lead to fire in the event of a collision.<
Observe the following when refueling
Always observe all safety precautions posted at the service station when
handling fuel.<
When refueling, insert the filler nozzle
completely into the filler pipe. Pulling the
nozzle out of the pipe during refueling:>Results in premature pump shutoff>Will reduce the effect of the fuel vapor
recovery system on the pump.As long as the filler nozzle is used properly,
the fuel tank is full whenever the nozzle
shuts off the first time.Closing the gas cap1. Put on gas cap 2. Turn gas cap clockwise until it clicks3. Close fuel filler door.
Close the gas cap carefully after

refuelling until a click is heard.

While closing, be sure not to squeeze the
strap which is fastened to the cap.<
US models only:
The warning lamp
* comes on.

The gas cap is not correctly closed
or missing. Check if the gas cap is
correctly closed.
Fuel tank volumeApprox. 13.2
gallons
/ 50
liters, of which
approx. 2.1
gallons
/ 8
liters are reserve
capacity.
Do not drive until the fuel tank is totally empty. Otherwise engine
operations are not guaranteed and damage
could occur.<
Fuel specification The engine uses lead-free gasoline only.Required fuel Premium Unleaded Gasoline,

Minimum Octane Rating: 91.Minimum Octane Rating corresponds to
the Anti Knock Index (AKI) and is deter
-
mined according to the so-called (R+M)/2
method.
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95
OVERVIEW REPAIRSOPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
REFUELING
Do not use leaded gasoline, as other
-
wise the lambda probe and catalytic
converter will be permanently damaged.<
Use high-quality brandsField experience has indicated significant
differences in fuel quality: volatility, com
-
position, additives, etc., among gasolines
offered for sale in the United States and
Canada. Fuels containing up to and includ
-
ing 10
% ethanol or other oxygenates with
up to 2.8 % oxygen by weight, that is, 15
%
MTBE or 3% methanol plus an equivalent
amount of co-solvent, will not void the
applicable warranties with respect to
defects in materials or workmanship.
The use of poor-quality fuels may result in driveability, starting and
stalling problems especially under certain
environmental conditions such as high
ambient temperature 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.<
Manual release with the MINI In the event of an electrical malfunction,
the fuel filler door can be unlocked manu
-
ally.1. Remove the side trim panel on the left-
hand side of the luggage compartment2. Pull the white lever toward the rear.

The fuel filler door is released
3. Open the fuel filler door.
Manual release with the MINI Convertible In the event of an electrical malfunction,
the fuel filler door can be unlocked manu
-
ally.1. Remove the cover of the side trim panel
on the left-hand side, arrow
1
2. Pull the green strap toward the rear,
arrow
2.
The fuel filler door is released
3. Open the fuel filler door.
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97
OVERVIEW REPAIRSOPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE Information for your safetyIt is not merely the tire's service life, but
also driving safety and driving comfort that
depend on the condition of the tires and
the maintenance of the specified tire pres
-
sure.
Check tire inflation pressures regu
-
larly and correct them if necessary,
including the space-saver spare tire: at
least twice a month and before long jour
-
neys. Failure to observe this precaution can
result in incorrect tire pressures, which
cause unstable handling response as well
as tire damage, and can ultimately lead to
an accident.

Do not drive with deflated, i.e. flat, tires
except if Run Flat tires are fitted. A flat tire
greatly impairs steering and braking
response, and can lead to complete loss of
control over the vehicle. cold tires. This means after driving a maxi
-
mum of 1.25
miles / 2
km or when the
vehicle has been parked for at least 2
hours.
Warm tires have higher pressures.
After correcting the tire inflation pressure,
reinitialize the Flat Tire Monitor, refer to
page
71.
Tire inflation pressures for original tiresThe tire inflation pressures for your stan
-
dard tires are shown on the driver's-side
door post, visible when the door is open.Tire inflation pressures for other tire
sizesIn the following tire pressure table, all pres
-
sures are given for the specified tire sizes at
ambient temperature.
In order to determine the correct inflation pressures for your tires,
refer to the values for the tire size in ques
-
tion.<
Checking the inflation pressure on the space-saver spare tireBehind the bumper there is a valve exten
-
sion accessible from the outside for check
-
ing the inflation pressure.Tire sizeThe tire inflation pressures apply to the tire
sizes approved and the tire brands recom
-
mended by the manufacturer of your MINI
or MINI Convertible. Your MINI Dealer will
be glad to advise you.
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100
TIRE CODING
TIRE CONDITION
Traction The traction grades, from highest to low
-
est, are AA, A, B, and C.

Those grades represent the tire's ability to
stop on wet pavement as measured under
controlled conditions on specified govern
-
ment test surfaces of asphalt and concrete.
A tire marked C may have poor traction per
-
formance.
The traction grade assigned to this tire is based on straight-ahead brak
-
ing traction tests, and does not include
acceleration, cornering, hydroplaning, or
peak traction characteristics. B and C, representing the tire's resistance
to the generation of heat and its ability to
dissipate heat when tested under con
-
trolled conditions on a specified indoor lab
-
oratory test wheel.

Sustained high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate and
reduce tire life, and excessive temperature
can lead to sudden tire failure. The grade C
corresponds to a level of performance
which all passenger car tires must meet
under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard No. 109. Grades B and A represent
higher levels of performance on the labora
-
tory test wheel than the minimum required
by law.
The temperature grade for this tire is established for a tire that is properly
inflated and not overloaded. Excessive
speed, underinflation, or excessive loading,
either separately or in combination, can
cause heat buildup and possible tire fail
-
ure. -
lar symbol containing the letters RSC on
the side of the tire, refer to page
101
.
M+SWinter and all-season tires.

These have better winter performance
properties than summer tires.
Inspect your tires frequently for tread wear,
signs of damage and for foreign objects
lodged in the tread. Check the tread depth.Tire tread The tread depth should not fall below
ε in / 3 mm.

Below ε
in / 3 mm tread depth, there is a
very high danger of hydroplaning at higher
speeds even if there is only a small amount
of water on the road.

Below a tread depth of
1/6 in / 4 mm, win
-
ter tires display a perceptible decrease in
their ability to cope with winter driving
conditions, and should be replaced in the
interest of safety.
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103
OVERVIEW REPAIRSOPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
NEW WHEELS AND TIRESThe correct wheels and tires
The manufacturer of your vehicle

recommends mounting only wheels
and tires that it has specifically tested and
approved for use on your particular model.
Although other wheels and tires may theo
-
retically have the same dimensions, varia
-
tions in factors such as manufacturing tol
-
erances can result in contact between tire
and bodywork, ultimately leading to seri
-
ous accidents. The manufacturer of your
vehicle cannot evaluate non-approved
wheels and tires to determine if they are
suited for use, and therefore cannot ensure
the operating safety of the vehicle if they
are fitted. response, use only tires of a single brand
and tread configuration. In the event of a
flat tire, remount the previous wheel and
tire combination as soon as possible.Recommended tire sizes and brands:For each tire size, certain tire brands have
been tested, classified as road safe and
approved by the manufacturer of your
vehicle. You can find out about these from
a professional tire center, preferably your
MINI Dealer. Observe any local regulations,
e.g. on making a corresponding entry in the
vehicle documents. The factory-approved radial belt tires are
matched to your vehicle and provide opti
-
mum safety and driving comfort when
used properly.Run Flat tires:If your vehicle is equipped with Run Flat
tires, refer to Run Flat tires, please note the
following: when mounting new tires or
replacing summer tires with winter tires, or
vice versa, use only Run Flat tires since no
spare wheel is available in the event of a
flat. The manufacturer of your vehicle will
be glad to advise you.Special characteristics of winter tires The manufacturer of your vehicle 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. Observing speed ratings:
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 acci
-
dents. Have this work performed by skilled
professionals only. The technicans at your
MINI Dealer will be glad to assist you with
the required professional knowledge and
specialized equipment. them against light whenever possible. Pro
-
tect the tires against contact with oil,
grease and fuel. Do not exceed the tire
inflation pressure specified on the tire side
-
wall.
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108
WASHER FLUID
ENGINE OIL
Headlamp* and window washer systems The capacity of the headlamp washer sys
-
tem is approx. 2.6
quarts
/ 2.5
liters, that of
the windshield and rear window washer
system approx. 2.1
quarts
/ 2.0
liters.
Fill with water and, if necessary, with anti
-
freeze, according to manufacturer's recom
-
mendations.
We recommend that you mix the washer fluid before filling either res
-
ervoir.<
Antifreeze agent for the washer sys
-
tems is flammable. Always keep it
well away from sparks and open flames,
and store it in tightly closed containers well
out of the reach of children. Always observe
the instructions on the containers.<
The illustration shows by way of example the dipstick of the MINI
COOPER and the
MINI
COOPER Convertible.
Measuring the oil level1. Park the vehicle on a level surface2. Switch the engine off after it has
reached normal operating temperature3. Pull the dipstick out after approx.
5
minutes and wipe it off with a lint-free
cloth, paper towel, or similar material
4. Carefully push the dipstick all the way
into the guide tube and pull it out again.
The oil level must be between the two
marks on the dipstick.
As with fuel economy, oil consumption is
directly influenced by your driving style and
vehicle operating conditions.
The oil volume between the two notches –
MIN, MAX – on the dipstick corresponds to
approx. 1.1
quarts
/ 1
liter. Do not fill
beyond the upper notch on the dipstick.
Excess oil will damage the engine.
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113
OVERVIEW REPAIRSOPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
OBD SOCKET
CARING FOR YOUR VEHICLE
The Onboard Diagnostic (OBD) interface socket is located on the left of the driver's
side under the instrument panel and under
a cover.

The cover has the letters OBD on it.The purpose of the OBD system is to ensure
proper operation of the emission control
system for the vehicle's lifetime. The sys
-
tem monitors emission-related compo
-
nents for deterioration and malfunction.
An illuminated lamp informs you of the need for service, not of the
need to stop the vehicle.

However, the system should be checked by
your MINI Dealer at the earliest possible
opportunity.
Display of the malfunction described above in Canadian mod
-
els.
Under certain conditions, the indicator will
blink or flash. This indicates a rather severe
level of engine misfire. When this occurs,
you should reduce speed and consult the
nearest MINI Dealer as soon as possible.
Severe engine misfire over only a short
period of time can seriously damage emis
-
sion control components, especially the
catalytic converter.
When the gas cap is not properly tightened, the OBD system can
detect the vapor leak and the indicator will
light up. If the cap is subsequently tight
-
ened, the indicator lamp should go out
within a few days.<
Suitable car-care products
Use the cleaning and car-care prod
-
ucts available at your MINI Dealer.<
Washing your vehicleYou can wash your new MINI or MINI Con
-
vertible in automatic car washes from the
beginning. Preference should be for cloth
car washes. If, due to lack of availability,
brush car washes must be used, modern
systems with soft brushes should be given
preference.
When using steam cleaners or high-pressure cleaners, maintain sufficient
distance to the vehicle and do not exceed a
maximum temperature of 140
7/ 60
6. If
the jet is too close or the pressure is too
high, this can lead to damage or initial
damage that can develop into more serious
damage. Water that enters vehicle compo
-
nents can lead to damage over the long
term.

After washing the vehicle, apply the brakes
briefly to dry them, otherwise water can
reduce braking efficiency over the short
term and the brake rotors can corrode.

Switch the rain sensor off when passing
through an automatic car wash, refer to
page
59. Failure to do so could result in
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114
CARING FOR YOUR VEHICLEdamage caused by undesired wiper activa
-
tion. If necessary, for example before entering a car wash or a garage with
elevator ramp, remove the rod antenna.

To do so, grip the rod antenna at the base
and unscrew it from the antenna foot by
turning it to the left. When cleaning the headlamps, please observe the following: do not
rub them dry, and never use abrasives or
strong solvents. Remove dirt and contami
-
nation, such as insects, by soaking with
shampoo and then rinsing with plenty of
water. Always use a deicer spray to remove
accumulated ice and snow; never use a
scraper.<
Vehicle paintwork Regular care contributes greatly to driving
safety and value retention.Environmental influences varying from one
region to the next can affect the vehicle
paintwork. Please base the frequency and
scope of car care on these various influ
-
ences.Care of upholsteryDepressions that come about on the uphol
-
stery material of the seats in daily use can
be brushed out using a slightly damp brush
against the grain.The fact that velour lays down is not a qual
-
ity defect, but rather is inevitable in the
case of home textiles or clothing materials.In the case of strong sunlight and longer
parking periods, cover the seats or all win
-
dows to prevent discoloration.
Care of special parts>Light-alloy wheels
*:
Use wheel cleaner especially during the
winter months, but do not use any
aggressive, acidic, strong alkali or rough
cleansers or steam jets above 140
7 /
60
6. Observe the manufacturer's
instructions
>Chrome parts
* such as bonnet grill, door
handles, etc.:
Especially if exposed to road salt, care
-
fully clean these parts with plenty of
water and possibly with a shampoo addi
-
tive. For additional treatment, use
chrome polish>Rubber parts:

Treat only with water or rubber care
products.
Do not use silicon sprays or other silicon-containing care products,
otherwise noise and damage could
occur.<
>Plastic parts, imitation leather surfaces,
headliner, lamp glass, covering glass for
the display elements, as well as matt
black molded parts:

Clean with water and, if necessary, plas
-
tic care products. Do not dampen seats
and the headliner.

Never use solvents such as lacquer thin
-
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134
JUMP-STARTINGWhen your battery is discharged, you can
use two jumper cables to start your vehicle
with power from the battery in a second
vehicle. Correspondingly you can help start
another vehicle. Only use jumper cables
with fully insulated handles on the termi
-
nal clamps.Preparing for jump-starting
Do not touch live wiring and cables on a running engine. There is a risk of
fatal injury if you do this. Carefully observe
the following instructions to avoid per
-
sonal injury and/or damage to either vehi
-
cle or both vehicles. Make sure that there is
no contact between the bodywork of the
two vehicles to avoid a short circuit haz
-
ard.<
1. Check whether the battery of the sup
-
port vehicle has 12
Volts and approxi
-
mately the same capacity measured in
Ah. These data are printed on the bat
-
tery
2. Switch off the engine of the support
vehicle3. Switch off any electrical systems and
components in both vehicles.Connect the jumper cables
Always adhere to this sequence when connecting the jumper cables; failure
to observe this procedure can lead to spark
-
ing and pose an injury hazard.<
The illustration shows the auxiliary jump-starting terminal on the MINI
COOPER S
and the MINI COOPER
S Convertible. In the
MINI COOPER
S and the MINI COOPER
S
Convertible, the auxiliary jump-starting
terminal, arrow
1, acts as the positive bat
-
tery terminal, refer to view of engine com
-
partment on page
107
. The cover is marked
with a
+.
1. Remove the cover of the battery or open
the cover of the auxiliary jump-starting
terminal:
>MINI COOPER and MINI COOPER Con
-
vertible:

Remove the battery cover.

To do so, press the two clips simulta
-
neously.
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EVERYTHING FROM A TO Z
151
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATION CONTROLS DATA INDEX
Electric glass sunroof
33
Electric power windows
31
initializing
32
Electrical malfunction

Continuously Variable
automatic Transmission
(CVT)
56
convertible top
37
door lock
27
driver's door
27
fuel filler door
95
glass sunroof, electric
34
tailgate
30
Electronic Brake Force
Distribution (EBD)
70
Electronic Stability Program
(ESP), refer to

Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC)
69
Emergency operation, refer to
Manual operation

convertible top
37
driver's door
27
fuel filler door
95
glass sunroof, electric
34
tailgate
30
transmission lock for
Continuously Variable
automatic Transmission
(CVT)
54
Engine

break-in procedures
92
data
140

electronics
18
indicator lamp
18
speed
65
starting
51
switching off
52
Engine compartment

MINI COOPER and MINI
COOPER Convertible
106

MINI COOPER S and MINI
COOPER S Convertible
107

Engine coolant
110

Engine data
140

Engine oil
108

capacity
145

indicator/warning lamp
16
recommended oils
109

specified oil grades
109

viscosities
109

Engine oil level
108

indicator/warning lamp
16
Engine oil level, checking
108

Engine oil pressure, indicator/
warning lamp
16
Engine output, refer to Engine
data
140

Entry to the rear
44
ESP Electronic Stability
Program, refer to Dynamic
Stability Control (DSC)
69
Exhaust system, refer to

Hot exhaust system
93
Exterior mirrors
46
folding in and out
46
Eyelet, for towing and tow-
starting
136

F Failure of an electrical
consumer
132

Fastening safety belts, refer to
Safety belts
45
Filling canister, refer to MINI
Mobility System
130

Filling hose, refer to MINI
Mobility System
130

Filter, refer to

Microfilter
77
Microfilter/Activated-
charcoal filter
80
Flat tire

Flat Tire Monitor
71, 72
MINI Mobility System
129

Run Flat tires
101

space-saver spare tire
125

Flat Tire Monitor
71
indicator lamp
17
Flat tire, refer to Changing
tires
127

Flat tire, refer to Tires,
condition
100

Floor mats
115

Fog lamps
58
indicator lamp
58
Foldable rear backrest
85, 86
Folding roof
35
'Follow me home' lamps
57
Foot brake, refer to General
driving notes
93
Front airbags
72
Front turn signal indicators,
bulb replacement
122

Fuel
94
average consumption
67
gauge
63, 64
quality
94
tank capacity
145

Fuel filler door
94
unlocking in the event of
electrical malfunction
95
Fuel tank capacity
145

Fuses
133

G Garage door opener, refer to
Integrated universal remote
control
83
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