tire pressure MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE 2008 Owners Manual

3OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATION CONTROLS DATA INDEX
Driving:
Ignition lock 53
Starting the engine 53
Switching off the engine 54
Parking brake 54
Manual transmission 55
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic56
Parking lamps/Low beams 60
Turn signal indicator/Headlamp
flasher 61
Instrument lighting 62
Fog lamps 62
Interior lamps 62
Washer/wiper system 63
Washer fluid64
Cruise control65
Everything under control:
Odometer 67
Clock 67
Fuel gauge 67
Coolant temperature gauge 68
Tachometer 69
Service interval display 69
Onboard computer70Technology for safety and driving
convenience:
Driving stability control systems72
Flat Tire Monitor 74
Tire Pressure Monitor76
Airbags 79
Park Distance Control (PDC)81
Controlling the climate for pleasant
driving:
Air conditioning system82
Automatic climate control85
Interior conveniences:
Glove compartment 88
Center armrest89
Drinks holders, ashtray 89
Cigarette lighter, 12 V power supply 90
Integrated universal remote control91
Loading and transporting cargo:
Luggage compartment in the MINI 93
Luggage compartment in the MINI
Convertible 94
Loading cargo 95
Roof-mounted luggage rack98
OPERATION, CARE, MAINTENANCESpecial operating instructions:
Break-in procedures 102
General driving notes 102
Refueling105
Wheels and tires:
Tire inflation pressure 108
Tire coding 112
Tire condition 113
Run-Flat Tires115
New wheels and tires 116
Snow chains117

17
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATION CONTROLS DATA INDEX
INDICATOR AND WARNING LAMPSYellow: stop immediately
Flat Tire Monitor
* or Tire Pressure
Monitor
* +
The warning lamp indicates a flat
tire, low inflation pressure or system mal-
function. In the event of a flat tire, an
acoustic signal also sounds.
Reduce speed immediately and stop the
vehicle.
It is possible that the acoustic signal was
not heard. In this case, proceed as follows
to determine whether you have a flat tire,
lower inflation pressure or if a system mal-
function has occurred:
1. Switch off the ignition, ignition key posi-
tion 0
2. Switch the ignition back on, ignition key
position 2, or start the engine.
If an acoustic signal sounds, you have a flat
tire or low inflation pressure. Otherwise,
the system has a malfunction or has failed.
Continue as follows:
>Flat Tire Monitor, beginning on page75.
>Tire Pressure Monitor, beginning on
page76.
Red and yellow: continue to drive, but
use great caution
Brake warning lamp together with
yellow indicator lamps for ABS,
CBC, EBD and ASC/DSC:
driving stability control has failed.
Drive cautiously and defensively.
Avoid full brake applications.
Have the system checked as soon
as possible.
More information on page72.
Canadian models display these
warning lamps.
Red: an important reminder
Brake warning lamp with parking
brake applied.
More information on the parking
brake on page54.
Warning lamp in Canadian models.
Fasten safety belts
+
Lights up for several seconds or
until the safety belt has been fas-
tened.
A signal* also sounds depending on the
version.
More information on page46.
Bonnet/tailgate/sliding sunroof
*
Comes on if the bonnet, tailgate or
sliding sunroof is open.
More information on pages29, 35, 118.

74
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.
In the event of tire pressure loss, the rolling
radius of the tire changes, thereby affect-
ing the rotational speed of the wheels. This
change is detected, and a flat tire warning
is issued to the driver.System requirementsTo ensure the reliability of flat tire warn-
ings, the system must be initialized with
the correct tire inflation pressures.
Each time you correct the pressure in
a tire, or change a wheel or tire, the
system must be reinitialized.<
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.<
The system could issue a false warning or
function in a delayed manner in the follow-
ing situations:
>System was not initialized
>You are driving on a snow-covered or
slippery road surface
>Sporty driving style: slip at the drive
wheels, high lateral acceleration
>You are driving with snow chains.
When driving with a space-saver spare tire,
the Flat Tire Monitor cannot function.
Initializing the system
Initialization is completed while you
are driving, but you can stop the car
at any time. Initialization is automatically
continued when you continue driving. Do
not initialize the system if you are driving
with snow chains or a space-saver spare
tire.<
1. Before a journey, start the engine, but do
not start driving.
2. Press the button until the indicator lamp
in the display elements lights up in yel-
low for several seconds.
3. Drive off.
Initialization is completed during the
drive, without any feedback issued.

75
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
FLAT TIRE MONITORFlat tire warning
The warning lamp lights up in yel-
low. An acoustic signal also sounds.
There is a flat tire or a significant
loss of pressure in a tire.
1. Reduce speed and stop the vehicle with
caution. Avoid hard brake applications
and steering maneuvers.
2. Determine which tire is damaged.
If this cannot be determined, con-
tact your MINI Dealer.<
3. Repair the flat tire, refer to page137.
Vehicles with Run-Flat Tires:
1. Reduce vehicle speed carefully to under
50 mph / 80 km/h. Avoid hard brake
applications and steering maneuvers. Do
not exceed a speed of 50 mph /
80 km/h.
Do not continue driving if the vehi-
cle is not equipped with Run-Flat
Tires, refer to page115. If you continue
to drive with a flat tire, a serious acci-
dent could result.<
2. Check the tire inflation pressure in all
four tires at the earliest opportunity.
If the tire inflation pressure is cor-
rect in all four tires, it is possible
that the Flat Tire Monitor was not initial-
ized. In this case, initialize the system.<
3. If there is a total loss of tire inflation
pressure, 0 psi/0 kPa, or obvious tire
damage, you can gauge the mileage for
continued driving on the basis of the fol-
lowing indications:
>With a light load:
1 to 2 persons without luggage:
approx. 155 miles/250 km
>With a medium load:
2 persons, luggage compartment full,
or 4 persons without luggage:
approx. 90 miles/150 km
>With a full load:
4 or more persons, luggage compart-
ment full:
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, but to consult
a MINI Dealer in such cases.<
Malfunction
The warning lamp lights up in yel-
low. There is a malfunction in the
Flat Tire Monitor or the system has
failed. Have the system checked as soon as
possible.

76
TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR
*
The concept
TPM checks the inflation pressures of the
four mounted tires. The system notifies you
if there is a significant loss of pressure in
one or more tires.System requirementsIn order to assure the reliable reporting of a
flat tire, the system must be reset while all
tire inflation pressures are correct.
Always use wheels with TPM electronics
and a metal valve. Otherwise, the system
may malfunction.
Each time a tire inflation pressure has
been corrected or a wheel or tire has
been changed, reset the system.<
System limitations
TPM cannot warn you in advance of
sudden severe tire damage caused by
outside influences.<
The system does not work correctly if it has
not been reset; for example, a flat tire may
be indicated even though the tire inflation
pressures are correct.
The system is inactive and cannot indicate
a flat tire if a wheel without TPM electron-
ics, such as a compact spare wheel, has
been mounted, or if TPM is temporarily
malfunctioning due to other systems or de-
vices using the same radio frequency.
Resetting the system
Each time a tire inflation pressure has
been corrected or a wheel or tire has
been changed, reset the system.<
1. Start the engine, but do not start driving.
2. Press the button until the yellow warn-
ing lamp in the display elements lights
up yellow for several seconds.
3. Drive off.
After driving a few minutes, the set
inflation pressures in the tires are
accepted as the target values to be mon-
itored. The system reset is completed
without notification during your drive,
which can be interrupted at any time.
When driving resumes, the reset is con-
tinued automatically.

77
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR
*
Message for low tire inflation pressure
The warning lamp lights up in yel-
low. An acoustic signal also sounds.
A flat tire or a severe loss in pres-
sure has occurred in one or more tires.
1. Reduce speed and stop the vehicle with
caution. Avoid hard brake applications
and steering maneuvers.
2. Identify the damaged wheel or wheels.
If this cannot be determined, con-
tact your MINI Dealer.<
3. Replace the damaged wheel, refer to
Wheel change on page139.
4. Check the tire inflation pressure and cor-
rect it if necessary.
The compact wheel is not equipped with
the necessary TPM electronics and is not
monitored after it is mounted. When driv-
ing with a compact wheel, the system indi-
cates that a malfunction is occurring.
Vehicles with Run Flat tires:
1. Reduce vehicle speed carefully to under
50 mph / 80 km/h. Avoid hard brake
applications and steering maneuvers.
Do not exceed a speed of 50 mph /
80 km/h.
Do not continue driving if the vehi-
cle is not equipped with Run Flat
tires, refer to page115. If you continue
to drive with a flat tire, a serious acci-
dent could result.<
2. Check the tire inflation pressure in all
four tires at the earliest opportunity.
If the tire inflation pressure is cor-
rect in all four tires, it is possible
that the Tire Pressure Monitor was not
initialized. In this case, initialize the sys-
tem.<
3. If there is a total loss of tire inflation
pressure, 0 psi/0 kPa, or obvious tire
damage, you can gauge the mileage for
continued driving on the basis of the fol-
lowing indications:
>With a light load:
1 to 2 persons without luggage:
approx. 155 miles/250 km
>With a medium load:
2 persons, luggage compartment full, or
4 persons without luggage:
approx. 90 miles/150 km
>With a full load:
4 or more persons, luggage compart-
ment full:
ca. 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, but to consult
a MINI Dealer in such cases. The yellow warning lamp flashes
and then lights up permanently.
No punctures can be detected.
This type of message is shown in the fol-
lowing situations:
>If there is a malfunction
Have the system checked.
>If a wheel without TPM electronics is
mounted, e.g. a compact wheel.

78
TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR
*
>If TPM is temporarily malfunctioning due
to other systems or devices using the
same radio frequency.
Declaration according to NHTSA/
FMVSS 138 Tire Pressure Monitoring
SystemEach tire should be checked monthly when
cold and inflated to the inflation pressure
recommended by the vehicle manufacturer
on the vehicle placard or tire inflation pres-
sure label. If your vehicle has tires of a dif-
ferent size than the size indicated on the
vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure
label, you should determine the proper tire
inflation pressure for those tires. As an
added safety feature, your vehicle has been
equipped with a tire pressure monitoring
system, TPMS, that illuminates a low tire
pressure telltale when one or more of your
tires are significantly under-inflated.
Accordingly, when the low tire pressure
telltale illuminates, you should stop and
check your tires as soon as possible, and
inflate them to the proper pressure. Driving
on a significantly underinflated tire causes
the tire to overheat and can lead to tire fail-
ure. Underinflation also reduces fuel effi-
ciency and tire tread life, and may affect
the vehicle's handling and stopping ability.
Please note that the TPMS is not a substi-
tute for proper tire maintenance, and it is
the driver's responsibility to maintain cor-
rect tire pressure, even if underinflation has not reached the level at which the
TPMS low tire pressure telltale illuminates.
The TPMS malfunction indicator is com-
bined with the low tire pressure telltale.
When the system detects a malfunction,
the telltale will flash for approximately one
minute and then remain continuously lit.
This sequence will continue upon subse-
quent vehicle startups as long as the mal-
function exists. When the malfunction
indicator is illuminated, the system may
not be able to detect or signal low tire pres-
sure as intended. TPMS malfunctions may
occur for a variety of reasons, including the
installation of replacement or alternate
tires or wheels on the vehicle that prevent
the TPMS from functioning properly.
Always check the TPMS malfunction tell-
tale after replacing one or more tires or
wheels on your vehicle to ensure that the
replacement or alternate tires and wheels
allow the TPMS to continue to function
properly.

103
OVERVIEW REPAIRSOPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
GENERAL DRIVING NOTESSafe braking Your vehicle is equipped with ABS as a stan-
dard feature. If you are in a situation which
requires full braking, it is best to brake
using maximum brake pressure. 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.
Wet roads:
It is a good idea to periodically dry the
brakes with a gentle application when driv-
ing in rain and on wet roads. Monitor traffic
conditions to ensure that this maneuver
does not hinder other road users. The
resulting heat dries brake rotors and pads.
Then if the braking force is needed, it is
immediately available.
Driving downhill:
To prevent overheating and the
resulting reduced efficiency of the
brake system, drive down extended or
steep mountain gradients in the gear
which requires the least brake applications.
Otherwise, even light but consistent pres-
sure on the brake can lead to high tempera-
tures, brake wear and possibly even brake
failure.<
The braking effect of the engine can be
increased by downshifting in the manual
mode of the automatic transmission, to
first gear if necessary, refer to page58. This
protects the brakes from excessive loads.
Do not coast with the clutch
depressed, the transmission in idle or
the engine switched off. Otherwise, the
engine provides no braking effect, and
there is no power-assist for braking or
steering.
Make sure that there are no floor mats,
floor carpets or other objects in the vicinity
of the pedals; otherwise pedal function
could be impeded.<
Corrosion on the brake rotors:
When the vehicle is driven only occasion-
ally, during extended periods when the
vehicle is not used at all, and in operating
conditions where brake applications are
less frequent, there is an increased ten-
dency for corrosion of the brake rotors and
accumulation of contamination on the
brake pads. This occurs because the mini-
mal pressure that must be exerted by the
pads to clean the rotors by brake applica-
tions is not reached.
Corrosion on brake rotors is signaled by a
running or pulsation during braking; even
extended subsequent braking will not cure
this phenomenon.Brake pads
Sensors in the left front and right
rear brake pads monitor pad condi-
tion. When the brake pads have
worn to the permissible limit, this is indi-
cated by the brake wear warning light,
refer to page18.
Hydroplaning
When driving on wet or slushy roads,
reduce road speed. If you do not, a
wedge of water can form between tires
and road surface. This phenomenon is char-
acterized by a partial or complete loss of
contact between the tires and the road sur-
face. The ultimate results are loss of steer-
ing and braking control.<

108
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.Checking tire inflation pressuresCheck the tire inflation pressures only on
cold tires. This means after driving a maxi-
mum of 1.25 miles/2 km or when the vehi-
cle has been parked for at least 2 hours.
Warm tires have higher pressures.
Check the tire inflation pressures reg-
ularly and correct them, if necessary,
including the space-saver spare tire: at
least twice a month and before an
extended trip. Otherwise, incorrect tire
pressures can cause driving instability or
tire damage, ultimately resulting in acci-
dents. Do not drive with deflated, i.e. flat,
tires except if Run-Flat Tires are fitted. A
flat tire greatly impairs steering and brak-
ing response, and can lead to complete loss
of control over the vehicle.<
After correcting the tire inflation
pressure, reinitialize the Flat Tire
Monitor
*, refer to page74 or reset the Tire
Pressure Monitor
*, page 76.<
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.
Your MINI Dealer will be glad to advise you.

109
OVERVIEW REPAIRSOPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
TIRE INFLATION PRESSUREModel Tire size Pressures specified in psi/kPa
All pressure specifications in the table are
indicated in psi/kilopascal with cold tires.
Cold = ambient temperature
Traveling speeds up to 100 mph/
160 km/habove 100 mph/
160 km/h
MINI COOPER/
MINI COOPER
Convertible175/65 R 15 84 H M+S A/S
175/65 R 15 84 H
195/55 R 16 87 V M+S A/S
195/55 R 16 87 H M+S A/S, Convertible only
195/55 R 16 87 H
205/45 R 17 84 V M+S A/S
205/45 R 17 84 V30/210 30/210 30/210 30/210 35/240 35/240
175/60 R 15 84 H M+S
175/60 R 16 82 H M+S
195/55 R 16 87 H M+S
205/45 R 17 84 V M+S
205/40 R 18 82 W33/230 33/230 33/230 33/230 38/260 38/260
Space-saver spare tire: T 115/70 R 15 90 M 61/420 61/420 61/420 61/420 - -