MINI Countryman 2013 Manual Online
Manufacturer: MINI, Model Year: 2013, Model line: Countryman, Model: MINI Countryman 2013Pages: 275, PDF Size: 4.09 MB
Page 81 of 275

CONTROLSTechnology for driving comfort and safety
80
Message for unsuccessful system reset
Yellow warning lamp comes on. A mes-
sage appears on the onboard com-
puter.
The system has detected  a wheel change, but 
has not yet been reset. It is not possible to pro-
vide a reliable warning  about the current infla-
tion pressure.
Check the tire inflation pressure and reset the 
system, page 78.
Declaration according to NHTSA/
FMVSS 138 Tire Pressure Monitoring 
Systems
Each tire, including the spare, should be 
checked monthly when cold  and inflated to the 
inflation pressure recommended by the vehicle 
manufacturer on the vehicle placard or tire infla-
tion pressure label. If your vehicle has tires of a 
different size than the size indicated on the vehi-
cle placard or tire inflation pressure label, you 
should determine the proper tire inflation pres-
sure for those tires. As  an added safety feature, 
your vehicle has been equipped with a tire pres-
sure monitoring system TPMS that illuminates a 
low tire pressure telltal e when one or more of 
your tires are significantly underinflated. 
Accordingly, when the low  tire pressure telltale 
illuminates, you should st op 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 efficiency 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 correct tire 
pressure, even if underi nflation has not reached 
the level at which the TPMS low tire pressure tell-
tale illuminates.
The TPMS malfunction indicator is combined 
with the low tire pressure telltale. When the sys-
tem detects a malfunction, the telltale will flash 
for approximately one minute and then remain  continuously lit. This 
sequence will continue 
upon subsequent vehicle startups as long as the 
malfunction exists. When the malfunction indi-
cator is illuminated, the system may not be able 
to detect or signal low tire pressure as intended. 
TPMS malfunctions may occur for a variety of 
reasons, including the installation of replace-
ment or alternate tires or  wheels on the vehicle 
that prevent the TPMS from functioning prop-
erly. Always check the TP MS malfunction telltale 
after replacing one or mo re tires or wheels on 
your vehicle to ensure that the replacement or 
alternate tires and wheels allow the TPMS to 
continue to function properly.
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Technology for driving comfort and safetyCONTROLS
 81
Airbags
MINI Countryman:
MINI Paceman:
The following airbags are located under the 
marked covers:
1Front airbags
2 Knee airbag 3
Side airbags in backrests
4 Head airbags at the front and rear
Protective action
Observe the instructions on page 38 to 
ensure the best possible personal protec-
tion. <
The front airbags help protect the driver and 
front passenger by responding to frontal 
impacts in which safety belts alone cannot pro-
vide adequate restraint. When needed, the head 
and side airbags help provide protection in the 
event of side impact. Th e relevant side airbag 
supports the side upper body area. The head air 
bag supports the head.
The airbags are designed  to not be triggered in 
every type of collision, e.g. not in minor acci-
dents, certain rollover si tuations or rear impacts. Do not apply adhesive materials to the 
cover panels of the airbags, cover them or 
modify them in any other way.
Keep the dashboard and window on the passen-
g e r  s i d e  f r e e  f r o m  o b s t r u c t i o n ,  i . e .  d o  n o t  c o v e r  i t  
with adhesive film or co verings, and do not affix 
any holders such as for a navigation device or a 
mobile phone.
Do not attach seat covers, cushions or other 
objects not specifically approved for seats with 
integral side airbags to  the front seats. Do not 
hang items of clothing su ch as coats or jackets 
over the backrests. Do not attempt to remove 
the airbag retention system from the vehicle. Do 
not modify the individual components of the 
syst em o r it s w iring in  an y w ay . This inclu des th e 
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CONTROLSTechnology for driving comfort and safety
82
upholstery in the center of the steering wheel, 
on the instrument panel, the doors, and the roof 
pillars as well as the sides of the headliner. Do 
not attempt to remove or dismantle the steering 
wheel.<
Do not touch the individual components 
immediately after the system has been 
triggered, because there is a danger of burns.
Have the testing, repair, removal, and disposal 
o f  a i r b a g  g e n e r a t o r s  e x e c u t e d  o n l y  b y  y o u r  M I N I  
dealer or a workshop that has the required 
explosives licenses.
Otherwise, unprofessiona l attempts to service 
the system could lead to failure in an emergency 
or undesired airbag activation, either of which 
could result in  personal injury. <
Warning notices and information about the air-
bags can also be found  on the sun visors.
Automatic deactivation of the front 
passenger airbags
The presence of a passenger in the front passen-
ger seat is detected by measuring the resistance 
of the human body. The system correspondingly 
activates or deactivates the front, side, and knee 
airbags for the front passenger.
Make sure that the front passenger's feet 
remain in the footwell; otherwise, it is not 
possible to guarantee the function of the front 
passenger airbags.<
The indicator lamp above the interior rearview 
mirror shows the current st atus of the front pas-
senger airbags, deactivated or activated, refer to 
Status of front passe nger airbags below.
Before transporting a child on the front 
passenger seat, read  the safety informa-
tion and follow the instru ctions under Transport-
ing children safely, page 46.<
Malfunction of the automatic 
deactivation
When teenagers and adults assume certain sit-
ting positions, this can  cause the front, side, and 
knee airbags to deactivate. The indicator lamp  for the front passenger airbags lights up when 
this occurs. In such case
s, the passenger should 
change his or her sitting position so that the 
front passenger airbags are activated and the 
indicator lamp goes out. If the desired airbag 
status cannot be achieved by changing the sit-
ting position, transport  the relevant passenger 
on a rear seat.
> Do not attach covers, cushions, ball mats or 
other items to the front passenger seat 
unless they are specif ically recommended 
by the manufacturer of your MINI.
> Do not place items on the front passenger 
seat.
> Do not place items under the seat which 
could press against the seat from below.
Status of front passenger airbags
The indicator lamp for the front passenger air-
bags shows the functional status of the front 
passenger's front, side, and knee airbags in 
accordance with whet her and how the front 
passenger seat is occupied. The indicator lamp 
shows whether the front  passenger airbags are 
activated or deactivated.
> The indicator lamp lights up when a child in 
a specially designated  child restraint system 
is properly detected on the seat or the seat is 
unoccupied.
The front, side, and knee airbags for the 
front passenger are not activated.
Most child seats are detected by the 
system. This particularly applies to 
child seats that were  required by NHTSA at 
the time of manufacture of the vehicle. After 
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Technology for driving comfort and safetyCONTROLS
 83
installing a child seat, check that the indica-
tor lamp for the front passenger airbags 
lights up. It indicates that the child seat has 
been detected and that the front passenger 
airbags are deactivated.<
> The indicator lamp does not come on as long 
as a person of sufficient  size and in a correct 
sitting position is detected on the seat.
The front, side, and knee airbags for the 
front passenger are activated.
Operational readiness of airbag system
As of radio readiness, page 50, the warning 
lamp lights up briefly to  indicate that the entire 
airbag system and the belt  tensioners are oper-
ational.
Airbag system malfunction
> The warning lamp does not come on when 
radio readiness is switched on.
> The warning lamp stays lit continuously.
In the event of a fault in the airbag system, 
have it checked without delay; otherwise, 
there is the risk that the system will not function 
as intended even if a  severe accident occurs. <
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CONTROLSLamps
84
Lamps
Vehicle equipment
In this chapter, all production, country, and 
optional equipment that is offered in the model 
range is described. Equipment is also described 
that is not available because of, for example, 
selected options or coun try version. This also 
applies to safety relate d functions and systems.
Parking lamps/low beams
0Lamps off / daytime running lights
1 Parking lamps and daytime running lights
2 Low-beam headlamps and welcome lamps
3 Automatic headlamp control, daytime run-
ning lights, welcome lamps, and Adaptive 
Light Control
When you open the driver's door with the igni-
tion switched off, the exterior lighting is auto-
matically switched off if the light switch is in 
position 0, 2  or 3.
Switch on the parking lamps if necessary, switch 
position  1.
Parking lamps
Turn the light switch to position  1. 
The front, rear and side vehicle lighting is 
switched on.
Activation of lights on on e side of the vehicle for 
parking, page 86. The parking lamps will discharge the bat-
tery. Therefore, do not leave them on for 
unduly long periods of  time; otherwise, the bat-
tery might not have enough power to start the 
engine. <
Low beams
Turn the light switch to position  2.
The low beams come on when the ignition is on.
Automatic headlamp control
When the switch is in position 3, the low beams 
are switched on and off automatically depend-
ing on ambient light condit ions, e.g. in a tunnel, 
in twilight, or if there is precipitation. Adaptive 
Light Control is active.
The headlamps may also come on when the sun 
is sitting low on a blue sky.
When driving into tunnels with bright overhead 
lights, there may be a delay before the head-
lamps come on.
The low beams remain  switched on indepen-
dent of the ambient lighting conditions when 
you switch on the fog lamps.
If the daytime running lights are activated, 
page 85, the low beams are always switched on 
with the light switch in position 3 and the igni-
tion on. The exterior  lamps are automatically 
switched off after the vehicle is parked.
The automatic headlamp control cannot 
serve as a substitute for your personal 
judgment in determining when the lamps 
should be switched on  in response to ambient 
lighting conditions. For example, the system 
cannot detect fog or hazy weather. To avoid 
safety risks, you should  respond to these kinds 
of low-visibility situations  by switching the head-
lamps on manually. <
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LampsCONTROLS
 85
Welcome lamps
If you leave the light switch in the low beam or 
automatic headlamp control position when you 
switch off the ignition, the parking lamps and 
interior lamps come on for a certain time as soon 
as the vehicle is unlocked.
Pathway lighting
If you activate the headlamp flasher after 
switching off the ignition with the lamps 
switched off, the lo w beams come on and 
remain on for a certain time.
The setting is stored for the remote control in 
use, refer to Personal Profile, page 26.
Setting the duration or deactivating the 
function
1. "Settings"
2. "Lighting"
3. "Pathway light.:"
4. Set a time of duration or deactivate the func-
tion.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Daytime running lights
The light switch can remain in the lamps off, 
parking lamps or automatic headlamp control 
position.
In the lamps off position, the exterior lighting is 
automatically switched of f after the vehicle is 
parked. In the parking lamps position, the park-
ing lamps will stay on  after the ignition is 
switched off. Switch on the parking lamps separately if 
needed.
Depending on the nation
al-market version, it 
may not be possible to deactivate the daytime 
running lights.
Activating/deactivating daytime 
running lights
The setting is stored for the remote control in 
use, refer to Personal Profile, page 26.
1. "Settings"
2. "Lighting"
3. "Daytime running lamps"
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Adaptive Light Control
The concept
Adaptive Light Control is a variable headlamp 
control system that enables better illumination 
of the road surface. Depending on the steering 
angle and other parameters, the light from the 
headlamp follows the course of the road.
Activating Adaptive Light Control
With the ignition switched on, turn the light 
switch to position  3, refer to page 84.
Standstill function: to av oid blinding oncoming 
traffic, the Adaptive Light Control does not pivot 
toward the driver's side when the vehicle is at a 
standstill.
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CONTROLSLamps
86
In reverse, the Adaptive Light Control is not acti-
vated.
Malfunction
A message is displayed.
The Adaptive Light Control is malfunctioning or 
failed. Have the system checked as soon as pos-
sible.
High beams/
roadside parking lamps
1 Turn signals/roadside parking lamps
2 Switching on  high beams
3 Switching off high beams/headlamp flasher
Roadside parking lamps, left or right
The vehicle can be illuminated on one side for 
parking. Comply with local regulations when 
doing so.
Switching on
After parking the vehicle, press and hold the 
lever up or down, arrow  1.
The roadside parking lamps drain the bat-
tery. Therefore, do not leave them on for 
unduly long periods of  time; otherwise, the bat-
tery might not have enough power to start the 
engine. <
Switching off
Press the lever up or down  to the pressure point.
Front fog lamps
Turn on front fog lamps:
Press the switch.
To switch them off, press the switch upward or 
downward again.
Front fog lamps
The parking lamps or low beams must be 
switched on for the fog lamps to operate. The 
green indicator lamp lights up when the fog 
lamps are switched on.
Depending on your vehicle's equipment, the fog 
lamps are switched off when you activate the 
headlamp flasher or switch on the high beams.
If the automatic headlamp control is acti-
vated, the low beams will come on auto-
matically when you switch on the fog lamps. <
Instrument lighting
You can adjust the brightness of the instrument 
lighting only when the parking lamps or the low 
beams are on.
The intensity of the brightness changes up to a 
predetermined end point, and then decreases.
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LampsCONTROLS
 87
Adjusting brightness
>Briefly press button: brightness changes in 
stages.
> Press and hold the button. Brightness 
changes in a continuous manner.
Interior lamps
The interior lamps, the footwell lamps, the entry 
lamps, and the cargo area lamp are controlled 
automatically.
To reduce the drain on the battery, a short 
while after the ignition  is switched off, 
refer to Start/Stop button on page 50, all lights in 
the vehicle's passenger compartment are 
switched off. <
Switching interior lamps on/off manually
To switch the interior lamps on/off.
Press the switch.
To switch off the interior lamps permanently, 
press the switch for about 3 seconds.
Reading lamps
Reading lamps are provided in the front and rear 
adjacent to the interior lamps.
To switch the readin g lamps on and off.
In the front: press the switch.
In the rear: press the button.
Ambient lighting
The color and brightness of the ambient lighting 
can be changed.
> Press the switch forward.
The color changes in stages.
> Press the switch toward the rear.
The brightness changes in stages.
Intermediate settings and colors are possible. For a continuous color change in the 
ambient lighting, press and hold the 
switch forward for lo nger than 10 seconds. <
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Page 89 of 275

CONTROLSClimate
88
Climate
Vehicle equipment
In this chapter, all production, country, and 
optional equipment that is offered in the model 
range is described. Equipment is also described  that is not available because of, for example, 
selected options or coun
try version. This also 
applies to safety relate d functions and systems.
Air conditioner
1Air flow rate
2 Cooling function
3 Recirculated-air mode
4 Temperature 5
Rear window defroster
6 Air distribution
7 Windshield heating
Air flow rate
Adjust the air flow rate. The higher the 
rate, the more effective the heating or 
cooling will be.
The air flow rate is lowered or switched off 
entirely to reduce the drain on the battery.
Switching the system on/off
Turn the air flow rate rota ry switch to 0. Blower 
and air conditioner are co mpletely switched off 
and the air supply is cut off.
Set any desired air flow rate to switch on the air 
conditioner.
Cooling function
When the cooling function is on, 
the air is cooled, dried, then 
reheated according to the temper-
ature setting. The passenger compartment can 
only be cooled while the engine is running.
The cooling function helps prevent condensa-
tion on the windows or removes it quickly.
Depending on the weather, the windshield may 
fog over briefly when the engine is started.
To cool the air more quickly and intensely 
when the external temperature is high, 
you can switch on the  recirculated-air mode.<
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ClimateCONTROLS
 89
Recirculated-air mode
If the air outside the car has an 
unpleasant odor or contains pollut-
ants, shut off the supply to the inte-
rior of the car temporarily. The system then 
recirculates the air curre ntly within the vehicle.
If the windows fog in  recirculated-air mode, 
switch off the  recirculated-air mode and 
increase the air volume if  necessary. Ensure that 
air can flow onto the windshield.
The recirculated-air mode is automatically deac-
tivated at low outside temperatures.
The recirculated-air mode should not be 
used over an extended period of time; 
otherwise, the air quali ty in the passenger com-
partment will deteriorate continuously. <
Temperature
Turn upward, red, to increase the temper-
ature.
Turn downward, blue, to decrease the 
temperature.
Rear window defroster
The defroster is switched off auto-
matically after a certain time.
The rear window he ating is lowered 
or switched off entirely to reduce the drain on 
the battery.
Air distribution
Direct the flow of air to the 
windows , to the upper body 
area  or to the footwell . 
Intermediate settings are possible.
Windshield heating
The windshield heating is switched 
off automatically after a short time.
The front window heating is low-
ered or switched off entirely to reduce the drain 
on the battery.
Defrosting windows and removing 
condensation
1. Set air flow rate to the maximum level.
2. Set air distributi on to position .
Condensation is removed from the windows 
more quickly when the cooling function
 is 
also activated.
3. Set to the highest temperature, red.
4. Deactivate recirculated-air mode.
5. Turn on windshield heating if necessary.
6. Turn on rear window defroster if necessary.
Microfilter
The microfilter captures dust and pollen. The 
microfilter is changed by your MINI dealer dur-
ing routine maintenance work.
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