engine MINI Hardtop 2 Door 2006 Owner's Guide

113
OVERVIEW REPAIRSOPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
1 Reservoir for windshield and rear
window washer system
*63
2 Vehicle identification number3 Coolant expansion tank115
4 Engine oil filler neck114
5 Auxiliary terminal for
jump-starting1406 Brake fluid reservoir117
7 Reservoir for headlamp cleaning
system
*63
8 Engine oil dipstick114
ENGINE COMPARTMENT: MINI COOPER S AND MINI COOPER S CONVERTIBLE

114
ENGINE OIL
Measuring the oil level
1. With the vehicle's engine at normal
operating temperature, i.e. after unin-
terrupted driving for at least 6 miles/
10 km, park the vehicle on a level surface
2. Switch off the engine
3. Pull the dipstick out after approx.
5minutes 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 should 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 marks
MIN, MAX on the dipstick corresponds to
approx. 1.1 quarts/1 liter.
Do not fill beyond the upper mark on
the dipstick. Excess oil will damage
the engine.<
Adding engine oil
Only top up oil when the oil level has
dropped to just above the lower mark
of the dipstick. However, never allow the
level to drop below the lower mark.<
Add oil within the next 30 miles/
50 km, otherwise the engine could be
damaged.<
Always store oil, grease, etc., out of
reach of children. Comply with all
warning labels and information on lubri-
cant containers, otherwise health risks may
result.<
Oil change
Have the oil changed only by a MINI Dealer
or a workshop that has specially trained
personnel working in accordance with the
specifications of the MINI manufacturer.

115
OVERVIEW REPAIRSOPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
ENGINE OIL COOLANT
Approved engine oils
The quality of the engine oil selected has
critical significance for the operation and
service life of an engine. Based on exten-
sive testing, the manufacturer of your MINI
approves only certain grades of engine oil.
Only use High Performance Synthetic Oil
approved by the manufacturer of your
MINI.
If MINI High Performance Synthetic Oil is
not available, you can add small quantities
of another synthetic oil in between oil
changes. Only use oils with a specification
of API SH or higher.
If you have any further questions
regarding MINI High Performance
Synthetic Oil or approved synthetic oils,
your MINI Dealer will be glad to advise
you.<
Do not use any oil additives, as they
could cause engine damage under
some circumstances.<
Viscosity grades
Viscosity is a measure of an oil's flow rating
and is classified into SAE grades.
The correct SAE grade for your MINI is
determined by the climatic conditions of
the region in which you normally drive your
MINI.
Approved oils feature the SAE grades
5W-40 and 5W-30.<
These oils can be used for driving at all out-
side temperatures.Do not open the cooling system when
the engine is hot. Escaping coolant
can cause burns.<
Coolant consists of water and a coolant
additive. Not all commercially available
additives are suitable for your MINI. Your
MINI Dealer knows which additives are
suitable and will be glad to advise you.
Only use suitable additives, other-
wise the engine can be damaged. The
additives are hazardous to your health.<
Comply with the applicable environ-
mental laws regulating the disposal
of coolant additives.<

116
COOLANT
As an example, the illustration shows the
coolant tank of the MINI COOPER and the
MINI COOPER Convertible.
Checking coolant level
1. The engine must be at ambient temper-
ature
2. MINI COOPER and MINI COOPER Con-
vertible:
Slowly pull the cap of the expansion
tank by the tab until the excess pressure
can escape. Then remove the cap com-
pletely.
MINI COOPER S and MINI COOPER S Con-
vertible:
Loosen the cap of the expansion tank
slightly by turning it counterclockwise
until the excess pressure can escape.
Then remove the cap completely
3. The coolant level is correct if it is
between the MIN and MAX markings on
the transparent expansion tank
4. If necessary, slowly add coolant until the
correct level is reached; do not overfill
5. MINI COOPER and MINI COOPER Con-
vertible:
Press the cap on and press it down
firmly.
MINI COOPER S and MINI COOPER S Con-
vertible:
Turn the cap back on and tighten it
firmly
6. Have the cause of the coolant loss
removed as soon as possible.

118
MINI MAINTENANCE SYSTEM
The MINI maintenance system helps main-
tain your vehicle's road safety and opera-
tional safety.
Please bear in mind that regular mainte-
nance is not only necessary for the safety of
your vehicle, but also plays a significant
role in maintaining the resale value of the
vehicle.
Service interval display
While conventional systems specify main-
tenance according to fixed distances
driven, the MINI Maintenance System takes
account of the operating conditions of the
vehicle, for distances can be driven in many
different ways:
60,000 miles/100,000 km short distance
operation can not be equated with
60,000 miles/100,000 km long distance
operation from a maintenance standpoint.
The condition-based MINI Maintenance
System includes the Engine Oil Service and
Inspections I and II.
Determining the maintenance intervals
according to the actual use of the vehicle
covers every kind of operating situation.
People who drive very little, i.e. much less
than 6,000 miles/10,000 km per year,
should have the engine oil changed at least
every 2 years since oil deteriorates over
time, regardless of use.
For more information on the service inter-
val display, refer to page68.
Service and Warranty Information
Booklet for US models, Warranty and
Service Guide Booklet for Canadian
models
For additional information on maintenance
intervals and procedures, please refer to
the Service and Warranty Information
Booklet for US models or the Warranty and
Service Guide Booklet for Canadian models.
As a precaution against rust, it is advisable
to have the body checked for damage from
rocks or gravel at the same time, depending
upon operating conditions.
The manufacturer of your MINI rec-
ommends having maintenance and
repair work carried out only by a MINI
Dealer or a workshop that has specially
trained personnel working in accordance
with the specifications of the MINI manu-
facturer.
Make sure that maintenance work is con-
firmed with an entry in the Service and
Warranty Information Booklet for
US models or the Warranty and Service
Guide Booklet for Canadian models. These
entries are your proof that the vehicle has
received regular maintenance.<

119
OVERVIEW REPAIRSOPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
SOCKET FOR ONBOARD DIAGNOSTICS OBD CARING FOR YOUR VEHICLE
Primary components of exhaust emissions
can be checked by a device via the OBD
socket.
This socket is located to the left of the
driver's side, on the bottom of the instru-
ment panel underneath a cover.
Exhaust emission values
The warning lamp comes on. The
exhaust emissions have deterio-
rated. Have the vehicle checked as
soon as possible.
Display of the malfunction
described above in Canadian mod-
els.
Under some circumstances, the lamp will
flash. This indicates severe engine misfir-
ing. In this case, you should reduce your
speed and visit your nearest MINI Dealer as
soon as possible. Severe engine misfiring
can quickly lead to serious damage of emis-
sions-related components, especially the
catalytic converter.
If the fuel filler cap is not properly
tightened, the OBD system may con-
clude that fuel vapors are escaping, causing
an indicator to light up. If the filler cap is
then tightened, the indicator should go out
within a few days. Use the cleaning and car-care prod-
ucts available at your MINI Dealer.<
Washing your vehicle
You 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 1407/606. 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
page62. Failure to do so could result in

133
OVERVIEW REPAIRSOPERATION CONTROLS DATA INDEX
SPACE-SAVER SPARE TIRE*CHANGING TIRES
9. Pull out the space-saver spare tire
towards the rear underneath the vehi-
cle
10. Position the space-saver spare tire with
the valve facing upwards
11. Unscrew the valve extension from the
valve of the space-saver spare tire
12. Unscrew the dust cap from the exten-
sion and place it on the valve of the
space-saver spare tire.
Due to its different dimensions, the
damaged wheel cannot be placed in
the recess for the space-saver spare tire.<
Driving with the space-saver spare tire
Drive cautiously. Do not exceed a speed of
50 mph / 80 km/h.
You must expect changes in vehicle han-
dling such as lower track stability during
braking, longer braking distances and
changes in self-steering properties when
close to the handling limit. These effects
are more pronounced when driving with
winter tires.
Only one space-saver spare tire may
be mounted at one time. Reinstall a
wheel and tire of the original size as soon
as possible.<
Check the tire inflation pressure at
the earliest opportunity and correct it
if necessary. Replace the defective tire as
soon as possible and have the new wheel/
tire assembly balanced.<
Additional safety measures in the
event of a tire change:
Change the tire only on a level, firm surface
which is not slippery.
The vehicle or the jack could slip sideways
on soft or slippery support surfaces, such as
snow, ice, flagstones, etc..
Do not use a wooden block or similar object
as a support base for the jack, as this would
prevent it from extending to its full support
height and reduce its load-carrying capac-
ity.
Do not lie under the vehicle or start the
engine when the vehicle is supported by
the jack – risk of fatal injury.<
Preparing for a tire change
Observe the safety precautions
regarding flat tires on page131.<
1. For vehicles with a space-saver spare
tire:
Place the folding chock behind the front
wheel on the other side of the vehicle;
on downward inclines, place it in front of
this wheel. If the wheel is changed on a
surface with a more severe slope, take
additional precautions to secure the
vehicle from rolling
2. Loosen the lug bolts by a half turn.

138
VEHICLE BATTERY
Storage location
MINI COOPER and MINI COOPER Convert-
ible:
The battery is located in the engine com-
partment, refer to page112.
MINI COOPER S and MINI COOPER S Con-
vertible:
The battery is located in the luggage com-
partment under the floor mat.
Battery care
The battery is absolutely maintenance-free,
that is, the original electrolyte will normally
last for the service life of the battery under
moderate climatic conditions. Your MINI
Dealer will be glad to advise you if you have
any questions regarding the battery.
Charging the battery
Only charge the battery in the vehicle via
the terminals in the engine compartment
with the engine switched off, refer to
'Jump-starting', page140.
Disposal
After replacing old batteries, return
the used batteries to your MINI
Dealer or to a recycling point. Maintain the
battery in an upright position for transport
and storage. Secure the battery to prevent
it from tilting during transport.<
Power failure
After a temporary power failure, e.g. due to
a discharged battery, some of your vehicle's
equipment will function only to a limited
extent and must be reinitialized or read-
justed. Individual settings are also lost and
must be reprogrammed:
>The clock must be reset, refer to page66
>The power windows must be reinitial-
ized, refer to page32
>Radio
*:
The stations must be reset, refer to the
Owner's Manual for Radio
>Navigation system
*:
It may take some time for its operability
to be restored, refer to the Owner's Man-
ual for Navigation System.

139
OVERVIEW REPAIRSOPERATION CONTROLS DATA INDEX
FUSES
Do not attempt to repair a blown
fuse or replace it with a fuse of a dif-
ferent color or Ampere rating. To do this
could cause a fire in the vehicle resulting
from a circuit overload.<
If a second fuse blows in the same cir-
cuit, have the cause rectified by your
MINI Dealer.<
A fuse allocation diagram is located on the
inside of the fuse box cover panel.
Plastic tweezers and spare fuses can be
found in the fuse box in the vehicle interior.
In the engine compartment
In the MINI COOPER and the MINI COOPER
Convertible to the right of the battery.
In the MINI COOPER S and the MINI COO-
PER S Convertible to the right of the air fil-
ter box.
Open the fuse box lid. To do so, press the
clip fastener.
In the vehicle interior
On the left side of the footwell in the side
trim panel.
Open the fuse box lid. To do so, press the
fastener.

140
JUMP-STARTING
When 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
vehicle
3. 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. 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 posi-
tive battery terminal, refer to view of
engine compartment on page113. 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.
>MINI COOPER S and MINI COOPER S
Convertible: