snow chains MINI Hardtop 2 Door 2006 Owner's Manual

3
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATION CONTROLS DATA INDEX
Driving:
Ignition lock53
Starting the engine53
Switching off the engine54
Parking brake54
Manual transmission55
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic56
Parking lamps/Low beams59
Turn signal indicator/Headlamp
flasher60
Instrument lighting61
Fog lamps61
Interior lamps61
Washer/wiper system62
Washer fluid63
Cruise control64
Everything under control:
Odometer66
Clock66
Fuel gauge66
Coolant temperature gauge67
Tachometer68
Service interval display68
Onboard computer69Technology for safety and driving
convenience:
Driving stability control systems71
Flat Tire Monitor73
Airbags75
Park Distance Control (PDC)77
Controlling the climate for pleasant
driving:
Air conditioning system78
Automatic climate control81
Interior conveniences:
Glove compartment84
Center armrest84
Drinks holders, ashtray85
Cigarette lighter, 12 V power supply85
Integrated universal remote control86
Loading and transporting cargo:
Luggage compartment in the MINI88
Luggage compartment in the MINI
Convertible89
Loading cargo90
Roof-mounted luggage rack93OPERATION, CARE, MAINTENANCE
Special operating instructions:
Break-in procedures96
General driving notes96
Refueling99
Wheels and tires:
Tire inflation pressure101
Tire coding105
Tire condition106
Run Flat tires108
New wheels and tires109
Snow chains110

72
DRIVING STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEMS
Switching off the ASC or DSC
Briefly press the switch.
The indicator lamp stays lit.
When driving with snow chains or to 'rock
free' in snow, it can be helpful to switch off
the ASC/DSC for a brief period.
To maintain vehicle stability, always
drive with the ASC or DSC switched
on whenever possible.<
Switching the ASC or DSC on again
Briefly press the switch once again.
The indicator lamp goes out.
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp will go out
shortly after the ignition has been
switched on, refer to pages17, 18.
If the indicator lamp flashes:
ASC or DSC is regulating drive torque and
braking forces.
The indicator lamp stays lit:
The system is defective or was turned off
using the button. Have the system checked
as soon as possible.

73
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
FLAT TIRE MONITOR
The concept
As 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 requirements
To 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
>Performance-oriented driving: slip at the
drive wheels, high rates of lateral accel-
eration
>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.

110
NEW WHEELS AND TIRES SNOW CHAINS*
Special characteristics of winter tires
The manufacturer of your MINI 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.
Observe speed ratings:
Never exceed the maximum speed
for which the winter tires are rated.<
Storage
Store tires in a cool, dry place, protecting
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.
Only certain types of snow chains have
been tested by the manufacturer of your
MINI, classified as road-safe and recom-
mended. Contact your MINI Dealer for
more details. Their use is only permitted in
pairs on the front wheels on winter tires of
the following types:
>175/65 R 15 M+S
>175/60 R 16 M+S.
When fitting, comply with the manufac-
turer's instructions. With chains, do not
exceed a speed of 30 mph / 50 km/h.
Do not initialize the Flat Tire Monitor
after attaching snow chains to the
tires.
When driving with snow chains, it can be
helpful to switch off the ASC or DSC for a
brief period, refer to page71.<

EVERYTHING FROM A TO Z
162
Seat heating47
Seat-belt tensioner, refer to
Safety belts47
Seats
heating47
safe seating position42
Securing loads, refer to Loading
cargo90
Securing the load92
Securing the vehicle
from inside28
from outside26
Selector lever positions,
automatic transmission with
Steptronic56
Selector lever shiftlock, refer to
Shiftlock56
Selector lever, automatic
transmission with
Steptronic56
Service and Warranty
Information Booklet for US
models, Warranty and
Service Guide Booklet for
Canadian models118
Service interval display68,118
Shift paddles58
Shifting gears in the automatic
transmission with
Steptronic58 Shiftlock, refer to Range
selection56
Side airbags75
Side turn signal indicators, bulb
replacement129
Signal horn, refer to Horn12
Sitting safely42
with airbags42
with safety belt42
Slipstream deflector, refer to
Wind deflector40
Smoker's equipment package,
refer to Ashtray85
Snow chains110
Socket 12 V85
Socket for
onboard diagnostics119
Socket in the luggage
compartment85
Space-saver spare tire
changing tires131
inflation pressure102
Spare key24
Spare tire, refer to Space-saver
spare tire131
Special oils, refer to Specified
engine oils115
Special wash program119
Specified oils115 Speed146
with Run Flat tires74
with the space-saver spare
tire133
with winter tires110
Speedometer13,14
Speedometer, refer to Display
elements13,14
Split rear backrest, refer to
Foldable rear backrest88
Through-loading system89
Sport program, automatic
transmission with
Steptronic57
Stability control, refer to
Driving stability control
systems71
Standing lamps59
bulb replacement128
Starting aid, refer to Jump-
starting140
Starting problems
at very low temperatures54
jump-starting140
Starting the engine53
Starting, refer to Starting the
engine53
Start-off assistance, refer to
ASC71
Start-off assistance, refer to
DSC71 Steering lock53

Steering wheel12
buttons on the steering
wheel20
settings47
Steering wheel lock53
Steptronic, refer to Manual
mode57
Storage compartments84
Storage space, refer to
Luggage compartment in the
MINI88
Luggage compartment in the
MINI Convertible89
Storing the tires110
Storing the vehicle122
Sun blind, refer to Roller sun
blind34
Sun visors48
Switches, refer to Cockpit12
Switching off
the engine54
Switching the cooling function
on and off manually79,82
Symbols6
T
Tachometer68
Tail lamps, bulb
replacement129