tires 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

CONTENTS
4
In the engine compartment:
Bonnet111
Engine compartment:
MINI COOPER and
MINI COOPER Convertible112
MINI COOPER S and
MINI COOPER S Convertible113
Engine oil114
Coolant115
Brake system117
Maintenance and care:
MINI Maintenance System118
Socket for Onboard Diagnostics
OBD119
Caring for your vehicle119
Vehicle storage122OWNER SERVICE PROCEDURES
Replacement procedures:
Onboard tool kit126
Wiper blades126
Lamps and bulbs127
Repairing a flat tire131
Space-saver spare tire131
Changing tires133
MINI Mobility System135
Vehicle battery138
Fuses139
Giving and receiving assistance:
Jump-starting140
Towing and tow-starting141
TECHNICAL DATA
Engine data146
Dimensions:
MINI147
MINI Convertible148
Weights:
MINI149
MINI Convertible150
Capacities151

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.

74
FLAT TIRE MONITOR
Flat 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 page131.
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 page108. 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, full luggage compartment, or
4 persons without luggage:
approx. 90 miles/150 km
>With a full load:
4 persons or more, full luggage compart-
ment:
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. 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.

90
LUGGAGE COMPARTMENT IN THE MINI CONVERTIBLE LOADING CARGO
2. Pull the lever to release the catch
3. Fold the backrest forward.
When folding the backrest back into
its original position, always ensure
that the catch engages securely. A loose
backrest might fail to prevent cargo from
entering the passenger compartment dur-
ing sudden braking or evasive maneuvers,
posing a potential hazard to occupants.<
Avoid overloading the vehicle so that
the permissible carrying capacity of
the tires is not exceeded. Overloading can
lead to overheating and damage inside the
tires. Depending on the circumstances, this
can result in sudden air loss.<

96
BREAK-IN PROCEDURES GENERAL DRIVING NOTES
Moving parts need to be given some time
until they can interact smoothly with one
another. To ensure that your vehicle pro-
vides maximum economy throughout a
long service life, we request that you com-
ply with the following information:
Engine
Comply with the local speed limits.
Up to 1,250 miles/2,000 km:
Drive at varying engine and road speeds,
but do not exceed the following:
4,500 rpm or
95 mph / 150 km/h.
Absolutely avoid putting the accelerator in
full-throttle or kickdown position.
After 1,250 miles/2,000 km:
Engine and road speeds can be gradually
increased.
Tires
Due to technical factors associated with
their manufacture, tires do not achieve
their full traction potential until after an
initial break-in period. Therefore drive care-
fully during the first 200 miles/300 km.
Brake system
Approx. 300 miles/500 km must be driven
before the brake pads and rotors achieve
the optimum pad-surface and wear pat-
terns required for trouble-free operation
and an extended service life.
Clutch
Roughly 300 miles/500 km must be driven
before the clutch starts to operate at opti-
mum efficiency. Remember to engage the
clutch carefully during this initial period.
After a part replacement
You should again comply with these break-
in procedures if parts mentioned above
have to be replaced later in the vehicle's
life.
Interior mirror, automatic dimming*
While the vehicle is being driven forward,
these mirrors dim light through an infi-
nitely variable range depending on the
light's incidence. Two photocells in the
interior rearview mirror serve this purpose.
One is positioned on the underside of the
mirror frame, while the other is slightly off-
set on the back of the mirror.
In order for the photocells to work opti-
mally, keep them clean and do not cover
the area between the interior rearview mir-
ror and the windshield. Do not place stick-
ers or toll tags on the windshield in front of
the mirror.

97
OVERVIEW REPAIRSOPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
GENERAL DRIVING NOTES
Safe 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.
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.<

101
OVERVIEW REPAIRSOPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE
Information for your safety
It 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 pressures
Check 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 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. Otherwise, incorrect tire pressures
can cause driving instability or tire damage,
ultimately resulting in accidents. 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.<
After correcting the tire inflation
pressure, reinitialize the Flat Tire
Monitor, refer to page73.<
Tire inflation pressures for original
tires
The 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
sizes
In 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 tire
Behind the bumper there is a valve exten-
sion accessible from the outside for check-
ing the inflation pressure.
Tire size
The 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.

102
TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE
Model 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 - -

103
OVERVIEW REPAIRSOPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE
Model 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 S195/55 R 16 87 V M+S A/S
195/55 R 16 87 V30/210 30/210 30/210 30/210 35/240 35/240
195/55 R 16 87 H M+S 33/230 33/230 33/230 33/230 38/260 38/260
205/45 R 17 84 V M+S A/S
205/45 R 17 84 V M+S
205/45 R 17 84 V35/240 35/240 35/240 35/240 39/270 39/270
175/60 R 16 82 H M+S
205/40 R 18 82 W36/250 36/250 36/250 36/250 41/280 41/280
MINI COOPER S
with John Coo-
per Works Kit
*
195/55 R 16 87 V M+S A/S
195/55 R 16 87 V32/220 32/220 32/220 32/220 35/240 35/240
195/55 R 16 87 H M+S 33/230 33/230 33/230 33/230 38/260 38/260
205/45 R 17 84 V M+S A/S
205/45 R 17 84 V M+S
205/45 R 17 84 V35/240 35/240 35/240 35/240 39/270 39/270
175/60 R 16 82 H M+S
205/40 R 18 82 W36/250 36/250 36/250 36/250 41/280 41/280