low beam MINI Hardtop 2 Door 2008 Owner's Manual

Cockpit
10
Cockpit
Around the steering wheel: Controls and displays
1Adjusting the exterior mirrors, folding them
in and out
*33
2
Parking lamps66
Low beams66
Automatic headlamp control
*66
Turn signals43
High beams68
Headlamp flasher43
Roadside parking lamps
*68
Computer
*49

ReferenceAt a glance Controls Driving tips Mobility
39
Driving
Ignition lock
Inserting the key into the ignition lock
Insert the key all the way into the ignition lock.
Radio readiness
Individual electrical consumers can operate.
Removing the key from the ignition lock
Press in the key briefly. It is ejected slightly.
At the same time:
>The ignition is switched off if it was on
beforehand.
Automatic transmission
You cannot take out the key unless the selector
lever is in the P position: interlock.
Start/stop button
Press the start/stop button to switch radio readi-
ness or the ignition on and off. Do not depress
the brake or clutch while doing so.When you press the start/stop button and
depress the clutch if the car has manual
transmission or the brake if the car has auto-
matic transmission, the engine starts.<
Radio readiness
Individual electrical consumers can operate. The
time and outside temperature are displayed in
the tachometer.
Radio readiness is switched off automatically:
>When the key is removed from the ignition
lock
>When using convenient access
* by pushing
the button on the door handle or the
button on the remote control, refer to Lock-
ing on page26
Ignition on
Most indicator and warning lamps in indicator
area 1, page13, light up for varying lengths of
time.
When the engine is off, switch off the igni-
tion and any unnecessary electrical con-
sumers in order to preserve the battery.<
Radio readiness and ignition off
All indicator and warning lamps in the displays
go out.
The ignition is switched off automatically when
the driver's door is opened. Pressing the start/
stop button again switches the ignition back on.
The ignition is not switched off in situations such
as the following:
>The clutch or brake is depressed
>The low beams are switched on
Starting the engine
Do not allow the engine to run in enclosed
spaces; otherwise inhalation of the nox-
ious exhaust gases can lead to unconsciousness

Lamps
66
Lamps
Parking lamps/low beams
0Lamps off and daytime running lamps
1Parking lamps and daytime running lamps
2Low-beam headlamps and welcome lamps
3Automatic headlamp control
*, daytime run-
ning lamps and welcome lamps
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 one side of the vehicle for
parking, page68.
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 position3, the low beams
are switched on and off automatically depend-ing on ambient light conditions, e.g. in a tunnel,
in twilight, or if there is precipitation.
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 lamps are activated,
page67, 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.<
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 park-
ing the car, with the lights switched off, the low
beams come on and remain on for a certain
time.
The setting is stored for the remote control in
use, refer to Personal Profile, page18.

ReferenceAt a glance Controls Driving tips Mobility
69
Fog lamps*
1Fog lamps*
2Rear fog lamp*
Press the respective switch to turn the lamps on/
off.
Fog lamps*
The parking lamps or low beams must be
switched on for the fog lamps to operate. The
green indicator lamp comes on 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.<
Rear fog lamp*
The low beams or parking lamps with fog lamps
must be switched on. The yellow indicator lamp
comes on when the rear fog lamp is switched on.
Instrument lighting
You can adjust the brightness of the instrument
lighting only when the parking lamps or the low
beams are on.
Increasing brightness
Press and hold the button until the desired
brightness is reached.
Reducing brightness
Press the button briefly.
The brightness decreases every time the button
is pressed briefly.
Interior lamps
The interior lamps, the footwell lamps* and the
cargo bay lamp are controlled automatically.
To avoid draining the battery, all lamps
inside the car are switched off about
30 minutes after the ignition is switched off,
refer to Start/stop button on page39.<
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 button for about 3 seconds.

ReferenceAt a glance Controls Driving tips Mobility
115
Lamps and bulbs
Lamps and bulbs make an essential contribution
to vehicle safety. They should, therefore, be
handled carefully. The manufacturer of your
MINI recommends having your MINI Dealer per-
f o r m a n y w o r k t h a t y o u d o n o t f e e l c o m p e t e n t t o
perform yourself or that is not described here.
Never touch the glass of new bulbs with
your bare fingers, as even minute
amounts of contamination will burn into the
bulb's surface and reduce its service life. Use a
clean tissue, cloth or something similar, or hold
the bulb by its base.<
You can obtain a selection of replacement bulbs
at your MINI Dealer.
When working on electrical systems,
always begin by switching off the con-
sumer in question, otherwise short circuits could
result. To avoid possible injury or equipment
damage when replacing bulbs, observe any
instructions provided by the bulb manufac-
turer.<
Caring for headlamps, refer to page112.
For any bulb replacement not described
below, contact a MINI Dealer or a work-
shop that has specially trained personnel work-
ing in accordance with the specifications of the
MINI manufacturer.<
For checking and adjusting headlamp aim,
please contact your MINI Dealer.<
Light-emitting diodes LEDs
Light-emitting diodes installed behind translu-
cent lenses serve as the light sources for many of
the controls and displays in your vehicle. These
light-emitting diodes are related to conven-
tional laser diodes, and legislation defines them
as Class 1 light-emitting diodes.
Do not remove the covers or expose the
eyes directly to the unfiltered light source
for several hours, otherwise this could cause irri-
tation to the retina.<
Bi-Xenon lamps*
The service life of these bulbs is very long and
the probability of failure very low, provided that
they are not switched on and off an excessive
number of times. If a xenon lamp fails neverthe-
less, switch on the fog lamps and continue the
journey with great care, provided that local leg-
islation does not prohibit this.
Have any work on the xenon lamp system,
including bulb replacement, carried out
only by a MINI Dealer or a workshop that has
specially trained personnel working in accor-
dance with the specifications of the MINI manu-
facturer. Due to high voltage, there is a risk of
fatal injury if work on the xenon lamps is carried
out improperly.<
Halogen low beams and high beams
H13 bulb, 60/55 watts
The H13 bulb is pressurized. Therefore,
wear safety glasses and protective gloves.
Otherwise there is a risk of injury if the bulb is
damaged.<
Be careful when installing the cover, oth-
erwise leaks could occur and cause dam-
age to the headlamp system.<
Accessing the lamp from the engine
compartment
The low-beam/high-beam bulb can be changed
from the engine compartment.
Removing the cover:
1.Press the tab.
2.Flip open the cover and take it out of the
holder.

ReferenceAt a glance Controls Driving tips Mobility
129
Tow-starting, towing
away
Observe the applicable laws and regula-
tions for tow-starting and towing vehi-
cles.<
Do not transport any passengers other
than the driver in a vehicle that is being
towed.<
Using a tow fitting
The screw-in tow fitting must always be carried
in the car. It can be screwed in at the front or
rear of the MINI.
It is stored in the onboard tool kit in the cargo
bay underneath the cover on the right-hand
side, page114.
Use only the tow fitting provided with the
vehicle and screw it all the way in. Use the
tow fitting for towing on paved roads only. Avoid
lateral loading of the tow fitting, e.g. do not lift
the vehicle by the tow fitting. Otherwise the tow
fitting and the vehicle could be damaged.<
Access to screw thread
Push out the rectangular cover panel in the
bumper at the recesses.
Front
Rear
Being towed
M a k e s u r e t h a t t h e i g n it i o n is s w it c h e d o n ,
refer to page39, otherwise the low
beams, tail lamps, turn signal indicators and
windshield wipers may be unavailable. Do not
tow the vehicle with just the rear axle raised, as
this would allow the steering to turn. There is no
power assist while the engine is off. Thus, brak-
ing and steering will require increased effort.<
Switch on the hazard warning flashers, depend-
ing on local regulations.
Manual transmission
Gearshift lever in neutral position.
Automatic transmission
Tow vehicles with automatic transmission
only with a tow truck or with the front
wheels lifted; otherwise the transmission can be
damaged.<
Towing with a tow bar
The towing vehicle must not be lighter
than the towed vehicle, otherwise it may
be impossible to maintain control.<

Indicator and warning lamps
136
Indication in US models
Vehicle electronics failed You cannot continue your journey.
Contact your MINI Dealer.
Indication
* in Canadian models
Vehicle electronics failed You cannot continue your journey.
Contact your MINI Dealer.
Indication
* in Canadian models
Vehicle electronics failed You cannot continue your journey.
Contact your MINI Dealer.
Lights up in red: Have the system in question checked
without delay.
>Starter failed or
>ignition malfunctioning. Engine
restart only possible when brake
is depressed or
>lighting system failed. Low
beams/tail lamps and brake
lamps still operational. All other
lamps failedThe engine cannot be restarted.
Lights up in yellow:
>Control of the brake lamps failed
or
>fuel supply malfunctioningYou can continue your journey, but
moderate your speed and exercise
due caution. Have the system in ques-
tion checked without delay.
Flashing:
Automatic Stability Control ASC or
Dynamic Stability Control DSC is con-
trolling drive and braking forces, refer
also to page57
Automatic Stability Control ASC or
Dynamic Stability Control DSC deacti-
vated, refer also to page57Driving stability limited during accel-
eration and cornering.
Driving style must be adjusted.
12Cause What to do

Indicator and warning lamps
140
Selector lever position P not engaged.
Ignition cannot be switched offEngage selector lever position P when
you wish to switch off the ignition,
page39.
Lights up in red:
Electric steering wheel lock malfunc-
tioningThe engine can no longer be started. If
applicable, do not switch off the
engine. Contact your MINI Dealer.
Lights up in yellow:
Electric steering wheel lock engaged Move the steering wheel before start-
ing the engine.
Cruise control system failed Have the system checked.
Park Distance Control failed Have the system checked.
Bulb of exterior lighting system failed Have the exterior lighting checked as
soon as possible.
Low-beam headlamp or fog lamp
failedHave the lamps checked as soon as
possible.
High-beam headlamp failed Have the high-beam headlamps
checked.
Rear fog lamp failed Have the rear fog lamp checked.
Headlamp beam throw adjustment
system failedHave the headlamp beam throw
adjustment system checked.
Coolant level too low Add coolant immediately, page108.
Engine oil pressure too low Stop immediately and switch off the
engine. You cannot continue your
journey. Contact your MINI Dealer.
12Cause What to do

From A to Z
152
Comfort area, refer to Around
the center console14
Compartment for remote
control, refer to Ignition
lock39
Computer49
Condensation, refer to When
the vehicle is parked85
Condition Based Service
CBS110
Configuring settings, refer to
Personal Profile18
Confirmation signals for
vehicle locking/unlocking20
Connecting vacuum cleaner,
refer to Connecting electrical
appliances80
Consumption, refer to Average
fuel consumption49
Consumption indicator
– average fuel consumption49
Control Display
– settings50
Controls and displays10
Convenience start, refer to
Starting the engine39
Convenient access26
– replacing the battery27
– what to observe before
entering a car wash27
Convenient operation
– windows20
Coolant108
– checking level108
– filling108
Coolant temperature48
Cooling, maximum74
Cooling fluid, refer to
Coolant108
Copyright2
Cruising range49
Cup holders80
Curb weight, refer to
Weights146,147
Current fuel consumption50
D
Dashboard, refer to Cockpit10Dashboard instruments, refer
to Displays12
Dashboard lighting, refer to
Instrument lighting69
Data144
– capacities148
– dimensions145
– engine144
– weights146,147
Date
– setting55
Daytime running lamps67
DBC Dynamic Brake Control,
refer to Brake assist58
Deactivating front passenger
airbags64
Deadlocking, refer to
Locking20
Defect
– door lock22
– fuel filler door94
Defogging windows73,75
Defrosting windows73,75
Defrosting windows and
removing condensation
– air conditioner73
– automatic climate control75
Defrost position, refer to
Defrosting windows73,75
Differential, breaking in84
Digital clock48
Dimensions145
Dipstick, engine oil107
Directional indicators, refer to
Turn signals43
Displacement, refer to Engine
data144
Display lighting, refer to
Instrument lighting69
Displays12
– instrument combination12
Displays, care113
Displays and controls10
Disposal
– of coolant108
– remote control battery27
– vehicle battery125Distance remaining to service,
refer to Service
requirements53
Distance warning, refer to Park
Distance Control PDC57
Diving stability control
systems57
Door
– rear, refer to Clubdoor23
Door key, refer to Integrated
key/remote control18
Door lock22
Door lock, confirmation
signals20
Doors, manual operation22
DOT Quality Grades102
Double doors, refer to
Splitdoor23
Drinks holders, refer to Cup
holders80
Drive-off assistant, refer to Hill
Start Assist59
Driving dynamics control, refer
to Sport button59
Driving lamps, refer to Parking
lamps/low beams66
Driving notes84
Driving off on inclines, refer to
Hill Start Assist59
Driving through water85
Driving tips, refer to Driving
notes84
Dry air, refer to Cooling
function75
Dynamic Brake Control DBC,
refer to Brake assist58
Dynamic Stability Control
DSC58
E
Electrical malfunction
– door lock22
– fuel filler door94
Electronic brake-force
distribution58
Electronic Stability Program
ESP, refer to Dynamic
Stability Control DSC58

From A to Z
154
Gearshift lever
– automatic transmission with
Steptronic41
– manual transmission41
General driving notes84
Glass sunroof, electric27
– convenient operation20,22
– opening, closing28
– raising28
– remote control20
Glove compartment77
Grills, refer to Air vents71
Gross vehicle weight, refer to
Weights146,147
H
Halogen lamps
– replacing bulb115
Handbrake, refer to Parking
brake40
Hands-free system14
Hazard warning flashers14
Head airbags64
Headlamp control,
automatic66
Headlamp flasher43
– indicator lamp11,131
Headlamps
– replacing bulb115
Headlamps, care112
Head restraints32
– sitting safely30
Heated
– mirrors34
– rear window72,74
– seats33
Heating71
– mirrors34
– rear window72,74
– seats33
Heavy loads, refer to Stowing
cargo88
Height, refer to
Dimensions145
Height adjustment
– seats31
– steering wheel34High beams68
– headlamp flasher68
– indicator lamp131
– replacing bulb115
High water, refer to Driving
through water85
Hills85
Hill Start Assist59
Holders for cups80
Homepage4
Horn10
Hot exhaust system84
Hydroplaning84
I
Ice warning48
Icy roads, refer to Outside
temperature warning48
Ignition39
– switched off39
– switched on39
Ignition key, refer to
Integrated key/remote
control18
Ignition key position 1, refer to
Radio readiness39
Ignition key position 2, refer to
Ignition on39
Ignition lock39
Imprint2
Indicator and warning
lamps13,131
– Tire Pressure Monitor TPM62
Indicator lighting, refer to
Instrument lighting69
Individual air distribution73
Individual settings, refer to
Personal Profile18
Inflation pressure monitoring,
refer to Tire Pressure Monitor
TPM61
Initializing
– Flat Tire Monitor FTM60
– glass sunroof, electric28
Instrument cluster, refer to
Displays12
Instrument lighting69Instrument panel, refer to
Cockpit10
Instrument panel, refer to
Displays12
Integrated key18
Integrated universal remove
control76
Interior lamps69
– remote control21
Interior rearview mirror34
– automatic dimming
feature34
Interlock41
Intermittent mode of the
wipers44
Internet page4
J
Jacking points124
Jets, refer to Window washer
nozzles46
Jumpering, refer to Jump
starting128
Jump starting128
K
Key, refer to Keys/remote
controls18
Keyless go, refer to Convenient
access26
Keyless opening and closing,
refer to Convenient
access26
Key Memory, refer to Personal
Profile18
Kick-down42
– automatic transmission with
Steptronic42
Knock control95
L
Lamps, refer to Parking lamps/
Low beams66
Lamps and bulbs, replacing
bulbs115