BMW 2012 MINI COUNTRYMAN Owner's Manual download pdf (Page 102)

Things to remember when driving DRIVING TIPS

101

Hot exhaust system

As in all vehicles, extremely high tempera-

tures are generated on the exhaust sys-

tem. Do not remove the heat shields installed

adjacent to various sections of the exhaust sys-

tem, and never apply undercoating to them.

When driving, standing at idle and while park-

ing, take care to avoid possible contact between

the hot exhaust system and any highly flamma-

ble materials such as hay, leaves, grass, etc. Such

contact could lead to a fire, with the risk of seri-

ous personal injuries and property damage. Do

not touch hot exhaust tail pipes. Otherwise,

there is a risk of burns.<

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 sur-

face. This situation, known as hydroplaning, can

cause partial or complete loss of tire contact

with the road surface, so that the car cannot be

steered or braked properly.<

The risk of hydroplaning increases with declining

tread depth on the tires, refer also to Tread

depth on page 199.

Driving through water

Drive through water on the road only if it is

not deeper than 1 ft/30 cm, and then only

at walking speed at the most. Otherwise, the

vehicle's engine, the electrical systems and the

transmission may be damaged.<

Parking brake on inclines

On inclines, do not hold the vehicle with

the clutch; use the parking brake. Other-

wise, greater clutch wear will result.<

For information on driving off using Hill Assist,

refer to page 72.

Braking safely

Your MINI is equipped with ABS. If you are in a

situation which requires full braking, it is best to

brake using maximum brake pressure. Since the

vehicle maintains steering responsiveness, you

can still avoid possible obstacles with a mini-

mum of steering effort.

The pulsation of the brake pedal, together with

the sound of hydraulic regulation, indicates that

ABS is functioning properly.

Objects in the movement range of the

pedals

Keep floor mats, carpet, and other objects

out of the movement range of the pedals;

otherwise, they may inhibit the function of the

pedals during driving. Do not place additional

floor mats onto an existing one or onto other

objects. Only use floor mats that have been

approved for the vehicle and can be appropri-

ately fastened. Make sure that the floor mats are

securely fastened again after they have been

removed, e.g. for cleaning.<

Driving in wet conditions

When roads are wet or there is heavy rain, briefly

exert gentle pressure on the brake pedal every

few miles. Monitor traffic conditions to ensure

that this maneuver does not endanger other

road users. The heat generated in this process

helps dry the pads and rotors to ensure that.

Then full braking force will be immediately avail-

able when it is needed.

Hills

To prevent overheating and the resulting

reduced efficiency of the brake system,

drive long or steep downhill gradients in the

gear in which the least braking is required. Even

light but consistent brake pressure can lead to

high temperatures, brake wear and possibly

even brake failure.<

You can increase the engine's braking effect by

shifting down, all the way to first gear if neces-

sary. This strategy helps you avoid placing

excessive loads on the brake system. Downshift-

ing in manual mode of the automatic transmis-

sion, page 51.

Never drive with the clutch held down,

with the transmission in neutral or with

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BMW 2012 MINI COUNTRYMAN Owner's Manual Page 102

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BMW 2012 MINI COUNTRYMAN Owner's Manual Page 102

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