BMW Mini Cooper, Owner'S Manual

Page: 156 / 198

Care
154
Care
Suitable car-care products
Use the cleaning and car-care products
available at your MINI Dealer.
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Cleaning agents may contain hazardous
or health-damaging substances. Follow
the warning and hazard instructions on the
packaging. For interior cleaning, always open
the doors or windows of the vehicle.
Do not use any products that are not intended
for cleaning the vehicle.
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Washing your vehicle
You can wash your new MINI in an automatic car
wash from the first day. Preference should be
given to cloth car washes. If, due to lack of avail-
ability, brush car washes must be used, modern
systems with soft brushes should be given pref-
erence.
When using steam jets or high-pressure
washers, ensure that you maintain a suffi-
cient distance to the vehicle. If the jet is too close
or the pressure is too high, this can lead to dam-
age or initial damage that can develop into more
serious damage. Water that enters vehicle com-
ponents 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, page
47 . Failure to do so
could result in damage caused by undesired
wiper activation.
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Rod antenna
If necessary, for example before entering a car
wash or a garage with an elevator ramp, remove
the rod antenna.
Headlamps
Do not wipe dry and do not use abrasive or cor-
rosive cleaning agents. Remove dirt and con-
tamination, such as insects, by soaking with
shampoo and then rinsing with plenty of water.
Always use a deicer spray to remove accumu-
lated ice and snow; never use a scraper. Use
window de-icers.
Vehicle paintwork
Regular care contributes greatly to driving safety
and value retention.
Environmental influences varying from one
region to the next can affect the vehicle paint-
work. Base the frequency and scope of car care
on these various influences.
Care of upholstery
Depressions that come about on the upholstery
material of the seats in daily use can be brushed
out using a slightly damp brush against the
grain.
The fact that velour lays down is not a quality
defect but rather is inevitable, as it is with home
textiles or clothing.
In the case of strong sunlight and longer parking
periods, cover the seats or all windows to pre-
vent discoloration.
Care of special parts
Light-alloy wheels*
Especially in the winter months, care for the
wheel rims with wheel rim cleaner. Do not use
acidic, strongly alkaline and abrasive cleaning
agents or steam jets. Follow the manufacturer's
instructions.
Chrome parts*
Carefully clean vehicle parts such as the radiator
grill and door handles with copious quantities of
water and, if necessary, a shampoo additive,
especially when contaminated with road salt.
For additional treatment, use chrome polish.
Rubber parts
Treat only with water or rubber care products.
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