BMW MINI Countryman Cooper, Owner'S Handbook Manual

Page: 105 / 214

Driving precautions
DRIVING HINTS
103
Drive with foresight
Avoid accelerating and braking unnecessarily.
To do so, maintain an appropriately large gap
between your car and the vehicle in front.
An anticipatory and even driving style can
reduce fuel consumption.
Avoid high engine speeds
Only use 1st gear for driving off. From 2nd gear
onwards, accelerate quickly to the appropriate
engine speed and speed. In doing so, avoid high
engine speeds and upshift at an early stage.
When you have reached the desired final speed,
shift to the highest possible gear and drive at
constant speed.
As a general principle, the following applies:
driving at lower engine speed lowers fuel con-
sumption and reduces wear.
The shift point indicator
*
displays the gear with
the most favourable fuel consumption, page 59 .
Use the coasting mode
On approaching a red traffic light, take your foot
off the accelerator and allow the car to roll in the
highest possible gear.
On downward stretches, take your foot off the
accelerator and allow the car to roll in the appro-
priate gear.
In the coasting mode, the flow of fuel is cut off
automatically.
Switch off the engine during longer
stops
When you stop the car for longer periods, e.g. at
traffic lights, railway crossings or in traffic jams,
switch off the engine.
The automatic start/stop function
*
switches the
engine off automatically during a stop. For more
information on the automatic start/stop func-
tion, refer to page
48 .
Have maintenance carried out
Have the vehicle serviced regularly to achieve
optimal economy and service life. The manufac-
turer of your MINI recommends having this
maintenance work carried out by a MINI Service
Centre. See also the MINI Maintenance System,
page
151 .
Driving on rough tracks
Your MINI will feel at home on all kinds of roads
and tracks. It combines four-wheel drive* with
the benefits of a conventional passenger vehi-
cle.
Do not drive over rough terrain, otherwise
the vehicle could incur damage.
<
For your own safety and that of your passengers,
and to protect your vehicle against damage,
observe the following points carefully when
driving on rough tracks:
> Familiarise yourself with the vehicle before
setting out in it, and never consciously take
risks.
>
Drive at a speed that is appropriate for the
prevailing road conditions. The steeper and
more uneven the road, the slower you
should drive.
>
Before setting out on very steep uphill or
downhill gradients, check that the engine oil
and coolant levels are near to the maximum
mark, see page
148 .
>
Watch out for obstructions such as stones
and potholes, and try to drive round them if
possible.
> When driving over crests and on bumpy
roads, avoid causing the vehicle's under-
body to make contact with the surface. The
vehicle's maximum ground clearance is
approx. 15 cm, approx. 6 in. Please note
that the ground clearance may vary accord-
ing to the vehicle's load and operating con-
ditions.