Mini Cooper 2002, Owner'S Manual

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94
CARING FOR YOUR VEHICLE
Suitable car-care products
Use the cleaning and car-care prod-
ucts available at your MINI center.
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Washing your vehicle
You can wash your new MINI from the
outset in automatic car washes, though
you should use brushless car washes.
When using steam jets or high-pres-
sure washers, ensure that you keep
the jets sufficiently far away from the
vehicle. If the jet is too close or the pressure
is too high, this can lead to damage or
initial damage that can develop into more
serious damage. Water that enters vehicle
components can lead to damage over the
long term.
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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.
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Switch the rain sensor off when
passing through an automatic car
wash, see page 51. Failure to do so could
result in damage caused by undesired
wiper activation.
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Rod antenna
If necessary, before entering a car
wash or garage with elevator ramp
for example, remove the rod antenna. To
do so, grip the rod antenna at the base and
unscrew it from the antenna foot by
turning it to the left.
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Headlamps
When cleaning the headlamps,
please observe the following: do not
clean by wiping with a dry cloth (scratches).
Never use abrasives or strong solvents to
clean the covers. Remove dirt and contami-
nation (such as insects) by soaking with
shampoo and then rinsing with plenty of
water. Always use a deicer spray to remove
accumulated ice and snow – never use a
scraper.
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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
paintwork. Please base the frequency and
scope of car care on these various influ-
ences.
Care of upholstery
Depressions that come about on the uphol-
stery 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 in
the case of home textiles or clothing mate-
rials.
In the case of strong sunlight and longer
parking periods, cover the seats or all
windows to prevent discoloration.
Care of special parts
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Light-alloy wheels:
Use wheel cleaner especially during the
winter months, but do not use any
aggressive, acidic, strong alkali or rough
cleansers or steam jets above 140
7
(60
6
) (observe the manufacturer's
operating instructions)
>
Chrome parts
*
such as cooler grille, door
handles, etc.:
Especially if exposed to road salt, care-
fully clean these parts with plenty of
water and possibly with a shampoo addi-
tive. For additional treatment, use
chrome polish
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