BRAKE SYSTEM
It is a good idea to periodically dry the
brakes with a gentle application when driv-
ing in rain and on wet roads.
Monitor traffic conditions to ensure that
this maneuver does not endanger other
road users. The resulting heat dries the
brake rotors and pads. Then if the braking
Do not coast with the clutch pedal
pressed or with the transmission or
Brake fluid level
If the brake fluid level is too low and brake
pedal travel has become longer, there may
be a defect in one of the brake system's
hydraulic circuits.
selector lever in Neutral. Do not coast with
the engine switched off. The engine pro-
vides no braking effect when the transmis-
sion is in Neutral, and there is no power-
assist for braking or steering when the
Proceed to the nearest MINI Dealer.
Higher brake application pressure
may be necessary under these conditions,
there may be a slight pull to one side, and
brake pedal travel may be longer. Please
remember to adapt your driving style
accordingly.<
force is needed, it is immediately available. engine is switched off.
Make sure that there are no floor mats,
floor carpets or other objects in the vicinity
of the brake or accelerator pedal, as the
travel path of the pedals could otherwise
be impeded.<
Driving downhill
To prevent overheating and the
resulting reduced efficiency of the
brake system, drive down extended or
steep mountain gradients in the gear
which requires the least brake applications.
Brake pads
Disc brakes
Otherwise, even light but consistent pedal Brake pad sensors in the left brake pads of
When the vehicle is driven only occasion-
ally, during extended periods when the
vehicle is not used at all, and in operating
conditions where brake applications are
less frequent, there is an increased ten-
dency for corrosion of the brake rotors and
accumulation of contamination on the
brake pads. This occurs because the mini-
mal pressure that must be exerted by the
pads to clean the rotors by brake applica-
tions is not reached.
pressure can lead to high temperatures,
brake wear and possibly even brake fail-
ure.<
the front axle and in the right brake pads of
the rear axle monitor the brake pad condi-
tion. When the brake pads reach the wear
limit, the brake wear warning lights up,
The braking effect of the engine can be fur- refer to page 18.
ther utilized by downshifting, to first gear if
necessary, in the manual mode of the auto-
matic transmission, refer to page 55. This
protects the brakes from excessive loads.
Use brake pads which the manufac-
turer of your MINI has approved for
your particular vehicle model. The manu-
facturer of your MINI cannot evaluate non-
approved brake pads to determine if they
are suitable for use, and therefore cannot
ensure the operating safety of the vehicle
in the event of their use.<
Corrosion on brake rotors is signaled by a
running or pulsation during braking; even
extended subsequent braking will not cure
this phenomenon.
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English 
