Mini COUNTRYMAN Owner's Manual page 245

above have to be renewed in the course of
driving.
General driving notes
Closing the tailgate
Safety information
Warning
An open tailgate protrudes from the vehi-
cle and can endanger occupants and other
road users or damage the vehicle in the
event of an accident, braking or evasive
maneuvers. In addition, exhaust fumes
may enter the vehicle interior. There is a
risk of injury or risk of damage to prop-
erty. Do not drive with the tailgate open.
Driving with the tailgate open
If driving with the tailgate open cannot be
avoided:
– Close all windows and the glass sunroof.
– Greatly increase the blower output.
– Drive moderately.
Hot exhaust system
Warning
High temperatures can occur underneath
the body, for instance caused by the ex-
haust system, while driving. Contact with
the exhaust system can cause burns. There
is a risk of injury. Do not touch the hot ex-
haust system, including the exhaust pipe.
Things to remember when driving
Online Edition for Part no. 01405A541E1 - II/22
Warning
If combustible materials, such as leaves or
grass, come in contact with hot parts of
the exhaust system, these materials can ig-
nite. There is a risk of fire and an injury
hazard. Do not remove the heat shields in-
stalled and never apply undercoating to
them. Make sure that no combustible ma-
terials can come in contact with hot vehi-
cle parts while driving, in Neutral or dur-
ing parking.
Mobile radio in the vehicle
Warning
Vehicle electronics and mobile communi-
cation devices can influence one another.
There is radiation due to the transmission
operations of mobile communication devi-
ces. There is a risk of injury or risk of dam-
age to property. If possible, in the car's in-
terior use only mobile communication
devices, such as mobile phones with direct
connections to an external antenna in or-
der to exclude mutual interference and de-
flect the radiation from the vehicle inte-
rior.
Aquaplaning
On wet or slushy roads, a wedge of water
can form between the tires and road sur-
face.
This phenomenon is referred to as aqua-
planing. It is characterized by a partial or
complete loss of contact between the tires
and the road surface, ultimately undermin-
ing your ability to steer and brake the vehi-
cle.
DRIVING TIPS
245