Page 1 of 140
OWNER'S MANUAL
MINI COOPER
MINI COOPER S
Page 2 of 140
Page 3 of 140
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW MINI
This Owner's Manual should be considered a permanent part of this vehicle. It should stay with the
vehicle when sold to provide the next owner with important operating, safety and maintenance
information.
This manual is supplemented by a Service and Warranty Information Booklet for US models or a
Warranty and Service Guide Booklet for Canadian models.
We recommend that you read this publication thoroughly.
Your MINI is covered by the following warranties:
Ð New Vehicle Limited Warranty
Ð Limited Rust Perforation Warranty
Ð Federal Emissions System Defect Warranty
Ð Federal Emissions Performance Warranty
Ð California Emission Control System Limited Warranty
Detailed information about these warranties is listed in the Service and Warranty Information
Booklet for US models or in the Warranty and Service Guide Booklet for Canadian models.
We wish you an enjoyable driving experience.
Page 4 of 140

CONTENTS
2
© 2002 Bayerische Motoren Werke
Aktiengesellschaft
Munich, Germany
Reprinting, including excerpts, only with the
written consent of BMW AG, Munich.
Order No. 01 41 0 156 724
US English II/02
Printed in Germany
Printed on environmentally friendly paper
(bleached without chlorine, suitable for recycling).
Using this Owner's Manual
Notes on the Owner's Manual 6
Symbols used 6
Symbol for vehicle parts 6
Your individual vehicle 6
Editorial notice 7
For your own safety 8
Reporting safety defects 9
At a glance
Cockpit 12
Display elements 13
Display elements with navigation
system 14
Indicator and warning lamps 15
Multifunction steering wheel MFL 18
Controls and features
Opening and closing:
Keys 22
Central locking system 23
Opening and closing Ð from outside 23
Opening and closing Ð from inside 26
Tailgate 27
Electric power windows 28
Sliding/tilt sunroof 29
Roller sun blind 30
Adjustments:
Correct sitting posture 31
Seats 31
Entry to the rear 33
Seat heating 34
Head restraints 34
Safety belts 35
Steering wheel 35
Mirrors 36
Airbags 37
Transporting children safely 38
Vehicle Memory 41
Page 5 of 140

3
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATION CONTROLS DATA INDEX
Driving:
Ignition lock 42
Starting the engine 42
Switching off the engine 43
Parking brake 44
Manual transmission 45
Continuously Variable automatic
Transmission (CVT) 46
Parking lamps/Low beams 49
Indicator/Headlamp flasher 49
Instrument lighting 50
Fog lamps 50
Interior lamps 50
Light-emitting diodes 51
Washer/Wiper system 51
Cruise control 53
Everything under control:
Odometer 55
Tachometer 55
Fuel gauge 55
Coolant temperature gauge 56
Service Interval Display 57
Clock 57
Computer 58
Technology for safety and driving
convenience:
Automatic Stability Control plus Traction
(ASC+T) 60
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) 61
Flat Tire Monitor 62
Park Distance Control (PDC) 63
Controlling the climate for pleasant
driving:
Air conditioner system 64
Automatic climate control 67
Interior conveniences:
Glove compartment 70
Ashtray/Beverage holder 70
Cigarette lighter 70
Loading and transporting cargo:
Luggage compartment cover 71
Foldable rear backrest 71
Loading cargo 72
Roof-mounted luggage rack 73
Care and maintenance
Special operating instructions:
Break-in procedures 76
General driving notes 76
Refueling 77
Fuel specifications 78
Antilock Brake System (ABS) 78
Brake system 79
Wheels and tires:
Tire inflation pressure 80
Tire condition 82
Tire replacement 83
Wheel and tire combinations 84
Winter tires 85
Snow chains 85
Page 6 of 140
CONTENTS
4
In the engine compartment:
Hood 86
Engine compartment Ð
MINI COOPER 87
Engine compartment Ð
MINI COOPER S 88
Washer fluid 89
Engine oil 89
Coolant 91
Brake fluid 92
Maintenance and care:
MINI Maintenance System 93
Caring for your vehicle 94
Vehicle immobilization 96
Laws and regulations:
OBD interface socket 96
Technical modifications 96
California Proposition 65 Warning 97
Owner Service Procedures
Replacement procedures:
Onboard tool kit 100
Windshield wiper blades 100
Lamps and bulbs 101
Repairing a flat tire 106
Changing tires Ð MINI
with space-saver spare tire 106
Flat tire Ð safety tires 110
Battery 111
Fuses 112
Giving and receiving assistance:
Warning triangle 113
First-aid kit 113
Jump-starting 113
Tow-starting and towing 115
Technical data
Engine data 120
Dimensions 121
Weights 122
Capacities 123
Electrical system 124
Page 7 of 140
5
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATION CONTROLS DATA INDEX
Index
Everything from A to Z 128
Page 8 of 140

6Notes on the Owner's Manual
In compiling this Owner's Manual we have
made every effort to furnish you with a
convenient reference source affording
quick access to all the essentials. The
fastest way to find detailed information on
any specific subject is to turn to the
comprehensive index at the back of the
manual. If you wish to gain an initial over-
view of your vehicle, you will find this in the
first chapter.
Should you wish to sell your MINI at some
time in the future, please remember to
hand over this Owner's Manual to the new
owner; it is an important part of the
vehicle.
If you have any additional questions, your
MINI center will be glad to advise you.
Symbols used
Indicates precautions that must
be followed precisely in order to
avoid the possibility of personal injury
and serious damage to the vehicle.
Contains information that will
assist you in gaining the optimum
benefit from your vehicle and enable you
to care more effectively for your vehicle.
Refers to measures that can be taken
to help protect the environment.
<
Marks the end of a specific item of
information.
*
Indicates special equipment, country-
specific equipment and optional extras.
Identifies systems or components,
which your MINI center can either
activate or adapt to suit an individual
driver's requirements ("Vehicle Memory"),
see page 41.
Symbol for vehicle parts
Indicates that you should consult
the relevant section of this Owner's
Manual for information on a particular part
or assembly.
Your individual vehicle
The manufacturer of your MINI is the
Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesell-
schaft (BMW AG).
On purchasing your MINI, you have decided
in favor of a model with individualized
equipment and features. This Owner's
Manual describes the entire array of
options and equipment available with a
specific manufacturer model range.
We hope you will understand that equip-
ment and features are included that you
might not have chosen for your vehicle. To
assist you in identifying possible variations
between your own vehicle and the
manual's contents, the passages describing
optional accessories and special equipment
are marked with an asterisk
*
.
If your MINI features equipment that is not
described in this Owner's Manual (a car
radio, for instance), we have enclosed addi-
tional Owner's Manuals. We ask you to
read these manuals as well.
Notes
Symbols
Your individual vehicle