34
SEAT ADJUSTMENTImportant adjustment information
Never try to adjust your seat while
operating the vehicle. The seat could
respond with an unexpected movement,
and the ensuing loss of vehicle control
could lead to an accident.
Never ride with the backrest reclined to an
extreme horizontal angle – especially
important for front passengers to remem-
ber. Keep the backrest relatively upright to
minimize the risk of sliding under the
safety belt and sustaining injury in an acci-
dent.<
To adjust the seats, see the following sec-
tion.
Longitudinal seat adjustment 1. Lift the handle
2. Push the seat into the desired position
3. After releasing the handle, apply pres-
sure to the seat to ensure that the latch
engages securely.
Make corrections in the longitudinal
adjustment of the seat to ensure that
the safety belt still fits firmly against your
body. If you do not do this, the protection
provided by the safety belt may be
reduced.<
Seat height 1. To raise:
Pull the handle up repeatedly, continu-
ing until the seat reaches the desired
height
2. To lower:
Push the handle repeatedly, continuing
until the seat reaches the desired height.
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37
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
HEAD RESTRAINTSAdjusting the head restraintsTo raise: pull the head restraint upward.
To lower: press the button and push the
head restraint downward.
You can reduce the risk of spinal
injury and whiplash by adjusting the
head restraint to a height at which it is cen-
tered roughly at ear level.<
Removal1. Pull up the head restraint, continuing
until it is at maximum extension
2. Press the button and remove the head
restraint at the same time.Installation1. Press the button and at the same time
insert the head restraint in the reception
points
2. Adjust the head restraint.
To avoid possible violation of traffic
laws, never retract the head res-
traints unless the rear seats are empty.
Always ensure that the head restraints are
raised before transporting passengers in
the rear seat.<
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38
SAFETY BELTS STEERING WHEEL Drive with your safety belt onEven though there is an airbag, always fasten
your seat belt before driving off, because air-
bags are designed to enhance the effective-
ness of the safety belts, not to replace them.To fastenMake sure you hear the lock engage in the
belt buckle.
The warning lamp – Fasten safety
belts – lights up for several seconds
or until after the safety belts are
fastened.To release1. Press the red button in the belt buckle
2. Hold the belt
3. Guide the belt back into its reel.
Safety belt height adjustmentUse the height adjustment mechanism to
adapt the safety belt to the ideal position
for your own body:
Press the button and at the same time push
the entire unit upwards or downwards.
Also observe the instructions on adjusting
the seats on page 33.
If the safety belts are damaged or
stretched in an accident: have the
safety belt system replaced by your MINI
Dealer and the belt anchors checked, other-
wise the safety function can no longer be
guaranteed. If a child-restraint system was
in the vehicle during an accident, consult
the manufacturer's instructions regarding
replacement.<
To adjust the steering wheel height1. Push the locking lever downward
2. Adjust the desired steering wheel posi-
tion
3. Pull the lever back in.
Do not adjust the steering wheel
while the vehicle is moving, other-
wise unexpected movement could increase
the risk of accident.<
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42
TRANSPORTING CHILDREN SAFELYBoth seating positions are fitted with a
head restraint. Lift the head restraint and
pass the tether strap between the head res-
traint and the seat back. It is recommended
to readjust the head restraint into the low-
est possible position.
Adjust the tether strap according to
the child-restraint manufacturer's
instructions. Before installing any child-res-
traint system, please read the following:
Never install a rearward-facing child-res-
traint system in the front passenger seat of
this vehicle.
Your vehicle is equipped with an airbag
supplemental restraint system for the front
passenger. Because the backrest on any
rearward-facing child-restraint system –
of the kind designed for infants under
1 year and 20 Ibs. / 9 kg – would be within
the airbag's deployment range, you should
never mount such a device in the front pas-
senger seat, since the impact of the airbag
against the child-restraint's backrest could
lead to serious or fatal injuries.
If it is necessary for a child – not an infant –
to ride in the front seat, certain precautions
should be taken. First, move the passenger
seat as far away from the instrument panel
as possible. This important precaution is
intended to maximize the distance
between the airbag and the child. Older
children should be tightly secured with a
safety belt, after they have outgrown a
booster seat that is appropriate for their
age, height and weight. Younger children
should be secured in an appropriate for-
ward-facing child-restraint system that has
first been properly secured with a safety
belt. Never install a rearward-facing child-
restraint system in the front passenger
seat.
We strongly urge you to carefully read and
comply with the instructions for installa-
tion and use provided by the child-
restraint's manufacturer whenever you use
such a device.
Be sure that all occupants – of all ages –
remain properly and securely restrained at
all times.
According to accident statistics, children
are safer when properly restrained in the
rear seats than in the front seating positi-
ons.<
All rear seats in your vehicle conform to the
guidelines defined in SAE J1819, an indus-
try recommended practice for securing
child-restraint systems in motor vehicles.
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91
OVERVIEW REPAIRSOPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
BONNET
Do not attempt to service your vehi-
cle if you do not have the required
technical background. Before working in
the engine compartment, switch off the
engine and allow it to cool down. Before
working on the electrical system, always
disconnect the battery first. For all work on
the vehicle, comply with the appropriate
information and instructions. Failure to
work in an informed, professional manner
when servicing components and materials
constitutes a safety hazard for vehicle
occupants and other road users. If you are
not familiar with the guidelines, please
have the operations performed by your
MINI Dealer.<
To unlock Pull the lever in the right door area beneath
the instrument panel.
To open1. Reach under the bonnet
2. Pull the release lever
3. Open the bonnet.To closeAllow the bonnet to fall from a height of
approx. 1 ft / 30 cm.
To avoid injuries, be sure that the
travel path of the bonnet is clear
when it is closed, as with all closing proce-
dures.
If it is determined that the bonnet is not
completely closed while driving, stop
immediately and close it securely, see also
page 16.<
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112
REPAIRING A FLAT TIRE CHANGING TIRES – MINI WITH SPACE-SAVER SPARE TIRE
*
Safety measures in the event of a flat
tire:
Stop the vehicle as far as possible from
passing traffic. Switch on the hazard warn-
ing flashers.
Turn the steering wheel to the straight-
ahead wheel position and engage the
steering lock. Engage the parking brake and
shift into 1st or reverse gear – selector lever
in P.
All passengers should be outside the vehi-
cle and well away from your immediate
working area – behind a guardrail, for
instance.
If a warning triangle or portable hazard
warning lamp is available, set it up on the
roadside at an appropriate distance from
the rear of the vehicle. Comply with all
safety guidelines and regulations.<
In the event of a flat tire, different proce-
dures should be followed depending on the
equipment included in your MINI:
>Vehicles with space-saver spare tire, see
the next chapter
>Vehicles with Run Flat tires, see page 116
>Vehicles with MINI Mobility System, see
page 118.
Additional safety measures in the
event of a wheel change:
Change the wheel only on a level, firm sur-
face which is not slippery.
Avoid jacking the vehicle on a soft or slip-
pery support surface – on snow, ice, loose
gravel, etc. – as either the vehicle or the
jack could slip sideways.
Do not use a wooden block or similar object
as a support base for the jack, as this would
prevent it from extending to its full support
height and reduce its load-carrying capac-
ity.
Do not lie under the vehicle or start the
engine when the vehicle is supported by
the jack – risk of fatal injury.<
To change a space-saver tire, proceed as
follows:
>Remove the space-saver spare tire, see
page 113
>Prepare the vehicle, see page 114
>Jack up the vehicle, see page 114
>Fit the space-saver spare tire, see
page 115
>Tighten the lug bolts, see page 115
>Drive with space-saver spare tire, see
page 115.
Tire change setOn vehicles with a space-saver spare tire,
the tire change set is stored in the cargo
area under the floor mat.
1Chock, folding
2Hubcap remover
3Wheel stud wrench
4Jack
5Spanner
6Tow fitting
7Lifting handle
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EVERYTHING FROM A TO Z
139
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATION CONTROLS DATA INDEX
Fuel gauge58
Fuses123
G
Gas display, see
Fuel gauge58
Gasoline83
Gear display51
Continuously Variable
automatic Transmission
(CVT)51
General driving notes81
Glove compartment73
Glove compartment lamps
bulb replacement111
Grills69,72
H
Handbrake47
Hazard warning flashers12
Head airbags40
Head restraints37
Headlamp cleaning
system55,94
filling94
Headlamp flasher52
Headlamps
cleaning55,99
lamp replacement107 Heated
outside rear view mirror39
rear window68,71
seats36
windshield68,71
windshield washer jets55
Heater67
outside rear view mirror39
windshield68
Heating
rear window68
seats36
Heavy cargo75
Height131
Hex wrench118
High beams18,52,107
High Performance
Synthetic Oil96
recommended grades of
oil96
Horn12
Hub cap remover112,118
Hydroplaning81
I
Ignition45
Ignition key22
Ignition key position,
see Ignition45
Illuminated vanity mirror39
Imitation leather100 Imprint2
Index2
Indicator lamps15
Individual air distribution72
Inflation pressure85
INSPECTION60
Instrument cluster, see Display
elements13
Instrument lighting53
Instrument panel12
Interface socket
for Onboard
Diagnostics102
Interior lamps53
bulb replacement110
Interior mirror
automatic dimming39
Interior motion sensor31,32
Interior protection
turning off25,32
Interior rearview mirror39
Interlock45
Interval
operation, wipers54
Interval display, service98
J
Jack112
Jump-starting124 K
Keys22
multifunction steering
wheel19
Kickdown50
L
Lamp replacement
headlamps107
high beams107
low beams107
parking lamp107
Lamps52
backup lamps109
brake lamps109,110
cargo area lamps111
daytime driving lamps52
fog lamps53
footwell lamps111
front fog lamps108
glove compartment111
high beams107
instrument lighting53
interior lamps53,110
license plate lamp110
low beams52,107
parking lamps52,108
reading lamps53,110
rear fog lamp109
standing lamps52,108
tail lamp109
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