Page 4 of 148

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 0 156 890
US English VIII/02
Printed in Germany
Printed on environmentally friendly paper –
bleached without chlorine, suitable for recycling.
Notes
About this Owner's Manual6
Symbols used6
Your individual vehicle6
Editorial notice7
For your own safety7
Symbol on vehicle parts8
Service and warranty8
Reporting safety defects8
At a glance
Cockpit12
Display elements13
Display elements with navigation
system14
Indicator and warning lamps15
Multifunction steering wheel19
Controls and features
Opening and closing:
Keys22
Central locking system23
Opening and closing – from outside23
Opening and closing – from inside26
Tailgate27
Electric power windows28
Sliding/tilt sunroof29
Roller sun blind30
Alarm system31
Adjustments:
Safe seating position33
Seat adjustment34
Entry to the rear35
Heated seats36
Head restraints37
Safety belts38
Steering wheel38
Mirrors39
Airbags40
Transporting children safely41
Vehicle Memory44
ba.book Seite 2 Montag, 5. August 2002 8:09 20
ProCarManuals.com
Page 36 of 148

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.
ba.book Seite 34 Montag, 5. August 2002 8:09 20
ProCarManuals.com
Page 37 of 148

35
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
SEAT ADJUSTMENT ENTRY TO THE REARLumbar support* You can adjust the contour of the backrest
for additional support in the curvature of
your spine's lumbar region. The upper hips
and spinal column receive supplementary
support to help you maintain a relaxed,
upright posture.
Turn the wheel. The contour is strengthened or weakened.
Backrest tilt 1. Pull up the lever at the inside of the seat
2. Apply weight to or remove weight from
the backrest as required
3. Release the lever so that the backrest
locks into place.
Easy entryThe Easy entry function includes a memory
for the longitudinal seat and the backrest
positions.
1. Push down the lever at the outside of the
seat, see arrow 1.
The backrest folds forward automatically
2. Push the seat forwards, see arrow 2.Original positionSlide the seat back to its home position
before folding back the backrest, otherwise
the seat is latched in at its current position.
Then make any longitudinal adjustment
manually, see page 34.
1. Push the seat back into its home posi-
tion
ba.book Seite 35 Montag, 5. August 2002 8:09 20
ProCarManuals.com
Page 40 of 148

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.<
ba.book Seite 38 Montag, 5. August 2002 8:09 20
ProCarManuals.com
Page 140 of 148

EVERYTHING FROM A TO Z
138
Defrosting windows69,72
air conditioning system69
automatic climate
control72
Dimensions131
Dimming
interior mirror39
Dipstick, engine oil94
Dirt on the paintwork99
Disc brakes84
Displacement130
Display elements13,14
coolant thermometer59
fuel gauge58
indicator and warning
lamps15
odometer58
service interval display60
with navigation system14
Display lighting53
Distance remaining61
Doors
keys22
locking24
manual operation25
unlocking24
DOT quality grades87
Driving lamps52
Driving notes, general81
Dry air68,71 DSC (Dynamic Stability
Control)16,63
Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC)16,63
E
Easy entry35
EBD (Electronic Brake Force
Distribution)16,83
Electric power windows28
Electrical defect
driver's door25
sliding/tilt sunroof30
tailgate27
Electronic Brake Force
Distribution (EBD)16,83
Electronic transmission control
module
Continuously Variable
automatic Transmission
(CVT)51
Emergency operation
driver's door25
sliding/tilt sunroof30
tailgate27
Engine80
electronics17
power output17
speed17,58
starting46 Engine compartment
MINI COOPER92
MINI COOPER S93
Engine oil94
additives95
consumption94
dipstick94
High Performance
Synthetic Oil96
level94
pressure15
recommended grades of
oil95
viscosities96
Entry to the rear35
Exterior finish, care99
Exterior mirrors39
Eyelets, towing126
F
Failure, tires64
False alarm32
Fans68
Fastening safety belts16,38
Filling canister118,119
Filling hose118
First-aid kit124
Flat116 Flat tire64,112
MINI Mobility System118
Run Flat tires116
space-saver spare tire112
Flat Tire Monitor16,17,64
Floor coverings, floor
carpets100
Fluid capacities
fuel tank133
headlamp washer
system133
windshield washer
system133
Fog lamps53
Foldable rear backrest74
"Follow me home" lamps52
Foot mats100
Footbrake84
Footwell lamps53
bulb replacement111
Front airbags40
Front fog lamps
bulb replacement108
Front seat adjustment34
Fuel
consumption61
consumption display58
preparation130
quality83
tank capacity82,133
ba.book Seite 138 Montag, 5. August 2002 8:09 20
ProCarManuals.com