CONTENTS
2
© 2003 Bayerische Motoren Werke
Aktiengesellschaft
Munich, Germany
Reprinting, including excerpts, only with the
written consent of BMW AG, Munich.
Order No. 01 41 0 157 644
US English VIII/03
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 defects9
OVERVIEW
Cockpit12
Display elements13
Display elements with navigation
system14
Indicator and warning lamps15
Multifunction steering wheels18
CONTROLS
Opening and closing:
Keys22
Central locking system23
Opening and closing: from outside23
Opening and closing: from inside26
Tailgate27
Electric power windows28
Glass sunroof, electric29
Roller sun blind30
Adjustments:
Safe seating position31
Seat adjustment32
Head restraints33
Entry to the rear34
Safety belts35
Seat heating35
Steering wheel36
Mirrors36
Vehicle Memory37
Transporting children safely38
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COCKPIT
1
>
Parking lamps/Low beams48
>
Turn signal indicators49
>
Standing lamps48
>
High beams49
>
Headlamp flasher49
>
Onboard computer572Washer/wiper system50
3Instrument lighting49
4Outside mirror adjustment36
5Hazard warning flashers6Bonnet release95
7Horn18
8Adjusting steering wheel36
9OBD interface socket106
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OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATION CONTROLS DATA INDEX
INDICATOR AND WARNING LAMPS
Yellow: check as soon as possible
Flat Tire Monitor
+
Stays lit: the system is defective.
Please have the system inspected
at your MINI Dealer.
More information on page 62.
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
+
ABS has been deactivated in
response to system malfunction.
Conventional braking efficiency is avail-
able. Please have the system inspected at
your MINI Dealer.
More information on page 61.
ABS indicator lamp for Canadian
models.
All Season traction Control (ASC)/
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
+
Indicator lamp flashes:
System active: drive and braking forces are
regulated.
The indicator lamp stays lit: ASC/DSC
switched off with button or defective. In
the event of a defect: please have the sys-
tem inspected at your MINI Dealer.
More information on pages 59, 60.
Service Engine Soon
+
If the warning lamp comes on
either continuously or intermit-
tently, this indicates a malfunction in the
emissions-related electronic systems.
Although the vehicle remains operational,
you should have the systems checked by
your MINI Dealer at the earliest possible
opportunity.
Service Engine Soon warning lamp
for Canadian models.
Engine electronics
*
+
Malfunction in the engine electron-
ics. You can continue to drive with
reduced engine output or engine speed.
Please have the system inspected at your
MINI Dealer.
Check Gas Cap
*
+
This indicator lamp comes on
when the fuel gas cap is loose or
missing. Close the gas cap tightly:
Refer to page 85.
Depending on the level of equipment,
the indicator lamp is in the vicinity of
the navigation system.
<
Green: for your information
Turn signal indicators
Flashes when turn signal indicator
is on.
Rapid flashing: the system is defective.
More information on page 49.
Cruise control
Lights up when the cruise control is
activated: operation via the multi-
function steering wheel or multifunction
sports steering wheel.
More information on page 52.
Blue: for your information
High beams
Comes on when the high beams
are on or the headlamp flasher is
actuated.
More information on page 49.
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MULTIFUNCTION STEERING WHEELS
*
Steering wheels with multifunctions
The control buttons integrated within the
multifunction steering wheel and the mul-
tifunction sports steering wheel have been
designed to allow you to operate a number
of accessories both quickly and safely, with-
out taking your eyes from the road:
>
Some audio source functions
>
Cruise control.
Steering wheel
1Call up and continue cruise control
2Activate/interrupt/deactivate cruise
control
3Store and accelerate cruise control
4Store and decelerate cruise control
Right:
5Volume
6Changing between radio, CD and cas-
sette
Left:
5Operation of:
>
Radio
Press briefly: next/previous station
stored in memory
Extended pressure: station scan
>
CD
Press briefly: jump to next track
Extended pressure: search within cur-
rent title
>Cassette
Press briefly: jump to next track or
stop fast forward
Extended pressure: fast forward/
rewind
If the Wave radio is installed, the
above options for cassette
player operation are not available.<
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OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATION CONTROLS DATA INDEX
MULTIFUNCTION STEERING WHEELS
*
Sports steering wheel
1Call up and continue cruise control
2Store and accelerate cruise control
3Activate/interrupt/deactivate cruise
control
4Store and decelerate cruise control
5Fast forward/rewind
>Radio
Press briefly: next/previous station
stored in memory
Extended pressure: station scan
>CD
Press briefly: jump to next track
Extended pressure: search within cur-
rent title
>Cassette
Press briefly: jump to next track or
stop fast forward
Extended pressure: fast forward
If the Wave radio is installed, the
above options for cassette
player operation are not available.<
6Volume
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OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
SAFE SEATING POSITIONThe ideal seating position can make a vital
contribution to relaxed, relatively fatigue-
free driving. Together with the safety belts
and airbags, the seating position also plays
an important role in providing occupants
with maximum levels of passive safety in
an accident. To ensure that the safety sys-
tems operate with optimal efficiency, we
strongly urge you to observe the instruc-
tions contained in the following section.
For additional information about trans-
porting children safely, refer to page 38.Sitting safely with airbags
Always maintain an adequate dis-
tance between yourself and all of the
airbags. Always hold the steering wheel by
the rim with the hands at the 9 and
3 o'clock positions to keep any chance of
injury to hands or arms to an absolute min-
imum, should the airbag be deployed.
No one and nothing is to come between
the airbags and the seat occupant. Do not
use the front passenger airbag cover as a
storage surface for objects of any kind.
Ensure that the front passenger is correctly
seated, i.e. that no feet or legs are propped
against the dashboad. Otherwise, leg injury
could result if the front passenger airbag
suddenly deployed. Never let an occupant's
head rest near or on a side airbag because
the inflating airbag could cause a serious or
fatal injury.<
Even if all these instructions are followed, it
cannot entirely be ruled out that in some
circumstances injury may result from con-
tact with the airbags. In sensitive individu-
als, the ignition and inflation noise may
induce a mild hearing loss that is usually
temporary.
For airbag locations and additional infor-
mation on airbags, refer to page 65.Safe seating position with safety belt Fasten your safety belt before each drive.
Airbags are an additional safety device and
work in conjunction with the safety belts,
but do not replace them.
Your vehicle is equipped with four seats,
each of which is provided with a safety belt.
At all times, occupants should sit
upright and be properly restrained –
infants and small children in appropriate
child-restraint systems; larger children and
adults using the safety belts.
Expectant mothers should always wear
their safety belts, taking care to position
the lap belt against the lower hips, where it
will not exert pressure against the abdomi-
nal area.
Never allow more than one person to wear
a single safety belt. Never allow infants or
small children to ride in a passenger's lap.
Do not route the belt across your neck, or
run it across sharp edges. Be sure that the
belt does not become caught or jammed.
Avoid twisting the belt while routing it
firmly across the hips and shoulder; wear it
as snugly against your body as possible and
do not allow it to rest against sharp or frag-
ile objects. Otherwise, the belt could slide
over your hips in the event of a frontal
impact and cause abdominal injury. Avoid
wearing bulky clothing and pull on the lap
belt periodically to retension it over your
shoulder. Otherwise, the safety belt's
restraint effectiveness could be reduced.<
For information on using the safety belts,
refer to page 35.
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STEERING WHEEL MIRRORS
Do not adjust the steering wheel
while the vehicle is moving; other-
wise unexpected movement could increase
the risk of accident.<
Adjusting1. Push the locking lever downward
2. Adjust the desired steering wheel posi-
tion
3. Pull the lever back in.
Outside mirror adjustment1Switch for choosing between the left and
right mirror
2Switch for 4-way adjustmentManual adjustmentThe mirrors can also be adjusted manually:
Press the edge of the lens.Electric heating*Both mirrors are heated automatically
when the ignition key is in position 2.
Interior rearview mirror To reduce glare from vehicles behind you
when you are driving at night:
Tilt the lever forward.Illuminated vanity mirrorFrom ignition key position 1:
1. Fold down the sun visor
2. Fold the cover panel upwards.Sun visorsCan be swung sideways.
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OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
IGNITION LOCK STARTING THE ENGINE0Steering locked The key can be inserted or removed in this
position only.
To lock the steering:
1. Remove the key
2. Turn the steering wheel slightly to the
left or right until the lock engages.
A sound alarm goes off if the key remains in
the ignition after opening the driver's door.
Vehicles with Continuously Variable auto-
matic Transmission (CVT):
Do not move the selector lever from
position P until the engine is running.
The ignition key cannot be turned to
position 0 and removed until the selector
lever is in position P, interlock.
1Steering unlockedIndividual electrical accessories are ready
for operation.
You will find that it is often easier to turn
the ignition key from position 0 to
position 1 when you move the steering
wheel slightly to help disengage the lock.2Ignition switched onAll electrical accessories are ready for oper-
ation.3Starting the engine
Vehicles with manual transmission:
Step on the clutch when starting the
vehicle. A lockout prevents the engine from
starting if the clutch is not depressed.<
Do not let the engine warm up with
the vehicle at a standstill. Move off
immediately at a moderate engine speed.<
Do not allow the engine to run in
enclosed spaces. Breathing the nox-
ious exhaust gases can lead to uncon-
sciousness and death. The exhaust gases
contain carbon monoxide, an odorless and
colorless, but highly toxic gas.
Do not leave the vehicle unattended with
the engine running. This is a safety hazard.
When driving, standing at idle, and parking
the vehicle, take care to avoid contact
between the hot exhaust system and flam-
mable materials, e.g. hay, grass, leaves, etc.
Such contact could lead to a fire resulting in
serious personal injury and property dam-
age.<
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