Page 4 of 152

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
Page 5 of 152

3
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATION CONTROLS DATA INDEX
Driving:
Ignition lock41
Starting the engine41
Switching off the engine43
Parking brake43
Manual transmission44
Continuously Variable automatic
Transmission (CVT)45
Parking lamps/Low beams48
Turn signal indicator/Headlamp
flasher49
Instrument lighting49
Fog lamps49
Interior lamps50
Washer/wiper system50
Cruise control52
Everything under control:
Odometer54
Tachometer54
Fuel gauge54
Coolant temperature gauge55
Service interval display56
Clock56
Onboard computer57
Technology for safety and driving
convenience:
All Season traction Control (ASC)59
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)60
Antilock Brake System (ABS)61
Flat Tire Monitor62
Park Distance Control (PDC)64
Airbags65
Controlling the climate for pleasant
driving:
Air conditioning system67
Automatic climate control70
Interior conveniences:
Glove compartment73
Ashtray, beverage holders74
Cigarette lighter, 12 V power supply74
Loading and transporting cargo:
Cargo area75
Loading cargo76
Roof-mounted luggage rack78
OPERATION, CARE, MAINTENANCE
Special operating instructions:
Break-in procedures82
General driving notes83
Refueling84
Fuel specifications85
Brake system86
Wheels and tires:
Tire inflation pressure87
Tire coding89
Tire condition91
Wheel and tire replacement92
Run Flat tires93
Snow chains94
Page 15 of 152
13
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATION CONTROLS DATA INDEX
DISPLAY ELEMENTS
1Tachometer54
with indicator and warning lamps,
page 15 ff
2Display for onboard computer57
If there is no onboard computer:
Display of outside temperature and cur-
rent vehicle speed
3Speedometer with indicator and warning
lamps, page 15 ff4Indicator for
>
Odometer54
>
Trip odometer54
>
Service interval56
>
Program display for Continuously Vari-
able automatic Transmission
(CVT)47
5Trip odometer, reset to zero546Fuel gauge54
7Engine coolant temperature gauge55
Page 16 of 152
14
DISPLAY ELEMENTS WITH NAVIGATION SYSTEM
*
1Tachometer54
with indicator and warning lamps,
page 15 ff
2Additional indicator and warning lamps,
page 16 ff, display for onboard computer
in navigation system, refer to separate
Owner's Manual 3Speedometer with indicator and warning
lamps, page 15 ff
4Trip odometer, reset to zero545Indicator for
>
Odometer54
>
Trip odometer54
>
Service interval56
>
Program display for Continuously Vari-
able automatic Transmission
(CVT)47
Page 39 of 152

37
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
MIRRORS VEHICLE MEMORY Interior mirror, automatic dimming*This mirror dims automatically as required.
The mirror becomes clear again when you
engage reverse gear or select position R on
the selector lever.
Keep the photocells free and clean to
ensure that the mirror functions perfectly.
There is one photocell in the mirror frame;
the other is on the back of the mirror.
Do not cover the area between the
inside rearview mirror and the wind-
shield, and do not place stickers or toll tags
on the windshield in front of the mirror.<
How the system functionsNo doubt you have often reflected on how
great it would be if you could configure
your vehicle's various adjustment settings
to meet your own personal requirements.
In developing this vehicle, the manufac-
turer of the MINI has incorporated a num-
ber of options that you or your MINI Dealer
can program to suit your individual prefer-
ences. What the system can doYour MINI Dealer can provide you with
details on the capabilities of the Vehicle
Memory system.
Examples for Vehicle Memory:
>Automatic locking if none of the vehicle
doors are opened, refer to page 24
>Automatic locking after starting to drive,
refer to page 26
>Selective central locking system, refer to
pages 24, 25
>Convenience operation, refer to
pages 24, 25
>'Follow-me-home' lamps, refer to
page 48
>Daytime driving lamps, refer to page 49
>Speed-dependent windshield wipers,
refer to page 51>Setting units for outside temperature
and fuel consumption display, refer to
page 57
>Setting units for display of temperatures
specified for automatic climate control
system, refer to page 71
>Volume control PDC, refer to page 64
>Acoustic alarm for starting PDC activa-
tion, refer to page 64.
This symbol alerts you to Vehicle
Memory functions in the Owner's
Manual.<
After memory functions have been
reconfigured, your vehicle may oper-
ate slightly differently from the descrip-
tions used in this Owner's Manual. If you
decide to sell your MINI one day, please
remember to have the memory functions
reset to their default configuration.<
Page 47 of 152

45
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (CVT)
*
You can drive with a continuously variable
shifting CVT. In addition, you can also shift
manually.
When in manual selection mode, you have
the option of changing gears by using
either the selector lever or the shift paddles
on the steering wheel.
Under normal operating conditions, fuel
consumption is lowest when driving in
position D.Selector lever positions
P R N D M/S + –
Range selection Inadvertent engaging of certain selector
lever positions is prevented by a lock.
Press the button on the front side of the
selector lever knob. The lock is released.
While the vehicle is stationary, and
before shifting out of P or N, press the
brake pedal in order to disengage the selec-
tor lever lock mechanism, shiftlock.
If the engine speed is too high when the
vehicle is at a standstill, the selector lever is
also blocked to protect the transmission.
Hold the brake pedal down until starting
off. Otherwise the vehicle will 'creep' when
a drive position is engaged.<
To prevent the vehicle from starting
off on its own, always move the
selector lever to position P and engage the
parking brake before getting out of your
vehicle with the engine running.
Do not leave the vehicle unattended with
the engine running. This is a safety haz-
ard.<
If the selector lever is not placed in
position P when the vehicle is parked,
the position display of the selector lever
stays on. This can lead to battery dis-
charge.<
Page 48 of 152

46
CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (CVT)
*
PPark
Select P only when the vehicle is completely
stopped. The transmission locks to prevent
the rear wheels from turning.RReverse Select P only when the vehicle is completely
stopped.NNeutral: idleSelect N only if your journey is interrupted
for a long period.DDrive: CVT driving positionThis position is designed for driving under
all normal operating conditions. KickdownIn 'kickdown' mode, you achieve maximum
acceleration and maximum speed in
position D.
Press the accelerator pedal past the
increased resistance point at the full-throt-
tle position.
M/S + – Manual mode and Sport
program Switch from D into M/S + –:
Activates the Sport program and displays
SD in the gear indicator in the speedome-
ter.
Press selector lever once:
Shifts from the Sport program to the man-
ual mode.Shifting with the selector lever>Press selector lever briefly towards +:
Transmission shifts upwards
>Press selector lever briefly towards –:
Transmission shifts back.
1 to 6 appear in the gear indicator.
Shifting on the steering wheel*The shift paddles allow the gears to be
changed rapidly and, above all, safely, since
both hands can remain on the steering
wheel.
Use one of the two shift paddles to shift
upwards or downwards:
>Pull shift paddle toward body:
Transmission shifts upwards
>Push shift paddle away from body:
Transmission shifts back.
1 to 6 appear in the gear indicator.
The transmission will only execute upshifts
or downshifts that will result in a plausible
combination of vehicle speed and engine
rpm, e.g. downshifts that would result in
excessive engine speed are not executed.
Page 49 of 152

47
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (CVT)
*
In order to accelerate rapidly in the
M/S + – Manual mode and in the
Sport program, e.g. when passing, shift
downwards manually or by kickdown.<
Whenever you want to return to automatic
shifting, just move the selector lever
toward the left to position D.
Switching from M/S + – Manual mode into
the selector lever positions P, R and N is
only possible via D.
Available displays
P R N D SD 1 2 3 4 5 6 EP
Electronic transmission control moduleIf there is a malfunction in the transmission
system, EP appears in the display.
All selector lever positions can still be
selected. In positions for driving forward:
the vehicle can now only be driven with a
limited gear selection.
Avoid high engine loads. Please pro-
ceed to the nearest MINI Dealer.<
Do not work in the engine compart-
ment when a drive gear – forward or
reverse – is engaged. If you do this, the
vehicle could move.<
Jump-starting and towing, refer to
pages 126, 128.<