CONTENTS
2
© 2004 Bayerische Motoren Werke
Aktiengesellschaft
Munich, Germany
Reprinting, including excerpts, only with the
written consent of BMW AG, Munich.
Order No. 01 41 0 158 427
US English VI/04
Printed in Germany
Printed on environmentally friendly paper,
bleached without chlorine, suitable for recycling.NOTES About this Owner's Manual
6
Additional sources of information
6
Symbols used
6
Your individual vehicle
6
Editorial notice
7
For your own safety
7
Symbol on vehicle parts
8
Service and warranty
8
Reporting safety defects
9
OVERVIEWCockpit
12
Display elements
13
Display elements with navigation system
or Cockpit Chrono Pack
14
Indicator and warning lamps
16
Multifunction steering wheels
20
CONTROLSOpening and closing:Keys
24
Central locking system
24
Opening and closing: from outside
25
Opening and closing: from inside
28
Tailgate
29
Electric power windows
31
Glass sunroof, electric
33
Roller sun blind
34
Folding roof
35
Convertible top
35
Wind deflector
39
Adjustments:Safe seating position
41
Seat adjustment
42
Head restraints
43
Entry to the rear
44
Safety belts
45
Seat heating
46
Steering wheel
46
Mirrors
46
Vehicle Memory
47
Transporting children safely
48
16
INDICATOR AND WARNING LAMPS Technology that monitors itselfThe system runs a check on the indicator
and warning lamps marked by
+ each time
you switch on the ignition. They each light
up once for different periods of time.
If a malfunction should occur in one of
these systems, the corresponding lamp
does not go out after the engine is started
or it lights up while the vehicle is moving.
You will see below the correct way to react
to this.
Red: stop immediately
Battery charge current
+
The battery is no longer being
charged. Indicates a defective alter
-
nator drive belt or a problem with the
charge circuit. Please contact your MINI
Dealer.
If the drive belt is defective, do not continue driving. The engine could be
damaged due to overheating. When the
power-assist is deactivated, increased
steering effort is required.
The engine oil pressure is too low.
Pull over immediately and switch
off the engine. Please contact your MINI
Dealer.Do not continue driving; otherwise, the engine could be damaged
because of inadequate lubrication.<
Brake warning lamp
+
Lights up although the parking
brake is released. The brake fluid
level is too low. Before driving further, be
sure to comply with the information on
pages 96 and
111
. Have the system
checked immediately.
Display of the malfunction described above in Canadian mod
-
els.
If equipped with a navigation system or
Cockpit Chrono Pack:
Coolant temperature warning lamp in the navigation system or
Cockpit Chrono Pack
+
Lights up while driving:
Engine is too hot. Pull over to the side of
the road immediately, switch off the
engine and allow it to cool down, refer also
to page
64. Have the system checked
immediately.
17
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATION CONTROLS DATA INDEX
INDICATOR AND WARNING LAMPSYellow: stop immediately
Flat Tire Monitor
+
The warning lamp indicates a flat
tire or a system malfunction. In the
event of a flat tire, an acoustic signal also
sounds.
Reduce speed immediately and stop the
vehicle.It is possible that the acoustic signal was
not heard. In this case, in order to deter
-
mine if there is a flat tire or a system mal
-
function:1. Switch off the ignition, ignition key posi
-
tion 0
2. Switch the ignition back on, ignition key
position 2, or start the engine.If an acoustic signal sounds, you have a flat
tire. Otherwise, the system has a malfunc
-
tion or has failed.For instructions on how to proceed further,
refer to Flat Tire Monitor starting on
page
71.Depending on the equipment ver
-
sion, the indicator lamp is in the area
of the navigation system or the Cockpit
Chrono Pack.<
Red and yellow: continue driving
cautiously
Brake warning light
together with yellow indicator
lamp for ABS, CBC, EBD and ASC/
DSC:
The driving stability control has
failed. Drive cautiously and defen
-
sively. Avoid full brake applications.
Have the system checked as soon
as possible.
More information on pages
68, 69
.
Display of the malfunction described above in Canadian mod
-
els.
Red: an important reminder
Brake warning lamp
with parking brake applied.
More information on the parking
brake on page
53.
Warning lamp in Canadian models.
Fasten safety belts
+
Lights up for several seconds or
until the driver has fastened his or
her safety belt.
A signal
* also sounds depending on the
version.
More information on page
45.
Depending on the equipment ver
-
sion, the indicator lamp is in the area
of the navigation system or the Cockpit
Chrono Pack.
Lights up when the bonnet and/or
tailgate are open.
More information on pages
29, 105
.
41
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
48.
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.
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
72.
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.
45.
42
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.
While driving, do not recline the backrest
too far toward the rear. This especially
applies to the front passenger side. If you
do so, there is a risk that you will slide
under the safety belt in an accident, thus
reducing the protection provided by the
safety belt.<
Longitudinal adjustment1. Lift the handle2. Push the seat into the desired position3. After releasing the handle, apply pres
-
sure to the seat to ensure that the latch
engages securely.
Height adjustment 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.
45
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
SAFETY BELTS To closeMake sure you hear the lock engage in the
belt buckle.Indicator lamp
Lights up for several seconds or until the driver has fastened his or
her safety belt.
A signal
* also sounds depending on the
version.
To release1. Press the red button in the belt buckle2. Hold the belt3. Guide the belt back into its reel.
Safety belt height adjustment in the MINI Use 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
41.
Safety belt height in the MINI
Convertible The seat belt height is adapted to your
body size if you are sitting correctly.
Damaged safety belts
If the safety belts are damaged or stretched in an accident: have the
safety belts including the seat-belt tension
-
ers and any child-restraint systems
replaced, and have the belt anchorages
checked. Have the necessary work carried
out only by a MINI Dealer or a workshop
that has specially trained personnel work
-
ing in accordance with the specifications of
the MINI manufacturer.<
48
VEHICLE MEMORY
TRANSPORTING CHILDREN SAFELY
>Setting units for outside temperature
and fuel consumption display, refer to
page
66
>Setting units for display of temperatures
specified for automatic climate control
system, refer to page
80
>Volume control PDC, refer to page
74
>Acoustic alarm for starting PDC activa
-
tion, refer to page
74.
This symbol alerts you to Vehicle Memory functions in the Owner's
Manual.
ate slightly differently from the descrip
-
tions used in this Owner's Manual. If you
decide to sell your vehicle one day, please
remember to have the memory functions
reset to their default configuration.<
The proper place for childrenChildren should always sit in the rear:Accident research shows that the safest
place for children in a vehicle is in the rear
seat.Older children should be tightly secured
with a safety belt, after they have out
-
grown a booster seat that is appropriate for
their age, height and weight.
A child sitting in the rear seat and not properly restrained may place his or
her head on or near the airbag, if so
equipped. For example, a child – even
though belted in – may fall asleep with his
or her head against the side airbag. It may
be difficult for a driver to ensure that chil
-
dren in the rear seat will remain properly
positioned at all times and do not place
their heads on or near the side airbag.
Therefore, we recommend that the rear
side airbags, if provided, be deactivated if
you plan to transport children in the rear
seat.
years of age and
children less than 5
ft / 150
cm tall
should always ride in the rear and the
restraint systems should be secured with
the vehicle's safety belts.
system that has first been properly
restrained. We strongly urge you to care
-
fully read and comply with the instructions
for installation and use provided by the
child-restraint's manufacturer whenever
you use such a device.All rear seating positions in your vehicle
meet the recommendations of SAE
J1819,
an industry-recommended practice for
securing child-restraint systems in motor
vehicles.
Exception for the front passenger seat
Should it one day be necessary to use a child-restraint system on the front
passenger seat, the airbags on the front
passenger side must be deactivated. Other
-
wise, there is a significant risk of injury to
children if the airbags deploy, even if they
are seated in a child-restraint system. Have
the front passenger airbags permanently
deactivated only by your MINI Dealer or a
workshop that has specially trained per
-
sonnel working in accordance with the
specifications of the MINI manufacturer.<
49
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
TRANSPORTING CHILDREN SAFELYInstalling child-restraint systemsBefore installing any child-restraint system
or child seat, read the following:
Always follow the manufacturer's instructions concerning installation
and use; otherwise the system's protective
function could be impaired. After an acci
-
dent, have all parts of the child-restraint
system and the affected safety belt system
inspected and/or replaced. Have the neces
-
sary work on your MINI carried out only by
a MINI Dealer or a workshop that has spe
-
cially trained personnel working in accor
-
dance with the specifications of the MINI
manufacturer.
tems are designed to be secured with a lap
belt or with the lap belt portion of a combi
-
nation lap/shoulder belt. Improperly or
inadequately installed restraint systems
can increase the risk of injury to children.
Always read and follow the instructions
that come with the system.
Child seat securityAll of the rear belt retractors and the front
passenger's safety belt can be locked for
mounting and securing child-restraint sys
-
tems.Information regarding this is located near
the buckle latch of each safety belt.
To lock the beltPull the entire length of the belt from the
belt retractor. Allow the reel to retract the
belt somewhat and engage the buckle,
then tighten the belt against the child-
restraint system.
The retraction mechanism is now locked. To unlock the beltRelease the buckle, remove the child-
restraint system and allow the belt retrac
-
tor to reel the belt completely in.