Page 4 of 165

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
Page 5 of 165

3OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATION CONTROLS DATA INDEX
Driving:Ignition lock
51
Starting the engine
51
Switching off the engine
52
Parking brake
53
Manual transmission
53
Continuously Variable automatic
Transmission (CVT)
54
Parking lamps/Low beams
57
signal/Headlamp flasher
58
Instrument lighting
58
Fog lamps
58
Interior lamps
59
Washer/wiper system
59
Cruise control
61
Everything under control:Odometer
63
Clock
63
Fuel gauge
63
Coolant temperature gauge
64
Tachometer
65
Service interval display
65
Onboard computer
66
Technology for safety and driving
convenience:All Season traction Control (ASC)
68
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
69
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
70
Flat Tire Monitor
71
Airbags
72
Park Distance Control (PDC)
74
Controlling the climate for pleasant
driving:Air conditioning system
75
Automatic climate control
78
Interior conveniences:Glove compartment
81
Ashtray, drinks holders
81
Cigarette lighter, 12 V power supply
82
Integrated universal remote control
83
Loading and transporting cargo:Luggage compartment in the MINI
85
Luggage compartment in the MINI Convertible
86
Loading cargo
86
Roof-mounted luggage rack
89
OPERATION, CARE, MAINTENANCESpecial operating instructions:Break-in procedures
92
General driving notes
93
Refueling
94
Brake system
96
Wheels and tires:Tire inflation pressure
97
Tire coding
99
Tire condition
100
Run Flat tires
101
New wheels and tires
102
Snow chains
104
Page 15 of 165
13
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATION CONTROLS DATA INDEX
1 Tachometer
65
with indicator and warning lamps,
page
16 ff
2 Display for onboard computer
66
If there is no onboard computer:
Display of outside temperature and cur
-
rent vehicle speed3 Speedometer with indicator and warn
-
ing lamps, page
16 ff
4 Indicator for>Odometer
63
>Trip odometer
63
>Service interval
65
>Program display for Continuously
Variable automatic Transmission
(CVT)
56
>Clock
5 Trip odometer, reset to zero
63
Setting the clock
63
6 Fuel gauge
63
7 Engine coolant temperature gauge
64
DISPLAY ELEMENTS
Page 16 of 165
14
1Tachometer
65
with indicator and warning lamps,
page
16 ff
2 Display for onboard computer
3 Speedometer with indicator and
warning lamps, page
16 ff
4 Trip odometer, reset to zero
63
Setting the clock
63
5 Indicator for>Odometer
63
>Trip odometer
63
>Service interval
65
>Program display for Continuously
Variable automatic Transmission
(CVT)
56
>Clock
DISPLAY ELEMENTS WITH NAVIGATION SYSTEM
* OR COCKPIT CHRONO PACK
*
Page 20 of 165

18
INDICATOR AND WARNING LAMPSRed: check as soon as possible
Airbags
+
There is a malfunction in the airbag
system. Have the system checked
as soon as possible.
More information on page
73.
Depending on the equipment ver
-
sion, the indicator lamp is in the area
of the navigation system or the Cockpit
Chrono Pack.
The brake pads have reached the
minimum safe limit for lining wear.
Have the brake pads replaced immediately.
More information on page
96.
Depending on the equipment ver
-
sion, the indicator lamp is in the area
of the navigation system or the Cockpit
Chrono Pack.<
Yellow: check as soon as possible
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
+
The ABS has failed. Conventional
braking efficiency is available. Have
the system checked as soon as possible.
More information on page
70.
Display of the malfunction described above in Canadian mod
-
els.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 deac
-
tivated with button or defective.
In the event of a defect: Have the system
checked as soon as possible.
More information on pages
68, 69
.
Engine
+
The exhaust emissions have deteri
-
orated.
Have the vehicle checked as soon as possi
-
ble.
Display of the malfunction described above in Canadian mod
-
els.Engine electronics
* +
The engine electronics are mal
-
functioning. You can continue to
drive with reduced engine output or engine
speed. Have the vehicle checked as soon as
possible.
Page 26 of 165

24
KEYS
CENTRAL LOCKING SYSTEM
The key set It includes three keys. Depending on the
equipment version, it contains the follow
-
ing types of keys:1 Master keys with remote control.
They determine the functions of the Key
Memory. Certain functions in your vehi
-
cle may operate differently depending
on the key
In every master key there is an extended-life battery that is
charged automatically in the ignition
lock as you drive.
Therefore, use any otherwise unused
master key for a longer journey every six
months so that its battery can be
charged.<
2 Spare key
For keeping in a safe place, e.g. in your
wallet. This key is not intended for con
-
stant use
The conceptThe central locking system is ready for
operation whenever the driver's door is
closed. The doors, the tailgate and the fuel
filler door are unlocked or locked.The central locking system locks or unlocks
your vehicle:>When operated from the outside via the
remote control as well as via the door
lock>When operated from the inside via a
switch.If operated from outside, the anti-theft sys
-
tem is activated at the same time. This pre
-
vents the doors from being unlocked via
safety lock buttons or door handles.In the event of a sufficiently severe acci
-
dent, the central locking system unlocks
automatically. The hazard warning system
and interior lamps are also switched on.
Page 27 of 165
25
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
OPENING AND CLOSING: FROM OUTSIDEVia remote controlWhen the vehicle is unlocked or locked, the
anti-theft system is also deactivated/acti
-
vated and the interior lamp is switched on/
off.
Children might be able to lock the doors from the inside. Always take
the vehicle keys with you so that the vehi
-
cle can be opened again from the outside at
any time.
with part
15 of the FCC, Federal Communi
-
cations Commission, regulations. Opera
-
tion is governed by the following: FCC ID: LX8765S
LX8765ELX8CAS
Compliance statement:This device complies with part
15 of the
FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the fol
-
lowing two conditions:>This device may not cause harmful inter
-
ference, and>this device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation.
Any unauthorized modifications or changes to these devices could void
the user's authority to operate this equip
-
ment.<
Page 28 of 165

26
OPENING AND CLOSING: FROM OUTSIDE 1Unlocking and convenience opening2 Locking and securing3 Unlocking the tailgateTo unlock1. Press the
button once.
The driver's door is unlocked.
The interior lamps are switched on and
the hazard warning flashers flash twice
*
2. Press the
button twice.
First the driver's door will unlock, then
the entire vehicle.
You can have this function activated/deactivated.
minutes, the central
locking system locks the vehicle automati
-
cally. The anti-theft system is not activated.
To deadlock the vehicle, refer to the next
column.<
You can have the vehicle's automatic locking feature activated/deacti
-
vated.
button for a longer
period.
In the MINI, the windows and the glass
sunroof are opened.
In the MINI Convertible, the windows and
the folding roof are opened.To open the convertible top on the MINI
Convertible: release the button and press it
again until the convertible top is com
-
pletely open.
Convenience closing is not possible by means of the remote control.
-
vertible top activated/deactivated.<
Locking and securingPress button
.
The hazard warning system flashes once.Unlocking the tailgate Press the
button briefly.
The rear and side turn signal indicators
flash twice.The tailgate can be unlocked separately if
the vehicle has been locked via central lock
-
ing.
Open the tailgate within 20
seconds,
refer to page
29, or it will otherwise
be locked again automatically. The rear and
side turn signal indicators flash once.
If the tailgate was previously locked, then it
is locked again after it is closed.
Before and after each journey, make sure
that the tailgate was not opened acciden
-
tally.<