Page 5 of 168

3
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATION CONTROLS DATA INDEX
Driving:
Ignition lock53
Starting the engine53
Switching off the engine54
Parking brake54
Manual transmission55
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic56
Parking lamps/Low beams59
Turn signal indicator/Headlamp
flasher60
Instrument lighting61
Fog lamps61
Interior lamps61
Washer/wiper system62
Washer fluid63
Cruise control64
Everything under control:
Odometer66
Clock66
Fuel gauge66
Coolant temperature gauge67
Tachometer68
Service interval display68
Onboard computer69Technology for safety and driving
convenience:
Driving stability control systems71
Flat Tire Monitor73
Airbags75
Park Distance Control (PDC)77
Controlling the climate for pleasant
driving:
Air conditioning system78
Automatic climate control81
Interior conveniences:
Glove compartment84
Center armrest84
Drinks holders, ashtray85
Cigarette lighter, 12 V power supply85
Integrated universal remote control86
Loading and transporting cargo:
Luggage compartment in the MINI88
Luggage compartment in the MINI
Convertible89
Loading cargo90
Roof-mounted luggage rack93OPERATION, CARE, MAINTENANCE
Special operating instructions:
Break-in procedures96
General driving notes96
Refueling99
Wheels and tires:
Tire inflation pressure101
Tire coding105
Tire condition106
Run Flat tires108
New wheels and tires109
Snow chains110
Page 15 of 168
13
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATION CONTROLS DATA INDEX
1 Tachometer68
with indicator and warning lamps,
page16ff
2 Display for onboard computer69
without onboard computer:
Display of outside temperature and cur-
rent vehicle speed
3 Speedometer with indicator and warn-
ing lamps, page16 ff4 Indicator for
>Odometer66
>Trip odometer66
>Service interval68
>Program indicator for automatic
transmission with Steptronic57
>Clock
5 Trip odometer, reset to zero66
Setting the clock666 Fuel gauge67
7 Engine coolant temperature gauge67
DISPLAY ELEMENTS
Page 16 of 168
14
1Tachometer68
with indicator and warning lamps,
page16ff
2 Display for onboard computer3 Speedometer with indicator and warn-
ing lamps, page16 ff
4 Trip odometer, reset to zero66
Setting the clock665 Indicator for
>Odometer66
>Trip odometer66
>Service interval68
>Program indicator for automatic
transmission with Steptronic57
>Clock
DISPLAY ELEMENTS WITH NAVIGATION SYSTEM* OR COCKPIT CHRONO PACK*
Page 55 of 168

53
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
IGNITION LOCK STARTING THE ENGINE
0 Steering locked
1 Steering unlocked
2 Ignition switched on
3 Starting the engine
Steering 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.
An alarm goes off if the key remains in the
ignition after opening the driver's door.
Interlock for automatic transmission with
Steptronic:
The ignition key cannot be turned to
position 0 and removed until the selector
lever is in position P.
Steering unlocked
Individual 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.
Ignition switched on
All electrical accessories are ready for oper-
ation.
Starting 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 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.
Before getting out of the vehicle with the
engine running, put the transmission in
idle or position P, and apply the parking
brake. If you fail to do this, the vehicle
could move.<
Do not let the engine warm up with the
vehicle at a standstill. Move off immedi-
ately at a moderate engine speed.
Do not stop the starting procedure
too early, and do not continue it for
more than approx. 20 seconds. Release the
ignition key immediately when the engine
starts.
Extended starting attempts, characterized
by excessively frequent or long periods
with the starter engaged, can lead to dam-
age in the catalytic converter.<
Page 56 of 168

54
STARTING THE ENGINE SWITCHING OFF THE ENGINE PARKING BRAKE
Manual transmission
1. Engage the parking brake
2. Gearshift lever in idle position
3. Depress the clutch
4. Start the engine.
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic
1. Press the footbrake
2. Put the selector lever in position P or N
3. Start the engine.
Special starting conditions
In the following situations, depress the
accelerator pedal halfway and continue
starting the engine for up to approx.
10 seconds:
>If the engine does not start on the first
attempt, for instance if the engine is very
hot or cold.
>The engine is started at very low temper-
atures, below approx. +57/–156, at
high altitudes above 3,300 ft/1000 m.You should never remove the ignition
key when the vehicle is in motion, as
the steering lock could engage.
When you leave the vehicle, always remove
the ignition key and engage the steering
lock.
When parking on inclines, engage the park-
ing brake, or the vehicle could roll.<
Manual transmission
Turn the ignition key to position 1 or 0.
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic
Engage selector lever position P, turn the
ignition key to position 1 or 0.
The parking brake is designed primarily to
prevent the vehicle from rolling when it is
parked. It operates against the rear wheels.
To engage
Lever automatically locks in position.
The indicator lamp in the instrument clus-
ter lights up from ignition key position 2,
refer to page17.
To release
1. Pull up slightly
2. Press the button
3. Push the lever downwards.
If, in exceptional circumstances, it
should be necessary to engage the
parking brake while the vehicle is in
motion, do not pull the lever with excessive
Page 58 of 168

56
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH STEPTRONIC*
In addition to the fully automatic mode,
you can shift gears manually using Step-
tronic, refer to page57.
Selector lever positions
P R N D M/S + –
Range selection
>The selector lever can be moved out of
position P when the ignition is switched
on or the engine is running: interlock.
>While the vehicle is stationary and
before shifting out of P or N, depress the
footbrake in order to disengage the
selector lever's lock mechanism: shift-
lock.
Keep your foot on the brake until start-
ing off, otherwise the vehicle will start
to move when a drive position is
engaged.
A lock prevents the selector lever from
being inadvertently moved into the R and P
positions. To override the lock, press the
button on the front of the selector lever
knob, see arrow.
If the engine speed is too high when
the vehicle is at a standstill, the selec-
tor lever is also blocked to protect the
transmission.
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 discharge.<
PPark
Select only when the vehicle is completely
stopped. The transmission locks to prevent
the drive wheels from turning.
RReverse
Select only when the vehicle is completely
stopped.
NNeutral, idle
Select this when you are in a car wash, for
example. The vehicle can roll.
D Drive: automatic driving position
This position is designed for driving under
all normal operating conditions.
Under normal operation conditions, fuel
consumption is lowest when you drive in
position D.
Page 59 of 168
57
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH STEPTRONIC*
Kickdown
Kickdown can be used to achieve maxi-
mum vehicle performance.
Press the accelerator pedal past the
increased resistance point at the full-throt-
tle position.
Available displays
P R N D SD M1 to M6 EP
M/S + – Manual mode and Sport
program
Switch from D into M/S + –:
This activates the Sport program and dis-
plays SD in the gear indicator in the speed-
ometer.
Press selector lever once:
This switches from the Sport program to
the manual mode.
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.
Page 60 of 168

58
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH STEPTRONIC*
Switching from M/S + – Manual mode into
the selector lever positions P, R and N is
only possible via D.
Shifting with the selector lever
>Press selector lever briefly towards +:
Transmission shifts upwards
>Press selector lever briefly towards –:
Transmission shifts downwards.
M1 to M6 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.
To shift up or down with one of the two
shift paddles:
>Pull the shift paddle:
Transmission shifts up
>Press the shift paddle:
Transmission shifts down.
M1 to M6 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.
In the MINI COOPER S, with the selec-
tor lever in position D, automatic
mode, you can shift gears using the shift
paddles on the steering wheel. The trans-
mission automatically switches to manual
mode. If you do not shift gears with the
shift paddles or accelerate for a certain
amount of time, the transmission auto-
matically returns to automatic mode.<
Malfunction
EP appears on the display. The transmission
system is malfunctioning. Avoid high loads.
All selector lever positions can still be
engaged; in the forward driving positions,
however, the vehicle can only be driven
with a limited gear selection.
Have the system checked immediately.
Jump-starting and towing, refer to
page140 ff.