CONTENTS
2
© 2006 Bayerische Motoren Werke
Aktiengesellschaft
Munich, Germany
Reprinting, including excerpts, only with the
written consent of BMW AG, Munich.
Order No. 01 41 0 012 950
US English VIII/06
Printed in Germany
Printed on environmentally friendly paper,
bleached without chlorine, suitable for recycling.NOTES About this Owner's Manual6
Additional sources of information6
Symbols used6
Your individual vehicle6
Editorial notice7
For your own safety7
Symbol on vehicle parts8
Service and warranty8
Reporting safety defects9
OVERVIEWCockpit12
Display elements13
Display elements with navigation system
or Cockpit Chrono Pack14
Indicator and warning lamps16
Multifunction steering wheel20
CONTROLSOpening and closing:
Keys24
Central locking system24
Opening and closing: from outside25
Opening and closing: from inside28
Tailgate29
Electric power windows31
Glass sunroof, electric33
Roller sun blind34
Convertible top with integrated sliding
sunroof35
Wind deflector40
Adjustments:
Safe seating position42
Seat adjustment43
Head restraints44
Entry to the rear45
Safety belts46
Seat heating47
Steering wheel47
Mirrors48
Vehicle Memory49
Transporting children safely50
42
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 page50.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, e.g. that no feet or legs are propped
against the dashboard. Otherwise, leg
injury could result if the front passenger
airbag suddenly deployed.
Make sure that passengers do not lean
their heads against the side or head airbag,
as injuries could result if the side airbags
were triggered.<
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 page76.Head restraintA correctly adjusted head restraint reduces
the risk of injury to the cervical spine in the
event of an accident.
Adjust the head restraint in such a
way that it is centered roughly at ear
level. Otherwise, there is an increased risk
of injury in the event of an accident.
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.
Never allow more than one person to
wear a single safety belt. Never allow
infants or small children to ride in a passen-
ger's lap. Make sure that the belt in the lap
area sits low across the hips and does not
press against the abdomen. The safety belt
must not rest against the throat, run across
sharp edges, pass over hard or fragile
objects or be pinched. Fasten the safety
belt so that it is not twisted and sits as
snugly as possible against the lap and
shoulder. Otherwise the belt could slide
over the hips and injure the abdomen in
the event of a frontal collision. Avoid wear-
ing bulky clothing and pull the belt in the
upper-body area upward periodically to
retension it. Otherwise, the restraining
effect of the safety belt could be dimin-
ished.<
For information on using the safety belts,
refer to page46.
50
TRANSPORTING CHILDREN SAFELY The proper place for children
Do not leave children unattended in
the vehicle; otherwise they could
endanger themselves and others by open-
ing the doors, for example.<
Children should always sit in the rearAccident research shows that the safest
place for children is on the rear seats.
Only transport children under the age
of 13 or smaller than 5 ft/150 cm in
the rear in a child-restraint system suitable
for their age, weight and size. Otherwise
there is an increased risk of injury in the
event of an accident.<
Children 13 years of age or older must wear
a fastened safety belt as soon as a child-
restraint system is no longer suitable due
to their age, size or weight.
All of the seats in your MINI except for the
driver's seat meet the recommendations of
the SAE J1819 standard for securely mount-
ing child-restraint systems in motor vehi-
cles.Exception for the front passenger seat
Should it be necessary to use a child-
restraint system on the front passen-
ger seat, the front and side airbags for the
front passenger must be deactivated. Oth-
erwise, there is a significant risk of injury to
the child if the airbags deploy, even if the
child is seated in a child-restraint system.
Your MINI Dealer will be glad to advise
you.<
For additional information on automatic
deactivation of the front passenger airbags,
refer to page76.
Installing child-restraint systems
Always follow the manufacturer's
instructions when selecting, install-
ing and using child-restraint systems; oth-
erwise the system's protective effect could
be diminished.<
51
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
TRANSPORTING CHILDREN SAFELYChild seat securityAll rear safety belts and the safety belt for
the front passenger can be prevented from
being pulled out in order to secure child-
restraint systems.To lock the safety belt1. Secure the child-restraint system with
the belt
2. Pull the belt strap all the way out
3. Allow the belt strap to retract and pull it
taut against the child-restraint system.
The safety belt is locked.To unlock the safety belt1. Open the seat belt buckle
2. Remove the child-restraint system
3. Allow the belt strap to retract all the
way.
Child-restraint systems with tether
strapAs an example, the illustration shows the
MINI COOPER and the MINI COOPER S.
There are two additional anchors for child-
restraint systems with tether straps.
Guiding the tether strap1. Slide the head restraint up
2. Guide the tether strap through the
mounting for the head restraint
3. Push the head restraint into its lower-
most position.
52
TRANSPORTING CHILDREN SAFELYLATCH child-restraint fixing systemLATCH: Lower Anchor and Tethers for CHil-
dren.
The anchor points for the LATCH child-
restraint fixing system are behind the
marked cover caps. Flip up the correspond-
ing cover caps.
To mount a LATCH child-restraint sys-
tem, follow the system manufac-
turer's operating and safety instructions.<
77
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
AIRBAGStivated or activated, refer to Functional sta-
tus of the front passenger airbags below. <
Before transporting a child on the
front passenger seat, read the safety
notes and instructions under Transporting
children safely, refer to page50.
Adolescents and adults sitting in certain
positions could also deactivate the front
and side airbags for the front passenger;
the indicator lamp for the front passenger
airbags comes on. In such cases, the occu-
pant should change his or her sitting posi-
tion so that the front passenger airbags are
activated and the indicator lamp goes out.
If the airbags are not activated although
the seat occupant has changed his or her
position, have the occupant sit on a rear
seat. Do not attach covers, cushions, ball
mats or other items to the front passenger
seat unless they are specifically recom-
mended by the manufacturer of your MINI.
Do not place any objects under the seat
which could press against the seat from
below. Otherwise, a correct analysis of the
seat cushion is not ensured.<
Functional status of the front
passenger airbagsAs an example, the illustration shows the
indicator lamp for front passenger airbags
in the MINI Convertible.
In accordance with whether and how the
front passenger seat is occupied, the indi-
cator lamp for the front passenger airbags
shows the functional status of the front
and side airbags for the front passenger.
The indicator lamp shows whether the
front passenger airbags are activated or
deactivated.
>The indicator lamp comes on as intended
when a child in a specially designated
child-restraint system is detected on the
front passenger's seat.
The front and side airbags for the front
passenger are not activated.
>The indicator lamp does not come on
when the system detects a person of suf-
ficient size sitting correctly on the seat,
for example. The front and side airbags
for the front passenger are activated.
>The indicator lamp does not come on
when the seat is empty. However, the
front and side airbags for the front pas-
senger are not activated. Operational readiness of the airbag
system
Starting from ignition key
position 1, the warning lamp in the
display elements lights up briefly
for confirmation that the entire airbag sys-
tem and the seat belt tensioners are opera-
tional.
Airbag system malfunctioning>The warning lamp does not come on
along with ignition key position 1
>The warning lamp stays lit continuously.
In the event of a malfunction, have
the airbag system checked immedi-
ately. Otherwise, there is a risk that the sys-
tem will not function as intended in an
accident of sufficient severity.<
EVERYTHING FROM A TO Z
157
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATION CONTROLS DATA INDEX
Brake pads99
break-in procedures98
warning lamp18
Brake system120
brake fluid120
brake pads99
break-in procedures98
disc brakes99
warning lamp17
Brake wear warning
brake pads99
warning lamp18
Brakes120
ABS72
brake fluid120
brake pads99
break-in procedures98
CBC72
indicator/warning
lamps16,17,18
parking brake54
Breaking in98
Bulb replacement, refer to
Lamps and bulbs129
Buttons on multifunction
steering wheel20
automatic transmission with
Steptronic58 C
California Proposition 65
warning7
Capacities153
Car care, refer to Caring for your
vehicle122
Car keys, refer to Keys24
Car radio, refer to separate
Owner's Manual
Car telephone, refer to separate
Owner's Manual
Car vacuum cleaner,
connecting, refer to Cigarette
lighter socket
87
Car wash122
Car wash, refer to Washing
your vehicle122
Car-care products122
Care of plastics123
Care of synthetic leather123
Care, vehicle122
Cargo area
opening from the outside29
opening with the remote
control26
volume151,152
Cargo area cover, refer to
Luggage compartment
cover90
Cargo area, refer to Luggage
compartment in the MINI90 Carpet care124
Cassette operation, refer to
Owner's Manual for Radio
Catalytic converter, refer to
Hot exhaust system100
CBC Cornering Brake Control72
CD changer, refer to Owner's
Manual for Radio
CD operation, refer to
Owner's Manual for Radio
Center armrest86
Central locking system24
interior28
Changing bulbs129
Changing the wiper
blades128,129
Changing tires135
space-saver spare tire133
Charge-current indicator
light16
Child seat, refer to Installing
child-restraint systems50
Children, transporting50
Child-restraint fixing system,
LATCH52
Child-restraint systems50
Chock, folding
space-saver spare tire133
Chrome parts, refer to Caring
for your vehicle123
Chrome-plated parts, care123 Cigarette lighter87
Cigarette lighter socket87
Cigarette tray, refer to
Ashtray86
Circulation of air, refer to
Recirculated air mode80,83
Cleaning the rear window64
Cleaning the vehicle, refer to
Caring for your vehicle122
Clock67
12-hour/24-hour mode67
changing the time67
Closing
from inside28
from outside25
Clothes hooks100
Clutch53
break-in procedures98
Cockpit12
Coding, tires108
Cold start, refer to Starting the
engine53
Compact disk operation, refer
to Owner's Manual for Radio
Compartments, refer to
Storage compartments85
Computer, refer to Onboard
computer70
Condensed water, refer to Air
conditioning80,83
EVERYTHING FROM A TO Z
161
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATION CONTROLS DATA INDEX
I
Ice warning, refer to Outside
temperature warning70
Ignition53
Ignition key24
Ignition key positions, refer to
Ignition lock53
Ignition lock53
Illuminated vanity mirror48
Imitation leather123
Imprint2
Index156
Indicator and warning lamps,
overview16
Indicator/warning lamp
airbags77
ASC73
brakes120
coolant temperature68
DSC73
fasten safety belts46
Flat Tire Monitor75
fog lamps62
reserve fuel capacity67,68
Individual air distribution84
Individual settings, refer to
Vehicle Memory49
Inflation pressure monitor,
refer to Flat Tire Monitor74
Inflation pressure, refer to Tire
inflation pressure104 Inspection69
Instrument cluster, refer to
Display elements13
Instrument lighting62
Instrument panel, refer to
Cockpit12
Integrated universal remote
control88
Interior lamp, remote
control26
Interior lamps62
Interior rearview mirror48
automatic dimming98
Interlock, refer to Steering
locked53
Intermittent operation of the
wipers63
Interval
display, service121
J
Jack133,137
points136
Jack, refer to Tire change set
MINI Mobility System137
Run-Flat Tires111
space-saver spare tire133
Jacking points136
Jets, refer to Ventilation81,84
Jets, refer to Windshield
washer jets64 John Cooper Works Kit148
Jump-starting142
K
Keys24
Kickdown57
Knock control101
L
Lamp defect129
Lamp replacement, refer to
Lamps and bulbs129
Lamps and bulbs129
Lamps, refer to Parking lamps/
Low beams60
Lashing eyelets, refer to
Securing the load94
LATCH child-restraint fixing
system52
Leather care124
LEDs light-emitting diodes132
Length, refer to
Dimensions149,150
License plate lamp, bulb
replacement132
Lifting handle, space-saver
spare tire133
Light switch60
Light-alloy wheels, care123
Light-emitting diodes
(LEDs)132 Lighter87
Lighting
lamps and bulbs129
Lighting of the instruments62
Lights on warning61
Load securing devices, refer to
Securing the load94
Loading
securing cargo94
stowing cargo94
Loading the vehicle92
Loads, refer to Loading cargo92
Locking
from inside28
from outside26
Locking/unlocking the vehicle,
acknowledgment
signals26,27
Low beams60
bulb replacement130
Lower back support, refer to
Lumbar support44