2007 MINI COOPER belt

Adjustments
28
Adjustments
Sitting safely
The ideal sitting position can make a vital contri-
bution to relaxed, fatigue-free driving. In con-
junction with the safety belts, the head restraints
and the airbags, the seated position has a major
influence on your safety in the event of an acci-
dent. To ensure that the safety systems operate
with optimal efficiency, we strongly urge you to
observe the instructions contained in the follow-
ing section.
For additional information on transporting chil-
dren safely, refer to page33.
Airbags
Always maintain an adequate distance
between yourself and the airbags. Always
grip the steering wheel on the rim, with your
hands in the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions, to
minimize the risk of injury to the hands or arms
in the event of the airbag being triggered off.
No one and nothing is to come between the air-
bags and the seat occupant.
Do not use the cover of the front airbag on the
front passenger side as a storage area. 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 airbag suddenly deployed.
Make sure that passengers do not lean their
heads against the side airbags, otherwise seri-
ous injuries could result if the airbags suddenly
deployed.<
Even if you follow all the instructions, injuries
resulting from contact with airbags cannot be
fully excluded, depending on the circumstances.
The ignition and inflation noise may provoke a
mild hearing loss in extremely sensitive individ-
uals. This effect is usually only temporary.
For airbag locations and additional information
on airbags, refer to page57.
Head restraint
A correctly adjusted head restraint reduces the
risk of neck injury in the event of an accident.
Adjust the head restraint in such a way
that its center is at approx. ear level. Oth-
erwise, there is an increased risk of injury in the
event of an accident.<
Head restraints, refer to page30.
Safety belt
Before every drive, make sure that all occupants
wear their safety belts. Airbags complement the
safety belt as an additional safety device, but
they do not represent a substitute.
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.
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 pulled taut across the lap
and shoulder, fitting the body snugly without
any twists. Otherwise the belt could slide over
the hips in the event of a frontal collision and
injure the abdomen. Avoid wearing bulky cloth-
ing and regularly pull the belt in the upper-body
area taut, otherwise its restraining effect could
be impaired.<
Safety belts, refer to page30.
Seats
Note before adjusting
Never attempt to adjust your seat while
the vehicle is moving. The seat could
respond with unexpected movement, and the
ensuing loss of vehicle control could lead to an
accident.
On the front passenger seat as well, do not
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ReferenceAt a glance Controls Driving tips Mobility
29
incline the backrest too far to the rear while the
vehicle is being driven, otherwise there is a dan-
ger in the event of an accident of sliding under
the safety belt, eliminating the protection nor-
mally provided by the belt.<
Comply with the instructions on head restraint
height on page30 and on damaged safety belts
on page31.
Seat adjustment
Observe the instructions on page28 to
ensure the best possible personal protec-
tion.<
Longitudinal adjustment
Pull the lever and slide the seat to the desired
position.
After releasing the lever, move the seat gently
forward or back to make sure it engages prop-
erly.
Height
Pull up or push down the lever repeatedly until
the desired height is reached.
Backrest
Pull the lever and apply your weight to the back-
rest or lift it off, as necessary.
Lumbar support*
You can also adjust the contour of the backrest
to obtain additional support in the lumbar
region.
The upper hips and spinal column receive sup-
plementary support to help you maintain a
relaxed, upright sitting position.
Turn the wheel to increase or decrease the cur-
vature.
Entry to the rear
Convenient entry
The convenient entry feature includes a
mechanical memory function for the longitudi-
nal adjustment and backrest angle.
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Adjustments
30
1.Pull up the lever on the seat backrest,
arrow1.
The backrest folds forward.
2.Slide the seat forward, arrow 2.
Previous position
1.Push the seat back into its previous position.
Do not fold the backrest up until the
seat is in its previous position. Other-
wise, the seat will engage in its current posi-
tion. In this case, adjust the longitudinal
position manually, page29.<
2.Fold the backrest back up to lock the seat.
When moving the seat backwards, ensure
that you do not cause personal injury or
property damage.
Before driving off, engage the front seats and
seat backrests. Otherwise there is a risk of acci-
dent due to unexpected movement.<
Head restraints
A correctly adjusted head restraint reduces the
risk of neck injury in the event of an accident.
Adjust the head restraint in such a way
that its center is at approx. ear level. Oth-
erwise, there is an increased risk of injury in the
event of an accident. Only remove a head
restraint if no one will be sitting on the seat in
question. Reinstall the head restraint before
transporting anyone on that seat. Otherwise,
the passenger will be without protection from
the head restraint.<
Height adjustment
To raise: pull up.
To lower: press the button, arrow1, and slide
the head restraint down.
Removing
1.Pull up as far as it will go.
2.Press the button, arrow1, and pull the head
restraint all the way out.
Seat heating*
Press once for each temperature level.
Three LEDs indicate the highest temperature.
If you continue driving within the next 15 min-
utes, the seat heating is automatically activated
at the previously set temperature.
Switching off
Press button longer.
Safety belts
Observe the instructions on page28 to
ensure the best possible personal protec-
tion.<
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ReferenceAt a glance Controls Driving tips Mobility
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Before every drive, make sure that all occupants
wear their safety belts. Airbags complement the
safety belt as an additional safety device, but
they do not represent a substitute.
Closing
Make sure you hear the lock engage in the belt
buckle.
The upper belt anchor is suitable for adults of
any stature as long as the seat is adjusted prop-
erly, page28.
Opening
1.Grasp the belt firmly.
2.Press the red button in the buckle.
3.Guide the belt into its reel.
Seat belt reminder
Front seats
The indicator lamps come on and an
acoustic signal sounds. Check whether
the safety belt has been fastened cor-
rectly. The 'Fasten safety belts'
reminder is issued when the driver's safety belt
has not been fastened. The 'Fasten safety belts'
reminder is also activated at road speeds above
approx. 5 mph or 8 km/h if the front passenger's
safety belt has not been fastened, if objects are
placed on the front passenger seat, or if driver or
front passenger unfasten their safety belts.
Damage to safety belts
If the safety belts are damaged or stressed
in an accident: have the safety belt system
and its seat-belt tensioners replaced and the
belt anchors checked. Have this work carried out only by a MINI Dealer or by a workshop that has
specially trained personnel working in accor-
dance with the specifications of the MINI manu-
facturer, otherwise correct operation of these
safety systems is not ensured.<
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors
The front passenger's mirror is more con-
vex than the driver's mirror. The objects
seen in the mirror are closer than they appear.
Do not gauge your distance from traffic behind
you on the basis of what you see in the mirror;
otherwise there is an increased risk of an acci-
dent.<
1Adjusting the left or right exterior mirror
2Folding mirrors in and out
*
Manual adjustment
The mirrors can also be adjusted manually: press
the edge of the glass.
Folding mirrors in and out*
Turn the knob beyond the pressure point in
direction 2. The mirrors can be folded in at road
speeds up to approx. 20 mph/30 km/h.
This can be beneficial in narrow streets, for
example, or for moving mirrors that were folded
in by hand back out into their correct positions.
Automatic heating*
At outside temperatures below a certain limit,
both exterior mirrors are automatically heated
while the engine is running or the ignition
switched on.
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ReferenceAt a glance Controls Driving tips Mobility
33
Transporting children safely
The right place for chil-
dren
Do not leave children unattended in the
vehicle, otherwise they could endanger
themselves and/or other persons by opening the
doors, for example.<
In general, every seat in your MINI, with the
exception of the driver's seat, can be used to
install child restraint systems for children of all
ages that are approved for the respective age
group.
Also comply with the following instructions.
Children should always sit in the rear
Only install child's seats in the rear when
the rear seat backrest is folded all the way
back and engaged. Otherwise there will be an
increased risk of injury in the event of an acci-
dent.<
Accident research has shown that the safest
place for children is on the rear seat.
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 be buck-
led in with a safety belt as soon as there no
longer is any child-restraint system that is
appropriate for their age, size and weight.
Exception for front passenger seat
Should it be necessary to use a child-
restraint system on the front passenger
seat, the front and side airbags must be deacti-
vated. Otherwise, there is an increased risk of
injury to the child if the airbags deploy, even if
the child is seated in a child-restraint system.<
For more information on automatic deactivation
of the front passenger airbags, refer to page57.
Child-restraint systems,
installation
Observe the child-restraint system manu-
facturer's instructions when selecting,
installing and using child-restraint systems. Oth-
erwise the protective effect may be dimin-
ished.<
On the front passenger's seat
After installing a child-restraint system on
the front passenger's seat, make sure that
the front and side airbags for the front passen-
ger are deactivated, otherwise there is an
increased risk of injury if the airbags deploy.<
Child seat security
All rear safety belts and the safety belt for the
front passenger can be prevented from being
pulled out in order to secure child-restraint sys-
tems.
To lock the safety belt
1.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 belt
1.Open the belt buckle
2.Remove the child-restraint system.
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Transporting children safely
34
3.Allow the safety belt strap to retract all the
way.
LATCH child-restraint fix-
ing system
LATCH: Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren.
When installing and using a LATCH child's
seat, comply with the system manufac-
turer's operating and safety instructions.<
Anchor points for LATCH anchors
Before installing the child's seat, pull the belt out
of the area for the child-restraint fixing system.
The anchor points for the lower LATCH anchors
are located behind the labeled protective caps.
Make sure that the two LATCH anchors are
properly engaged and that the child-
restraint system rests firmly against the seat
backrest.<
Child-restraint system with tether strap
There are two additional anchors for child-
restraint systems with tether straps, arrows.
Placement of the tether strap
1Direction of travel
2Head restraint
3Hook of upper retaining strap
4Cargo area floor
5Anchor
6Seat backrest
7Upper retaining strap of child-restraint sys-
tem
Make sure the upper retaining strap does
not run over sharp edges and is not
twisted as it passes to the top anchor. Otherwise
the strap will not properly secure the child-
restraint system in the event of an accident.<
1.Push the head restraint upward.
2.Guide the upper retaining strap between the
head restraint holders.
3.Use the hook to clip the retaining strap to
the anchor.
4.Push the head restraint into its lowermost
position.
5.Pull the retaining strap tight.
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Airbags
The following airbags are located under the
marked covers:
1Front airbags
2Side airbag
3Head airbag
Protective action
Observe the instructions on page28 to
ensure the best possible personal protec-
tion.<
The front airbags help protect the driver and
front passenger by responding to frontal
impacts in which safety belts alone cannot pro-
vide adequate restraint. When needed, the head
and side airbags help provide protection in the
event of side impact. The relevant side airbag
supports the side upper body area. The head air
bag supports the head.
The airbags are designed to not be triggered in
every type of collision, e.g. not in minor acci-
dents, certain rollover situations or rear impacts.
Do not apply adhesive materials to the
cover panels of the airbags, cover them or
modify them in any other way. Do not attach
seat covers, cushions or other objects not specif-
ically approved for seats with integral side air-
bags to the front seats. Do not hang items of
clothing such as coats or jackets over the back-
rests. Do not attempt to remove the airbag
retention system from the vehicle. Do not mod-
ify the individual components of the system or
its wiring in any way. This includes the uphol-
stered covers on the steering wheel, instrument
panel, seats and roof posts, as well as the sides
of the roof lining. Do not attempt to remove or dismantle the steering wheel.
Do not touch the individual components imme-
diately after the system has been triggered,
because there is a danger of burns.
In the event of malfunctions, deactivation, or
triggering of the airbag restraint system, have
the testing, repair, removal, and disposal of air-
bag generators executed only by a MINI Dealer
or a workshop that works according to repair
procedures of the manufacturer of your MINI
with correspondingly trained personnel and has
the required explosives licenses. Unprofessional
attempts to service the system could lead to fail-
ure in an emergency or undesired airbag activa-
tion, either of which could result in personal
injury.<
Warning notices and information about the air-
bags can also be found on the sun visors.
Automatic deactivation of the front
passenger airbags
An analysis of the impression in the front pas-
senger seat cushion determines whether and
how the seat is occupied. The front and side air-
bags for the front passenger are activated or
deactivated by the system accordingly.
The indicator lamp above the interior rear-
view mirror shows the current status of
the front passenger airbags, deactivated or acti-
vated, refer to Status of front passenger airbags
below.<
Before transporting a child on the front
passenger seat, read the safety precau-
tions and handling instructions under Transport-
ing children safely, page33.
The front and side airbags can also be deacti-
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Technology for driving comfort and safety
58
vated by adolescents and adults sitting in certain
positions; the indicator lamp for the front pas-
senger airbags comes on. In such cases, the pas-
senger should change his or her sitting position
so that the front passenger airbags are activated
and the indicator lamp goes out. If the desired
airbag status cannot be achieved by changing
the sitting position, transport the relevant pas-
senger on a rear seat. Do not attach covers,
cushions, ball mats or other items to the front
passenger seat unless they are specifically rec-
ommended by the manufacturer of your MINI.
Do not place any items under the seat which
could press against the seat from below. Other-
wise a correct analysis of the seat cushion is not
ensured.<
Status of front passenger airbags
The indicator lamp for the front passenger air-
bags shows the functional status of the front
passenger's front and side airbags in accordance
with whether and how the front passenger seat
is occupied. 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 seat.
The front and side airbags for the front pas-
senger are not activated.
Most child-restraint systems are
detected by the system. This particu-
larly applies to child-restraint systems that
were required by the NHTSA at the time of
manufacture of the vehicle. After installing a
child-restraint system, check that the indica-
tor lamp for the front passenger airbags
comes on. It indicates that the child-restraint system has been detected and that the front
passenger airbags are deactivated.<
>T h e i n d i c a t o r l a m p d o e s n o t c o m e o n a s l o n g
as a person of sufficient size and in a correct
sitting position is detected on the seat.
The front and side airbags for the front pas-
senger are activated.
>The indicator lamp does not come on if the
seat is empty.
The front and side airbags for the front pas-
senger are not activated.
Operational readiness of airbag system
As of radio readiness, page35, the warning
lamp comes on briefly to indicate that the entire
airbag system and the belt tensioners are oper-
ational.
Airbag system malfunction
>The warning lamp does not come on when
radio readiness or the ignition is switched
on.
>The warning lamp stays lit continuously.
In the event of a fault in the airbag system,
have it checked without delay, otherwise
there is the risk that the system will not function
as intended even if a sufficiently severe accident
occurs.<
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