
Reference
At a glance Controls Driving tips Mobility
 13
Indicator and warning 
lamps
The concept
Indicator and warning lamps can light up in var-
ious combinations and colors in the indicator 
areas 1 and2.
Some lamps are checked for proper functioning 
and thus come on briefly when the engine is 
started or the ignition is switched on.
What to do in case of a malfunction
A list of all indicator and warning lamps, as well 
as notes on possible causes of malfunctions and 
on how to respond, can be found starting on 
page116. 

Opening and closing
18
Opening and closing
Keys/remote controls
Remote control with integrated key
Each remote control contains a rechargeable 
battery that is automatically recharged when it 
is in the ignition lock while the car is being 
driven. You should therefore use each remote 
control at least twice a year to maintain the 
charge status. In vehicles equipped with conve-
nient access
*, the remote control contains a 
replaceable battery, page25.
If more than one remote control is used, the set-
tings called up and implemented depend on 
which remote control is recognized when the 
car is unlocked, refer to Personal Profile, 
page18.
In addition, information about service require-
ments is stored in the remote control, refer to 
Service data in the remote control, page98.
Integrated key
Press button1 to release the key.
The integrated key fits the following locks:
>Driver's door, page21
New remote controls
Your MINI Dealer can supply new remote con-
trols with integrated keys as additional units or 
as replacements in the event of loss.
Personal Profile
The concept
The functions of your MINI can be set individu-
ally. By means of Personal Profiles, most of these 
settings are stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use. When you unlock the car, the 
remote control is recognized and the settings 
stored for it are called up and implemented.
This means that your settings will be activated 
for you, even if in the meantime your car was 
used by someone else with another remote con-
trol and the corresponding settings.
At most three remote controls can be set for 
three different people. A prerequisite is that 
each person uses a separate remote control.
Personal Profile settings
For more information on specific settings, refer 
to the specified pages.
>Response of the central locking system 
when the car is being unlocked19
>Automatic locking of the vehicle22
>12h/24h mode of the clock, refer to Formats 
and units of measure47
>Date format, refer to Formats and units of 
measure47
>Units of measure for fuel consumption, dis-
tance covered/remaining distances and 
temperature, refer to Formats and units of 
measure47
>Automatic climate control
*: AUTO program, 
activating/deactivating cooling function and 
automatic recirculated-air control, setting 
temperature, air flow rate and 
distribution66 

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  

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. 

ReferenceAt a glance Controls Driving tips Mobility
 39
transmission automatically returns to D, auto-
matic drive.
>Pull one of the shift paddles.
Transmission shifts up.
>Push one of the shift paddles.
Transmission shifts down.
M1 to M6 is displayed in the gear indicator.
Overriding the selector lever lock
Should the selector lever refuse to move out of 
position P although the button on the selector 
lever is pressed, the selector lever lock can be 
overridden:
1.Unclip the sleeve of the selector lever.
2.Pull the sleeve up over the selector lever 
until the sleeve is inside out. Disconnect the 
cable connector if necessary.
3.Depress the brake.
4.Pull up the  loop on t he passeng er side w hile 
at the same time moving the selector lever 
into the desired position.
Sport button*
Pressing the button causes your MINI to respond 
even more sportily.>Engine responds more spontaneously to 
movements of the accelerator.
>Steering response is more direct.
With automatic transmission:
>More rapid gear shifting in Sport program
Activating the system
Press the SPORT button.
Deactivating the system
>Press the SPORT button again or
>switch off the engine.
Turn signals/
headlamp flasher
1Turn signal indicators
2Headlamp flasher
Using turn signals
Press the lever beyond the resistance point.
To turn off manually, press the lever to the resis-
tance point.
Unusually rapid flashing of the indicator 
lamp indicates that a bulb has failed.< 

Everything under control
44
Everything under control
Odometer, outside tem-
perature display, clock
1Outside temperature display and clock or 
current speed
2Odometer and trip odometer
3Resetting the trip odometer
Units of measure
Select the respective units of measure, miles or 
km for the odometer as well as 7 or 6 for the 
outside temperature, page47.
Outside temperature display, time
Setting the time, refer to page50.
Outside temperature warning
When the displayed temperature sinks to 
approx. +377/+36, a signal sounds and a 
warning lamp lights up. There is an increased 
risk of black ice.
Black ice can also form at temperatures 
above +377/+36. You should therefore 
drive carefully on bridges and shaded roads, for 
example, otherwise there is an increased risk of 
an accident.<
Current vehicle speed
To have the current speed shown in the upper 
display for the outside temperature and time.
Press and hold the button in the turn indicator 
lever until the display changes.The outside temperature then appears in the 
bottom display.
Odometer and trip odometer
Resetting the trip odometer
With the ignition switched on, press knob 3 in 
the tachometer.
When the vehicle is parked
To display the time, outside temperature and 
odometer briefly after the key is removed from 
the ignition lock:
Press knob 3 in the tachometer.
Tachometer
Never operate the engine with the needle in the 
red overspeed zone of the gauge. In this range, 
the fuel supply is interrupted to protect the 
engine.
Coolant temperature
A warning lamp will come on if the coolant, and 
therefore the engine, becomes too hot. 
Check coolant level, refer to page96. 

ReferenceAt a glance Controls Driving tips Mobility
 45
Fuel gauge
Fuel tank capacity
You can find information on refueling on 
page84.
If the tilt of the vehicle varies for a longer period, 
when you are driving in mountainous areas, for 
example, the indicator may fluctuate slightly.
MINI Cooper
Approx. 10.6 US gallons/40 liters.
MINI Cooper S
Approx. 13.2 US gallons/50 liters.
Reserve
Once the fuel level has fallen to the reserve zone 
of approx. 2.1 US gallons/8 liters, the remaining 
indicator lamps change from orange to red, 
arrow. The tachometer displays the remaining 
cruising range. An indicator lamp comes on if 
the remaining range is less than approx. 
30 miles/50 km.
Do not continue driving to the point where 
the fuel tank is totally empty. Otherwise 
engine performance is not guaranteed and 
damage could occur.<
Computer*
Displays in tachometer
Press the button in the turn indicator lever 
repeatedly to call up various items of informa-
tion.
The following items of information are displayed 
in the order listed:
>Cruising range
>Average fuel consumption
>Current fuel consumption
>Average speed
>Current vehicle speed
To set the corresponding units of measure, refer 
to Formats and units of measure on page47.
Cruising range
Displays the estimated cruising range available 
with the remaining fuel. The range is calculated 
on the basis of the way the car has been driven 
over the last 18 miles/30 km and the amount of 
fuel currently in the tank.
If the range displayed is less than 
30 miles/50 km, be sure to refuel; other-
wise engine functions are not guaranteed and 
damage could occur.<
Average fuel consumption
Calculated for the time the engine has been run-
ning.
To reset average fuel consumption: press the 
button in the turn indicator lever for approx. 
2seconds. 

ReferenceAt a glance Controls Driving tips Mobility
 47
6Adjusting settings
>Confirmation signals when locking and 
unlocking the vehicle20
>Response during unlocking 
procedure19
>Automatic locking22
>Pathway lighting59
>Daytime running lamps60
>Triple turn signal activation407Setting the time50
8Setting the date51
9Exiting the menu
Exiting displays
1.Briefly press the button in the turn indicator 
lever repeatedly until "HOME" is displayed.
2.Press the button for a longer period.
The display again shows the outside tempera-
ture and the time.
Displays are also exited if no entries are made 
for approx. 8 seconds.
Next setting or item of information
1.Within a setting or item of information, 
briefly press the button in the turn indicator 
lever repeatedly until "NEXT" is displayed.
2.Press the button for a longer period.
The display changes directly to the next setting 
or item of information.
Formats and units of 
measure
To set the formats and units of measure. The set-
tings are stored for the remote control currently 
in use, refer also to Personal Profile on page18.
1.Switch on the ignition, refer to page35.
2.Briefly press the button in the turn indicator 
lever repeatedly until "SET/INFO" is dis-
played.
3.Press and hold the button until the display 
changes.
4.Briefly press the button repeatedly until the 
symbol and "SET" are displayed.