
Cockpit
12
Displays
1Tachometer44
>Indicator and warning lamps13
2Display for
>Clock44
>Outside temperature44
>Current vehicle speed44
>Indicator and warning lamps13
3Resetting the trip odometer444Display for
>Position of automatic transmission
*37
>Computer
*45
>Date of next scheduled service, and 
remaining distance to be driven49
>Odometer and trip odometer44
>Initializing Flat Tire Monitor55
>Settings and information46
>Personal Profile settings18
5Instrument lighting62
6Speedometer
>Indicator and warning lamps13
7Fuel gauge45
8Radio display, refer to separate Owner's 
Manual
9Radio, refer to separate Owner's Manual 

ReferenceAt a glance Controls Driving tips Mobility
 25
If the vehicle detects that a remote control 
has been accidentally left inside the 
locked vehicle's cargo area after the tailgate is 
closed, the tailgate will reopen. The hazard 
warning flashers flash and an acoustic signal
* 
sounds.<
Windows and glass sunroof, electric*
If the engine is switched off, you can still operate 
the windows and glass sunroof so long as a door 
or the tailgate has not been opened.
If the doors and tailgate are closed again and the 
remote control is located inside the vehicle, the 
windows and the glass sunroof can be operated 
again.
Insert the remote control into the ignition lock to 
be able to operate the windows or glass sunroof 
when the engine is switched off and the doors 
are open.
Switching on radio readiness
Switch on radio readiness by briefly pressing the 
start/stop button, page35.
Do not depress the brake or the clutch, 
otherwise the engine will start.<
Starting the engine
The engine can be started or the ignition can be 
switched on when a remote control is inside the 
vehicle. It is not necessary to insert a remote 
control into the ignition lock, page35.
Switching off the engine in cars with 
automatic transmission
The engine can only be switched off when the 
selector lever is in position P, page36.
To switch the engine off when the selector lever 
is in position N, the remote control must be in 
the ignition lock.
Before driving a vehicle with automatic 
transmission into a car wash
1.Insert remote control into ignition lock.
2.Depress the brake.
3.Move the selector lever to position N.
4.Switch off the engine.The vehicle can roll.
Malfunction
Convenient access may malfunction due to local 
radio waves.
If this happens, open or close the vehicle via the 
buttons on the remote control or using the inte-
grated key. 
Insert the remote control into the ignition lock 
and start the engine.
Warning lamps
The warning lamp comes on when an 
attempt is made to start the engine: the 
engine cannot be started. The remote 
control is not inside the vehicle or is malfunc-
tioning. Take the remote control with you inside 
the vehicle or have it checked. If necessary, 
insert another remote control into the ignition 
lock.
The warning lamp comes on when the 
engine is running: the remote control is 
no longer inside the vehicle. After the 
engine is switched off, the engine can only be 
restarted within approx. 10 seconds.
The indicator lamp comes on: replace 
the battery in the remote control.
Replacing the battery
The remote control for convenient access con-
tains a battery that will need to be replaced from 
time to time.
1.Remove the cover.
2.Insert the new battery with the plus side fac-
ing up.
3.Press the cover on to close. 

ReferenceAt a glance Controls Driving tips Mobility
 35
Driving
Ignition lock
Insert the key all the way into the ignition lock.
>Radio readiness
Individual electrical consumers can operate.
>The electric steering wheel lock disengages 
audibly.
Insert the key into the ignition lock before 
you move the vehicle, otherwise the elec-
tric steering wheel lock will not disengage and 
you will not be able to steer the car.<
Removing the key from the ignition lock
Press in the key briefly. It is ejected slightly.
At the same time:
>The ignition is switched off if it was on 
beforehand.
>The electric steering wheel lock engages 
audibly.
Automatic transmission
You cannot take out the key unless the selector 
lever is in the P position: interlock.
Start/stop button
Briefly press the start/stop button to switch radio 
readiness or the ignition on or off. Do not 
depress the brake or clutch while doing so.
Briefly pressing the start/stop button while 
the brake or clutch is depressed starts the 
engine.<
Radio readiness
Individual electrical consumers can operate. The 
time and outside temperature are displayed in 
the tachometer.
Radio readiness is switched off automatically:
>When the key is removed from the ignition 
lock
>When using convenient access
* by pushing 
the button on the door handle or the   
button on the remote control, refer to Lock-
ing on page24
Ignition on
Most indicator and warning lamps in indicator 
area 1 of the displays, page13, light up for vary-
ing lengths of time.
When the engine is off, turn off the igni-
tion and any unnecessary electrical con-
sumers in order to preserve the battery.<
Radio readiness and ignition off
All indicator and warning lamps in the displays 
go out. 

Driving
36
Starting the engine
Do not allow the engine to run in enclosed 
spaces; otherwise inhalation of the nox-
ious exhaust gases can lead to unconsciousness 
and death. Exhaust gases contain carbon mon-
oxide, an odorless and colorless, but highly toxic 
gas. Never leave an unattended vehicle with the 
engine running, otherwise such a vehicle repre-
sents a potential safety hazard. 
Before leaving the car with the engine running, 
place the transmission in idle or move the selec-
tor lever to position P and apply the parking 
brake to prevent the car from moving.<
When starting the engine, do not depress the 
accelerator pedal.
Do not let the engine warm up with the vehicle 
at a standstill. Move off immediately at a moder-
ate engine speed.
The engine is started immediately when 
you briefly press the start/stop button and 
depress the brake if the car has automatic trans-
mission, or the clutch if the car has manual 
transmission. Do not depress either the brake or 
the clutch until you are ready to start the 
engine.<
Manual transmission
1.Depress the brake or apply the parking 
brake.
2.Depress the clutch.
3.Briefly press the start/stop button.
The starter operates automatically for a certain 
time, and stops automatically as soon as the 
engine has started.
Automatic transmission
1.Depress the brake.
2.Move the selector lever to position P.
3.Briefly press the start/stop button.
The starter operates automatically for a certain 
time, and stops automatically as soon as the 
engine has started.
Special starting conditions
In the following situations, press the accelerator 
pedal halfway down when starting the engine:
>If the engine does not start on the first 
attempt, for instance when it is extremely 
hot or cold.
>If the engine is started at very low tempera-
tures, below approx. + 57/–156, at high 
altitudes above approx. 3,300 ft/1,000 m.
Avoid frequent starting in quick succes-
sion or repeated start attempts in which 
the engine does not start. Otherwise, the fuel is 
not burned or inadequately burned and there is 
a danger of overheating and damaging the cat-
alytic converter.<
Switching off the engine
Always take the key with you when you 
leave the vehicle. 
When parking on a downhill incline, apply the 
parking brake, otherwise the vehicle could roll 
away.<
Manual transmission
1.Depress the brake or apply the parking 
brake.
2.With the car at a standstill, briefly press the 
start/stop button.
3.Shift into first gear or reverse.
Automatic transmission
1.With the car at a standstill, move the selector 
lever to position P.
2.Briefly press the start/stop button.
3.Apply the parking brake. 

ReferenceAt a glance Controls Driving tips Mobility
 37
Parking brake
The parking brake is primarily intended to pre-
vent the vehicle from rolling while parked; it 
brakes the rear wheels.
Applying
The lever locks in position automatically.
Releasing
Pull slightly upwards, press the button and lower 
the lever.
In exceptional cases, if the parking brake 
has to be used to slow or stop the car, do 
not pull the lever up too hard. In doing so, con-
tinuously press the button of the parking brake 
lever. 
Otherwise, excessive force could lead to over-
braking and loss of traction, i.e. fishtailing, at the 
rear axle.<
Manual transmission
When shifting into 5th or 6th gear, press 
the gearshift lever to the right. Otherwise 
the engine could be damaged if you inadvert-
ently shift into 3rd or 4th gear.<
Reverse gear
Select this only when the vehicle is stationary. 
When the gearshift lever is pressed to the left, a 
slight resistance has to be overcome.
Automatic transmission* 
with Steptronic
In addition to the fully automatic mode, you can 
shift gears manually using Steptronic, page38.
Parking the vehicle
To prevent the vehicle from rolling, always 
select position P and apply the parking 
brake before leaving the vehicle with the engine 
running.<
Removing the key
1.Move the selector lever to position P.
2.Switch off the engine.
3.Remove the key.
Selector lever positions
P R N D M/S + –
Displays in the tachometer
P R N D DS M1 to M6
The selector lever position is displayed, or the 
current gear in the manual mode.
Changing selector lever positions
>With the ignition switched on or the engine 
running, the selector lever can be moved out 
of position P: interlock. 

Driving
38
>Before moving the lever away from P or N 
with the vehicle stationary, first depress the 
brake; otherwise the selector lever will 
refuse to move: shiftlock.
To prevent the vehicle from creeping 
after you select a driving position, 
depress the brake until you are ready to 
start.<
A lock prevents accidental shifting into selector 
lever positions R and P.
Overriding the selector lever lock
Press the button on the front of the selector 
lever, arrow.
P Park
Select this only when the vehicle is stationary. 
The transmission locks to prevent the drive 
wheels from turning.
R Reverse
Select this only when the vehicle is stationary.
N Neutral, idle
Select this when you are in a car wash, for exam-
ple. The vehicle can roll.
D Drive, automatic position
Position for normal vehicle operation. All for-
ward gears are selected automatically.
Under normal operation conditions, fuel con-
sumption is lowest when you drive in position D.
Kick-down
Kick-down enables you to achieve maximum 
performance. Depress the accelerator pedal beyond the full-
throttle resistance point.
Sport program and manual operation 
M/S
Move the selector lever from position D to the 
left into the M/S shifting slot:
The Sport program is activated and DS is dis-
played.
Shifting with the selector lever
Push the selector lever forward or pull it back to 
activate manual operation. Steptronic shifts the 
gear.
>Pull the selector lever in the + direction.
Transmission shifts up.
>Push the selector lever in the – direction.
Transmission shifts down.
M1 to M6 is displayed in the gear indicator.
To use the automatic mode again, move the 
selector lever to the right into position D.
Upshifts and downshifts are executed only when 
they will result in a plausible combination of 
engine and vehicle speed; thus, for example, a 
downshift that would cause the engine to over-
rev will not be executed by the system. The 
selected gear is displayed briefly, followed by 
the actual gear.
Shifting on the steering wheel
With the selector lever in position D, automatic 
drive, you can shift gears using the shift paddles 
on the steering wheel. The transmission auto-
matically switches to manual mode.
If you do not shift gears with the shift paddles or 
accelerate for a certain amount of time, the  

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.< 

Driving
42
Washer fluid
Washer fluid antifreeze is flammable. 
Always keep it well away from sparks and 
open flames, and store it in the tightly closed 
original container, well out of the reach of chil-
dren. Comply with the instructions on the con-
tainer.<
Washer fluid reservoir
Fill with water and, if required, with a washer 
antifreeze, according to manufacturer's recom-
mendations.
Mix the water and antifreeze before filling 
the washer fluid reservoir to make sure 
the correct concentration is maintained.<
Capacity
Approx. 2.6 US quarts/2.5 liters.
With headlamp washer system: 
Approx. 4.8 US quarts/4.5 liters.
Cruise control*
The concept
Cruise control is available for use at speeds 
above approx. 20 mph or 30 km/h. The car then 
stores and maintains the speed that you specify 
using the button on the steering wheel.
Do not use cruise control when driving at 
constant speed is prevented by adverse 
conditions, e.g. winding roads, dense traffic or 
poor road conditions due to, e.g., snow, rain, ice 
or loose surfaces. Otherwise you could lose con-
trol of the vehicle and cause an accident as a 
result.<
Activating
1Resuming cruise control
2Activating/deactivating cruise control
3Maintaining, storing and increasing speed
4Maintaining, storing and decreasing speed
The indicator lamp in the speedometer comes 
on. Cruise control is ready and can be activated.
Activating/deactivating cruise control
Press button 2.
In addition, the system is automatically deacti-
vated:
>When the brakes are applied
>When the clutch is depressed
>When the automatic transmission is in selec-
tion lever position N
>When the driving stability control system is 
active
Cruise control is not deactivated by depressing 
the accelerator pedal. Once the accelerator 
pedal is released, the stored speed is achieved 
again and maintained.
The stored speed is cleared when the ignition is 
switched off.
Maintaining current speed
Press button3.
The system maintains and stores the current 
vehicle speed.
If, on a downhill grade, the engine braking effect 
is not sufficient, the controlled speed may be 
exceeded. On uphill grades vehicle speed may 
drop if the engine output is insufficient.