2008 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE seats

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 page79.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. Airbags are an additional safety device and
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.

45
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
HEAD RESTRAINTS ENTRY TO THE REAR
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.
To avoid possible violation of traffic laws,
never retract the head restraints unless the
rear seats are empty. Always ensure that
the head restraints are raised before trans-
porting passengers in the rear seat.<
Removal1. Pull up the head restraint as far as it will
go
2. Press the button, see arrow 1, while pull-
ing the head restraint all the way out.Installation1. Insert the head restraint into the guides
2. Adjust the head restraint.
Easy entryThe Easy entry function includes a memory
for the longitudinal seat and the backrest
positions.
1. Push down the lever at the outside of
the seat, see arrow 1.
The backrest folds forward automati-
cally
2. Push the seat forward, see arrow 2.
Original position
Slide the seat back to its home posi-
tion before folding back the backrest,
otherwise the seat is latched in at its cur-
rent position. In this case, adjust the longi-
tudinal position manually, refer to
page43.<
1. Push the seat back into its home posi-
tion
2. Fold the backrest back to the home posi-
tion to lock the seat.
When sliding the seat to the rear-
most position, ensure that no one is
injured and that no objects are damaged.
Engage and lock both seats and backrests
into position prior to driving; otherwise
unexpected movement could increase the
risk of an accident.<

46
SAFETY BELTS
Comply with the instructions on
page42, or the occupants' personal
safety will be diminished.<
Make sure every occupant fastens his or
her safety belt. Airbags are an additional
safety device and work in conjunction with
the safety belts, but do not replace them.
To closeMake sure you hear the lock engage in the
belt buckle.
Safety belt reminder for the front seats
The indicator lamp flashes or lights
up. A signal also sounds. Check if
the safety belts have been properly
fastened.
The safety belt reminder is operational
above a speed of approx. 5 mph / 8 km/h.
The reminder can also occur if objects are
on the front passenger seat.
To release1. Press the red button in the belt buckle
2. Hold the belt
3. Guide the belt back into its reel.
Safety belt height adjustment in the
MINIPress the button and at the same time push
the entire unit upwards or downwards.
Also observe the instructions on adjusting
the seats on page42.Safety belt height in the MINI
ConvertibleThe seat belt height is adapted to your
body size if you are sitting correctly.

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 page79.
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.<

79
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
AIRBAGSThe following airbags are located under the
marked covers:MINI1 Side airbags in the backrests
2 Head airbags
3 Front airbags MINI Convertible1 Side/head airbags in the backrests
3 Front airbags Protective effect
Comply with the instructions on
page42, or the occupants' personal
safety will be diminished.<
The front airbags supplement the safety
belts by providing additional protection for
the driver and front passenger in the event
of a frontal collision in which the protec-
tion afforded by the belts alone may no
longer be sufficient. When needed, the
head and side airbags help to furnish pro-
tection in the event of side impact. Each of
the side airbags is designed to help support
the seat occupant's upper body. The corre-
sponding side/head airbag in the MINI Con-
vertible or the head airbag in the MINI sup-
ports the head.
The airbags are designed to not be trig-
gered in certain types of collisions, e.g. not
in minor accidents or rear impacts.
For information on the ideal seating posi-
tion, refer to page42.
Do not apply adhesive materials to
the cover panels of the airbags, cover
them or modify them in any other way. Do
not fit covers, cushions or other items to
the front seats that have not been specially
approved for seats with integrated side air-
bags. Do not hang clothing, e. g. jackets,
over the backrests.
Do not attempt to remove the airbag
restraint system from the vehicle. Do not
touch the individual components directly
after the system has been triggered; other-
wise there is a danger of burns. In the event
of malfunctions, deactivation or deploy-
ment of the airbag restraint system, have
the system checked, repaired or disassem-
bled only by a MINI Dealer or a workshop
with specially trained personnel working in
accordance with the specifications of the
MINI manufacturer and having the neces-
sary permits for handling explosive devices.
Unprofessional attempts to service the sys-
tem could lead to failure in an emergency
or undesired airbag activation, either of
which could result in personal injury.<
Warning notices and information regard-
ing airbags can also be found on the sun
visors.Automatic deactivation of the front
passenger airbagsAn analysis of the impression in the front
passenger seat cushion determines
whether and how the seat is occupied. The
system correspondingly activates or deacti-
vates the front and side airbags for the
front passenger.
The indicator lamp above the interior
rearview mirror shows the current
status of the front passenger airbags, deac-

89
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
CENTER ARMREST
*
DRINKS HOLDERS, ASHTRAY
Storage compartmentsDepending on the equipment version
*, the
center armrest between the front seats
contains a compartment or a base plate for
a mobile phone.
To open:
Slide the cover backwards.
The cover slides along guide rails and
can be opened fully by pushing it
back and lifting it slightly.<
To close:
Push the cover forwards.
Beverage holdersBeverage holders are at the front or top of
the center console. Another is located at
the end of the center console in the rear.
Do not place any glass containers in
the beverage holders, as this
increases the risk of injury in the event of
an accident. age holders in the center console.

127
OVERVIEW REPAIRSOPERATIONCONTROLS DATA INDEX
CARING FOR YOUR VEHICLEdamage caused by undesired wiper activa-
tion. If necessary, for example before
entering a car wash or a garage with
elevator ramp, remove the rod antenna.
To do so, grip the rod antenna at the base
and unscrew it from the antenna foot by
turning it to the left.<
Headlamps
When cleaning the headlamps,
please note: do not rub the head-
lamps dry and do not use any abrasive or
caustic cleaning products. Remove dirt and
contamination, such as insects, by soaking
with shampoo and then rinsing with plenty
of water. Always use a deicer spray to
remove accumulated ice and snow; never
use a scraper.<
Vehicle paintwork Regular care contributes greatly to driving
safety and value retention.
Environmental influences varying from one
region to the next can affect the vehicle
paintwork. Please base the frequency and
scope of car care on these various influ-
ences.Care of upholsteryDepressions that come about on the uphol-
stery material of the seats in daily use can
be brushed out using a slightly damp brush
against the grain.
The fact that velour lays down is not a qual-
ity defect, but rather is inevitable in the
case of home textiles or clothing materials.
In the case of strong sunlight and longer
parking periods, cover the seats or all win-
dows to prevent discoloration.
Care of special parts>Light-alloy wheels
*:
Use wheel cleaner especially during the
winter months, but do not use any
aggressive, acidic, strong alkali or rough
cleansers or steam jets above 1407/
606. Observe the manufacturer's
instructions
>Chrome parts
* such as the bonnet grille,
door handles, and similar parts:
Particularly if they were exposed to road
salt, clean these parts carefully with
plenty of water and shampoo additive, if
necessary. For additional treatment, use
chrome polish
>Rubber components:
Treat only with water or rubber care
products.
Do not use silicon sprays or other
silicon-containing care products,
otherwise noise and damage could
occur.<
>Plastic parts, artificial leather surfaces,
headliner, lamp lenses, cover glass over
display elements as well as matt-black
die-cast parts:
Clean these parts with water and plastic
care products, if necessary. Do not
dampen seats and the headliner.
Never use solvents such as lacquer thin-

EVERYTHING FROM A TO Z
160
A
ABS Antilock Brake System72
indicator lamp17
,18
Accessories, refer to Your
individual vehicle6
Activated-charcoal filter87
Adjusting interior
temperature83
,86
Airbags79
passenger airbag status
lamp80
safe seating position42
warning lamp18
Air circulation, refer to
Recirculated air mode83
,86
Air conditioning system82
Air distribution
air conditioning system83
automatic climate control86
individual87
manual83
Air outlets, refer to
Ventilation84
,87
Air pressure, refer to Tire
inflation pressure108
Air volume
air conditioning system83
automatic climate control86
AKI, refer to Fuel quality105
All-season tires, refer to Winter
tires117All Season traction Control
(ASC)72
indicator lamps17
,18
Antenna127
Antifreeze
coolant122
washer fluid64
Antilock Brake System (ABS)72
indicator lamp17,18
Anti-theft system24
Approved axle load, refer to
Weights155
,156
Approved engine oils122
Approved gross vehicle weight,
refer to Weights155
,156
Armrest, refer to Center
armrest89
ASC All Season traction
Control72
indicator lamps17
,18
Assistant systems, refer to
All Season traction Control
(ASC)72
Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC)72
Automatic
air distribution86
air volume86
cruise control65
Automatic car washes126
Automatic climate control85Automatic transmission with
Steptronic
ignition53
indicator lamp57
interlock53
selector lever lock56
shiftlock56
towing148
tow-starting149
AUTO program, refer to
Automatic air distribution86
Aux-In socket88
Average consumption71
setting units71
Average speed71
setting units71
Axle loads, refer to
Weights155
,156
B
Backrests, refer to
Adjusting seats44
Backup lamp
bulb replacement135
Bar, towing148
Base plate for telephone or
mobile phone89Battery144
charging144
disposal144
indicator lamp16
jump-starting146
power failure144
Battery care69
,125
Being towed148
Belts, refer to Safety belts46
Beverage holders89
Black ice, refer to Temperature
warning70
Blower
air conditioning system83
automatic climate control86
Blower, refer to Air volume83
Blowers, refer to Draft-free
ventilation84,87
Bonnet118
indicator lamp17
Bottle holders, refer to
Beverage holders89
Brake discs
brake system103
break-in procedures102
Brake fluid124
level124
warning lamp16
Brake lamps, bulb
replacement135