2008 MINI COOPER CONVERTIBLE Owners Manual

7OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATION CONTROLS DATA INDEX
Editorial noticeThe manufacturer pursues a policy of con-
tinuous, ongoing development that is con-
ceived to ensure that MINI vehicles con-
tinue to embody the highest quality and
safety standards combined with advanced,
state-of-the-art technology. For this rea-
son, the features described in this Owner's
Manual could, in rare cases, differ from
those in your vehicle.For your own safetyFuels:
Use unleaded gasoline only. Fuels
containing up to and including 10 %
ethanol or other oxygenates with up to
2.8 % oxygen by weight, i.e. 15 % MTBE or
3 % methanol plus an equivalent amount of
co-solvent, will not void the applicable war-
ranties with respect to defects in materials
or workmanship. Field experience has indi-
cated significant differences in fuel quality,
i.e. volatility, composition, additives, etc.,
among gasolines offered for sale in the
United States and Canada. The use of
poor-quality fuels may result in driveabil-
ity, starting and stalling problems espe-
cially under certain environmental condi-
tions, such as high ambient temperature
and high altitude.
Should you encounter driveability prob-
lems which you suspect could be related to
the fuel you are using, we recommend that
you respond by switching to a recognized
high-quality brand.
Failure to comply with these recommenda-
tions may result in unscheduled mainte-
nance.
Obey pertinent safety rules when you are
handling gasoline.<
Maintenance and repair:
Advanced technology, e.g. the use of
modern materials and powerful elec-
tronics, requires specially adapted mainte-
nance and repair methods. Have the neces-
sary work on your MINI carried out by a
MINI Dealer or a workshop that has spe-
cially trained personnel working in accor-
dance with the specifications of the MINI
manufacturer. Work that is improperly car-
ried out could result in consequential dam-
age and pose safety hazards.<
California Proposition 65 warning:
California laws require us to state the fol-
lowing warning.
Engine exhaust and a wide variety of
automobile components and parts,
including components found in the interior
furnishings in a vehicle, contain or emit
chemicals known to the State of California
to cause cancer and birth defects and
reproductive harm. In addition, certain flu-
ids contained in vehicles and certain prod-
ucts of component wear contain or emit
chemicals known to the State of California
to cause cancer and birth defects or other
reproductive harm.
Battery posts, terminals and related acces-
sories contain lead and lead compounds.
Wash your hands after handling. Used
engine oil contains chemicals that have
caused cancer in laboratory animals.
Always protect your skin by washing thor-
oughly with soap and water.<
NOTES

8
NOTESParts and accessories:
For your own safety, use genuine
parts and accessories approved by
the manufacturer of the MINI.
When you purchase accessories tested
and approved by the manufacturer of the
MINI and Original MINI Parts, you simulta-
neously acquire the assurance that they
have been thoroughly tested by the manu-
facturer of the MINI to ensure optimum
performance when installed on your vehi-
cle.
The manufacturer of the MINI warrants
these parts to be free from defects in mate-
rial and workmanship.
The manufacturer of the MINI will not
accept any liability for damages resulting
from installation of parts and accessories
not approved by the manufacturer
of the MINI.
The manufacturer of the MINI cannot test
every product from other manufacturers to
verify if it can be used on a MINI safely and
without risk to either the vehicle, its opera-
tion, or its occupants.
Original MINI Parts, MINI Accessories and
other products approved by the manufac-
turer of the MINI, together with profes-
sional advice on using these items, are
available from all MINI Dealers.
Installation and operation of non-MINI
approved accessories such as alarms,
radios, amplifiers, radar detectors, wheels,
suspension components, brake dust
shields, telephones, including operation of
any portable cellular phone from within
the vehicle without using an externally
mounted antenna, or transceiver equip-
ment, e.g. CB, walkie-talkie, ham radio or
similar, may cause extensive damage to the
vehicle, compromise its safety, interfere
with the vehicle's electrical system or affect
the validity of the MINI Limited Warranty.
See your MINI Dealer for additional infor-
mation.<
Maintenance, replacement, or repair
of the emission control devices and
systems must be performed by an autho-
rized MINI Dealership or individual using
certified MINI parts. Indicates that you should consult the
relevant section of this Owner's Man-
ual for information on a particular part or
assembly.
Service and warrantyThis manual is supplemented by a Service
and Warranty Information Booklet for US
models or a Warranty and Service Guide
Booklet for Canadian models.
We recommend that you read this publica-
tion thoroughly.
Your MINI is covered by the following war-
ranties:
>New Vehicle Limited Warranty
>Rust Perforation Limited Warranty
>Federal Emissions System Defect War-
ranty
>Federal Emissions Performance War-
ranty
>California Emission Control System Lim-
ited Warranty.
Detailed information about these warran-
ties is listed in the Service and Warranty
Information Booklet for US models or in the
Warranty and Service Guide Booklet for
Canadian models.

9OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATION CONTROLS DATA INDEX
Reporting safety defectsFor US customers:
The following only applies to vehicles
owned and operated in the US.
If you believe that your vehicle has a defect
which could cause a crash or could cause
injury or death, you should immediately
inform the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration NHTSA in addition to noti-
fying the MINI Division of BMW of North
America, LLC, P.O. Box 1227, Westwood,
New Jersey 07675-1227, telephone toll-
free 1-866-275-6464.
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it
may open an investigation, and if it finds
that a safety defect exists in a group of
vehicles, it may order a recall and remedy
campaign. However, NHTSA cannot
become involved in individual problems
between you, your dealer, or BMW of North
America, LLC.
To contact NHTSA, you may call the Vehicle
Safety Hotline toll-free at 1-888-327-4236
(TTY: 1-800-424-9153); go to
http://www.safercar.gov; or write to:
Administrator, NHTSA, 400 Seventh Street,
SW., Washington, DC 20590. You can also
obtain other information about motor vehicle safety from
http://www.safercar.gov
For Canadian customers:
Canadian customers who wish to report a
safety-related defect to Transport Canada,
Defect Investigations and Recalls, may call
1-800-333-0510 toll-free from anywhere in
Canada or 1-613-993-9851 from the
Ottawa region and from other countries, or
contact Transport Canada by mail at:
Transport Canada, ASFAD, Place de Ville,
Tower C, 330 Sparks Street, Ottawa, ON,
K1A 0N5.
You can also obtain other information
about motor vehicle safety from
http://www.tc.gc.caNOTES

10

OVERVIEW
CONTROLS
OPERATION, CARE, MAINTENANCE
OWNER SERVICE PROCEDURES
INDEX TECHNICAL DATA
11
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATION CONTROLS DATA INDEX

12
1>Parking lamps/Low beams60
>Turn signal indicators61
>Standing lamps60
>High beams61
>Headlamp flasher61
>Onboard computer702 Washer/wiper system 63
3 Instrument lighting62
4 Outside mirror adjustment48
5 Hazard warning flashers6 Bonnet release118
7 Adjusting steering wheel47
8Horn
9 Socket for Onboard Diagnostics
OBD126COCKPIT

13
OVERVIEW REPAIRS OPERATION CONTROLS DATA INDEX
1Tachometer69
with indicator and warning lamps,
page16ff
2 Display for onboard computer70
without onboard computer:
Display of outside temperature and cur-
rent speed
3 Speedometer with indicator and warn-
ing lamps, page16 ff4Indicator for
>Odometer67
>Trip odometer67
>Service interval69
>Program indicator for automatic
transmission with Steptronic57
>Clock
5 Trip odometer, reset to zero67
Setting the clock676 Fuel gauge68
7 Engine coolant temperature gauge68DISPLAY ELEMENTS

14
1Tachometer69
with indicator and warning lamps,
page16ff
2 Display for onboard computer3 Speedometer with indicator and warn-
ing lamps, page16 ff
4 Trip odometer, reset to zero67
Setting the clock675Indicator for
>Odometer67
>Trip odometer67
>Service interval69
>Program indicator for automatic
transmission with Steptronic57
>ClockDISPLAY ELEMENTS WITH NAVIGATION SYSTEM
* OR COCKPIT CHRONO PACK
*