REFERENCEAT A GLANCE CONTROLS DRIVING TIPS MOBILITY
29
Electric power windows
initializing
If the battery was disconnected, e.g. for
changing batteries or vehicle storage,
reinitialize the power window switch, otherwise
the windows will not be lowered .
MINI Convertible: Opening the convertible top is
not possible.<
1.Close the doors.
2.Close both windows.
3.Close both windows.
In the event of a system malfunction, please
contact your MINI Dealer.
MINI Convertible: Central power
window unit
>Press the switch downwards.
First the rear windows, then the front win-
dows open until the button is released.
>Tap the switch downwards.
With ignition turned on: rear and front win-
dow open automatically.
Tap the switch again to stop the opening
movement.
To close the window, push the button upward
and hold.
Do not close the windows until the closing
procedure for the convertible top is fin-
ished. Otherwise it is not ensured that the side
windows will close properly against the rubber
seals of the convertible top. Convertible top,
refer to page31.<
After switching off the ignition
When the ignition is switched off, the windows
can still be operated for approx. 1 minute as
long as no door is opened.Take the key with you when you leave the
car, otherwise children could operate the
electric windows and possibly injure them-
selves.<
MINI: Pinch protection system
This function does not apply to the MINI Con-
vertible.
If the closing force exceeds a specific value as a
window closes, the closing action is interrupted
and the window reopens slightly.
Even though there is the pinch protection
system, always ensure that the window's
travel path is clear, otherwise the safety system
might fail to detect certain kinds of obstructions,
such as thin objects, and the window would con-
tinue closing.
Do not install any accessories that might inter-
fere with window movement. Otherwise the
pinch protection system could be impaired.<
Closing without pinch protection
If there is an external danger, or if ice on the win-
dows, etc., prevents you from closing the win-
dows normally, the window can be closed man-
ually.
1.Press the switch upward and hold it there.
Pinch protection is limited and the window
reopens slightly if the closing force exceeds
a certain value.
2.Press the switch upward again within
approx. 4 seconds and hold it there. The
window closes without pinch protection.
Convertible top with
integrated sliding
sunroof
To conserve battery power, if possible
operate the convertible top only while the
engine is running.
Prior to closing the convertible top, check for
and remove all debris from the windshield
frame, otherwise the closing of the top may be
hampered.<
REFERENCEAT A GLANCE CONTROLS DRIVING TIPS MOBILITY
31
Opening and closing the convertible top
To open:
Press the switch backward in order to open the
sliding/tilting sunroof. Pressing the button again
opens the convertible top.
To close:
Press the switch forward.
Operating while driving
The convertible top may be opened or closed
while driving not faster than 20 mph/30 km/h.
While operating the convertible top, pay
close attention to the surrounding traffic,
otherwise an accident may happen. Try to avoid
operating the convertible top while reversing
the vehicle since the rear view is very limited
during the convertible top's movement. Do not
operate the convertible top when driving on
winding and rough roads or during windy condi-
tions.<
For better control
>The LED lights up during convertible top
operation until the opening or closing pro-
cedure is completely finished.
>The LED flashes after releasing the switch.
The opening or closing procedure has not
yet been completed. The procedure can be
continued in the desired direction by press-
ing the appropriate button.
>The indicator lamp Convertible top not
locked, refer to page141, lights up.
Interruption
A convertible top which is not completely
open or closed is hazardous.<
The automatic movement is immediately inter-
rupted when the button for the convertible top
operation is released. The procedure can be
continued in the desired direction by pressing
the appropriate button
If the opening or closing procedure is inter-
rupted by releasing the respective button, the
convertible top stays in its current position for
several seconds before it slowly moves into a
more stable position. The procedure can be con-
tinued by pressing the appropriate button.
The opening and closing procedure is also inter-
rupted in case of a mechanical blockage. In this
case, in order to operate the convertible top
again:
1.Turn off the ignition and then switch it on
again.
2.Press the button to continue the procedure
in the desired direction.
Opening and closing procedure
Do not interrupt and restart the closing
procedure several times one after
another, or the convertible top mechanism
could be damaged.<
If the convertible top can be moved in only
one direction after several consecutive
attempts to operate it, the convertible top sys-
tem has overheated. Allow the system to cool
down for approx. 4 minutes.<
If the battery was disconnected, e.g. for
changing batteries or vehicle storage,
reinitialize the power windows, refer to page29.
Otherwise the windows cannot be lowered or
the convertible top cannot be opened.<
Convenient operation
For convenience operation using the remote
control refer to page19, for operation via the
door lock refer to page22.
Adjustments
34
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 page40.
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 page70.
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 page36.
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 clothing and
regularly pull the belt in the upper-body area
taut, otherwise its restraining effect could be
impaired.<
Safety belts, refer to page37.
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
incline the backrest too far to the rear while the
Adjustments
38
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.
Interior rearview mirror
To reduce glare from vehicles behind you when
you are driving at night:
Turn the knob.
Interior mirror, automatic dimming*
The automatic dimming feature of the interior
rearview mirror
* is controlled by two photo cells
in the mirror. One photo cell is in the mirror
fr a m e , a r r o w ; t h e o t h e r i s o n t h e b a c k o f t h e m ir -
ror.
REFERENCEAT A GLANCE CONTROLS DRIVING TIPS MOBILITY
43
Driving
Ignition lock
Inserting the key into the ignition lock
Insert the key all the way into the ignition lock.
Radio readiness
Individual electrical consumers can operate.
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.
Automatic transmission
You cannot take out the key unless the selector
lever is in the P position: interlock.
Start/stop button
Press the start/stop button to switch radio readi-
ness or the ignition on and off. Do not depress
the brake or clutch while doing so.When you press the start/stop button and
depress the clutch if the car has manual
transmission or the brake if the car has auto-
matic transmission, the engine starts.<
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 page26
>after a certain has elapsed
Ignition on
Most indicator and warning lamps in indicator
area 1, page13, light up for varying lengths of
time.
When the engine is off, switch 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.
The ignition automatically turns off
* when the
driver's door is opened. Pressing the start/stop
button again switches the ignition back on.
The ignition is not switched off in situations such
as the following:
>The clutch or brake is depressed
>The low beams are switched on
Driving
44
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 while the engine is run-
ning, place the transmission in neutral or move
the selector lever to position P and forcefully
apply the parking brake to prevent the car from
moving.<
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.<
Do not let the engine warm up with the vehicle
at a standstill. Move off immediately at a moder-
ate engine speed.
When starting the engine, do not depress the
accelerator pedal.
Manual transmission
Key in ignition lock or inside vehicle with conve-
nient access, refer to page26.
1.Depress the brake.
2.Depress the clutch.
3.Press the start/stop button.
Automatic transmission
Key in ignition lock or inside vehicle with conve-
nient access, refer to page26.
1.Depress the brake.
2.Shift the selector lever into position P or N.
3.Press the start/stop button.
The starter operates automatically for a certain
time, and stops automatically as soon as the
engine has started.
Engineswitching off
Always take the key with you when you
leave the vehicle.
When parking, apply the parking brake force-
fully, otherwise the vehicle could begin to roll.<
Manual transmission
1.With the car at a standstill, press the
start/stop button.
2.Shift into first gear or reverse.
3.Forcefully apply the parking brake.
Automatic transmission
1.With the car at a standstill, move the selector
lever to position P.
2.Press the start/stop button.
3.Forcefully apply the parking brake.
Before driving into a car wash
By following these steps, the vehicle is able to
roll:
1.Place the remote control, even with conve-
nient access, in the ignition lock.
2.Depress the brake.
3.Move the selector lever to position N.
4.Switch off the engine.
Driving
46
Changing selector lever positions
>The selector lever can only be moved out of
position P if the ignition i s s w i t c h e d o n o r t h e
engine is running: interlock.
>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
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.
The tachometer displays M1 to M6.
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.
Driving
48
1.Switch on the ignition, refer to page43.
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.
5.Press and hold the button until the display
changes.
6.Briefly press the button repeatedly until the
display shows the illustrated symbol, arrow.
7.Press and hold the button until the display
changes.8.Briefly press the button to select:
>
Brief indication of a turn.
>
Triple turn signal.
9.Press and hold the button until the display
changes. The setting is stored.
Wiper system
1Switching on wipers
2Switching off wipers or brief wipe
3Activating/deactivating intermittent mode
or rain sensor
*
4Cleaning windshield and headlamps*
Switching on wipers
Press the lever upward, arrow1.
The lever automatically returns to its initial posi-
tion when released.
Normal wiper speed
Press once.
The system switches to intermittent operation
when the vehicle is stationary.
Fast wiper speed
Press twice or press beyond the resistance point.
The system switches to normal speed when the
vehicle is stationary.