
Adjustments
38
On the front passenger seat as well, do not 
incline the backrest too far to the rear while the 
vehicle is being driven; otherwise, there is a dan-
ger in the event of an accident of sliding under 
the safety belt, eliminating the protection nor-
mally provided by the belt.<
Comply with the instructions on head restraint 
height on page39 and on damaged safety belts 
on page41.
Seat adjustment
Observe the instructions on page37 to 
ensure the best possible personal pro-
tection.<
Longitudinal adjustment
Pull the lever, arrow 1, and slide the seat to the 
desired position, arrows 2.
After releasing the lever, move the seat gently 
forward or back to make sure it engages 
properly.
Height
Pull up or push down the lever repeatedly, 
arrows 1, until the desired height is reached, 
arrows 2.
Backrest
Pull the lever, arrow 1, and apply your weight to 
the backrest or lift it off, as necessary, arrows 2.
Lumbar support*
You can also adjust the contour of the backrest 
to obtain additional support in the lumbar 
region.
The upper hips and spinal column receive sup-
plementary support to help you maintain a 
relaxed, upright sitting position.
Turn the wheel to increase or decrease the cur-
vature.
Entry to the rear
Easy entry on the driver's side
The easy entry feature includes a mechanical 
memory function for the longitudinal adjust-
ment and backrest angle. 

REFERENCEAT A GLANCE CONTROLS DRIVING TIPS MOBILITY
 43
Transporting children safely
The right place for 
children
Do not leave children unattended in the 
vehicle; otherwise, they could endanger 
themselves and/or other persons by opening the 
doors, for example.<
Children should always sit in the rear
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 appro-
priate for their age, size and weight.
Only install child seats in the rear when the 
rear seat backrest is folded all the way 
back and engaged. Otherwise, there is an 
increased risk of injury in the event of an 
accident.<
Exception for front passenger seat
Front passenger airbags
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 page73.
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 seat
After installing a child restraint system on 
the front passenger 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.<
Seat position
Before installing a child restraint system, move 
the front passenger seat as far back and up
* 
as possible to obtain the best possible position 
for the belt. Do not change the seat position 
after this.
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 
systems.
To lock the safety belt
1.Secure the child restraint system with 
the belt.
2.Pull the belt strap all the way out. 

REFERENCEAT A GLANCE CONTROLS DRIVING TIPS MOBILITY
 95
Loading aid
When the convertible top is closed, you can load 
the vehicle more easily by releasing the convert-
ible top and folding it up.
1.Release the convertible top using the han-
dles, see arrows 1.
2.Lift the convertible top, see arrow 2.
3.Fold back the handles and place them on 
holders3.
Expanding the luggage compartment 
volume
You can enlarge the luggage compartment vol-
ume when the convertible top is closed.
1.Fold the convertible top upwards, refer to 
Loading aid.
2.Pull the luggage compartment's roller cover 
from its lower storage area and towards the 
rear, then swing upward, see arrows 1.
3.Push cover into the upper storage areas, see 
arrows 2 and place down horizontally.
To operate the convertible top, move 
the cargo bay cover back to its lower 
position.<
Through-loading system
To be able to transport larger objects, the rear 
backrest can be folded down.
1.If necessary, use the integrated key and 
open the backrest lock 1.
2.Press button2 and fold down backrest 
together with the belt strap.
3.Fold the backrest forward.
When folding the backrest back into its 
original position, always ensure that the 
catch engages securely. A loose backrest might 
fail to prevent cargo from entering the passen-
ger compartment during sudden braking or eva-
sive maneuvers, posing a potential hazard to 
occupants.
The belt guide loop, refer to page40, must be 
closed.<
Determining cargo limit
1.Locate the following statement on your 
vehicle's placard
*:
The combined weight of occupants 
and cargo should never exceed 
X X X k g  o r  Y Y Y l b s .  O t h e r w i s e ,  d a m a g e  t o  t h e  
vehicle and unstable driving situations may 
result.< 

Things to remember when driving
96
2.Determine the combined weight of the 
driver and passengers that will be riding in 
your vehicle.
3.Subtract the combined weight of the driver 
and passengers from XXX kilograms or YYY 
pounds.
4.The resulting figure equals the available 
amount of cargo and luggage load capacity. 
For example, if the XXX amount equals 
1,400 lbs. and there will be four 150 lbs. pas-
sengers in your vehicle, the amount of avail-
able cargo and luggage load capacity is 
650 lbs: 
1,400 lbs. minus 750 lbs. = 650 lbs.
5.Determine the combined weight of luggage 
and cargo being loaded on the vehicle. That 
weight may not safely exceed the available 
cargo and luggage load capacity calculated 
in step 4.
6.I f  y o u r  v e h icl e  w i ll  be  t o w i n g  a  t r a il e r ,  pa r t  o f  
the load from your trailer will be transferred 
to your vehicle. Consult the manual for 
transporting a trailer to determine how this 
may reduce the available cargo and luggage 
load capacity of your vehicle.
Load
The permissible load is the sum of the occu-
pants' weights and the weight of the cargo. The 
greater the weight of the occupants, the less 
cargo/luggage can be transported.
Stowing cargo
>Position heavy objects as low and as far for-
ward as possible, ideally directly behind the 
rear seat backrests.
>Cover sharp edges and corners.>For very heavy cargo when the rear seat is 
not occupied, secure each safety belt in the 
respective opposite buckle.
>Do not stack higher than the top edge of the 
backrests.
MINI
MINI Convertible
Securing cargo
>Secure smaller and lighter items using 
retaining or draw straps
*.
>Heavy-duty cargo straps
* for securing larger 
and heavier objects are available at your 
MINI dealer. Four lashing eyes are provided 
for attaching the cargo straps. Two of them 
are located on the forward wall of the 
cargo bay. 

REFERENCEAT A GLANCE CONTROLS DRIVING TIPS MOBILITY
 97
Comply with the information enclosed with 
the load-securing devices.
Always position and secure the cargo as 
described above, so that it cannot endan-
ger the car's occupants, for example if sudden 
braking or swerves are necessary. 
Do not exceed the approved gross weight and 
axle loads, page 157; otherwise, the vehicle's 
operating safety is no longer assured and the 
vehicle will not be in compliance with the certifi-
cation regulations. 
Heavy or hard objects should not be carried 
loose inside the car, since they could be thrown 
around, for example as a result of heavy braking, 
sudden swerves, etc., and endanger the occu-
pants. Do not secure cargo using the fastening 
points for the tether strap, page44; they may 
become damaged.<
MINI: Roof-mounted 
luggage rack*
A special rack system is available as an option for 
your MINI. Your MINI dealer will be glad to 
advise you. Comply with the installation instruc-
tions supplied with the rack system.
Mounting points
Remove the cover panel.
Loading roof-mounted luggage rack
Because roof racks raise the vehicle's center of 
gravity when loaded, they have a major effect 
on vehicle handling and steering response. 
You should therefore always remember not to 
exceed the approved roof load capacity, the approved gross vehicle weight or the axle loads 
when loading the rack.
You can find the applicable data under Weights 
on page 157.
The roof load must be distributed uniformly and 
should not be too large in area. Heavy items 
should always be placed at the bottom.
When loading, make sure that there is sufficient 
space for the movement of the glass sunroof 
and that no objects protrude into the swiveling 
area of the tailgate; otherwise, damage can 
occur.
Fasten roof-mounted cargo correctly and 
securely to prevent it from shifting or falling off 
during the trip.
Drive smoothly. Avoid sudden acceleration and 
braking maneuvers, and take corners gently.
Rear luggage rack*
A specially designed rear luggage rack is avail-
able for your MINI Convertible as optional acces-
sory. Please read the in information provided in 
the assembly instructions.
Mounting points
The mounting points can be found under the 
covers inside the bumper.
Push out the covers from the respective 
recesses.
Loading the rear luggage rack
When loading the rack, please ensure not to 
exceed the permissible roof load, the permissi-
ble gross vehicle weight, and the axle weight. 

Things to remember when driving
98
You can find the applicable data under Weights 
on page 157.
Saving fuel
Fuel consumption depends on a number of dif-
ferent factors. The implementation of certain 
measures, your driving style and regular mainte-
nance can have an influence on fuel consump-
tion and on the environmental impact.
Remove unnecessary cargo
Additional weight increases fuel consumption.
Remove attached parts no longer in use
Remove auxiliary mirrors, roof- or rear-mounted 
luggage racks whenever you are not using 
them.
Attached parts on the vehicle affect its aerody-
namics and increase fuel consumption.
Check tire inflation pressure regularly
Check and, if necessary, correct tire inflation 
pressure at least twice a month and before start-
ing on a long trip.
Low inflation pressure increases rolling resis-
tance and thus leads to greater fuel consump-
tion and tire wear.
Drive off immediately
Do no t wa it for t he eng ine to  warm u p wh ile  the 
vehicle remains stationary. Start driving right 
away, but at moderate engine speeds. This is the 
fastest way for the cold engine to reach its oper-
ating temperature.
Think ahead while driving
Avoid unnecessary acceleration and braking by 
maintaining a suitable distance to the vehicle 
driving ahead.
Driving smoothly and anticipating impending 
traffic situations reduces fuel consumption.
Avoid high engine speeds
Use first gear only for driving off. In second and 
higher gears, accelerate smoothly to a suitable 
engine and road speed. In doing so, avoid high 
engine speeds and shift up early.
When you reach your desired traveling speed, 
shift to the highest suitable gear and drive at 
constant speed.
As a rule: driving at low engine speeds lowers 
fuel consumption and reduces wear.
Coasting
When approaching a red traffic light, take your 
foot off the accelerator and let the vehicle coast 
to a halt in the highest suitable gear.
On a downhill gradient, take your foot off 
the accelerator and let the vehicle coast in a 
suitable gear.
Fuel supply is shut off automatically when the 
vehicle is coasting.
Switch off the engine during lengthy 
stops
Switch off the engine when stopping for lengthy 
periods, e.g. at traffic lights, railroad crossings or 
in traffic congestions.
Have the vehicle serviced
Have your vehicle serviced regularly to achieve 
good economy and a long vehicle life. The man-
ufacturer of your MINI recommends having the 
vehicle serviced by a MINI dealer. Also note the 
MINI Maintenance System, page119. 

REFERENCEAT A GLANCE CONTROLS DRIVING TIPS MOBILITY
 103
Observe the following when refueling
Take all precautionary measures and 
observe all applicable regulations when 
handling fuel; otherwise, there is a danger of 
personal injury and property damage.<
When refueling, insert the filler nozzle com-
pletely into the filler pipe. Avoid lifting the filler 
nozzle while filling the tank, as that would 
lead to
>premature pump shutoff
>reduced efficiency of the fuel-vapor recov-
ery system.
The fuel tank is full when the filler nozzle clicks 
off the first time.
Fuel tank capacity
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.<
Approx. 13.2 US gallons/50 liters, including the 
reserve capacity of 2.1 US gallons/8 liters.
Fuel specifications
Do not use leaded gasoline; otherwise, 
permanent damage to the catalytic con-
verter will result.
Do not fill the tank with E85, i.e. fuel containing 
85% ethanol, nor with FlexFuel. Otherwise, 
the engine and fuel supply system will be 
damaged.<
Required fuel
Super Premium gasoline/AKI 91
This gasoline is highly recommended.
However, you may also use gasoline with less 
AKI. The minimum AKI Rating is:
>Cooper S, John Cooper Works: 89
>Cooper: 87
If you use gasoline with this minimum AKI Rat-
ing, the engine may produce knocking sounds 
when starting at high outside temperatures. This 
has no effect on the engine life.Do not use any gasoline below the speci-
fied minimum fuel grade. Otherwise, the 
engine could be damaged.<
Use high-quality brands
Field experience has indicated significant differ-
ences in fuel quality: volatility, composition, 
additives, etc., among gasolines offered for sale 
in the United States and Canada. Fuels contain-
ing up to and including 10 % ethanol or other 
oxygenates with up to 2.8 % oxygen by weight, 
that is, 15 % MTBE or 3 % methanol plus an 
equivalent amount of co-solvent, will not void 
the applicable warranties with respect to defects 
in materials or workmanship.
The use of poor-quality fuels may result in 
drivability, starting and stalling problems 
especially under certain environmental condi-
tions such as high ambient temperature and 
high altitude. 
Should you encounter drivability problems 
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 
such as gasoline that is advertised as Top Tier 
Detergent Gasoline. 
Failure to comply with these recommendations 
may also result in unscheduled maintenance.< 

Wheels and tires
106
MINI Cooper tire inflation pressures
Tire size Pressure specifications in psi/kPa 
Speeds up to a
max. of 
100 mph /160 km/hSpeeds including those exceeding 
100 mph / 160 km/h
All pressure specifications 
in the table are indicated in 
psi/kilopascal with cold 
tires. Cold = ambient tem-
perature
175/65 R 15 84 T M+S
175/65 R 15 84 H M+S
175/65 R 15 84 H
175/60 R 16 82 H M+S RSC
195/55 R 16 87 H
195/55 R 16 87 H RSC
195/55 R 16 87 H M+S RSC
195/55 R 16 87 V M+S RSC
205/45 R 17 84 V M+S RSC
205/45 R 17 84 V RSC
205/45 R 17 84 V M+S RSC
205/40 R 18 82 W RSC33/230 33/230 33/230 33/230 38/260 38/260
Emergency wheel: 
115/70 R 15 90 M60/420 60/420 – – 60/420 60/420
More details on the permissible load and weights can be found on page157.