
Opening and closing
30
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 Comfort Access contains 
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.
Take the old battery to a battery collection 
point or to your MINI dealer.<
Glass sunroof, electric*
To prevent injuries, exercise care when 
closing the glass sunroof and keep it in 
your field of vision until it is shut.
Take the key with you when you leave the car; 
otherwise, children could operate the sunroof 
and possibly injure themselves.<
Raising
>Press the switch backward to the resistance 
point and hold it there.
Both glass sunroofs are raised.
Releasing the switch stops the movement.
>With the ignition switched on, press the 
switch backward beyond the resistance 
point.
Both closed sunroofs are raised fully.
Pressing again stops the movement.
Opening, closing
With the ignition switched on and the glass sun-
roof raised, press the switch backward and hold 
it there.
The front glass sunroof opens.
The rear glass sunroof is closed.
Releasing the switch stops the movement.
The glass sunroof can be closed in the same way 
by pressing the switch forward.
The front glass sunroof remains in a raised posi-
tion. The rear glass sunroof is raised. Pressing on 
the switch again closes both sunroofs com-
pletely.
Convenient operation via door lock or Comfort 
Access, refer to page22,24,29.
Roller sun blind
The roller sun blind can be opened and closed 
independently of the glass sunroof.
Following interruptions in electrical 
power supply
After a power failure, there is a possibility that 
the glass sunroof can only be raised. In this case, 
have the system initialized. The manufacturer of  

Opening and closing
32
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.<
Opening and closing the sliding sunroof
To open:
Press the switch backward until the desired posi-
tion or the end position is reached.
To close:
Press the switch forward.
The sliding sunroof can be operated up to a road 
speed of 74 mph / 120 km/h.
Power convertible top
The fully automatic convertible top provides 
protection from the weather, combined with 
simple and easy operation.
So that you can get the most enjoyment out 
of your MINI Convertible, here are some help-
ful tips:
>It is recommended that you close the con-
vertible top whenever the vehicle is parked. 
The closed convertible top not only protects 
the vehicle interior from damage due to 
unforeseen bad weather, but also provides a 
certain degree of protection against theft. 
Always keep your valuables inside the 
locked luggage compartment, even if the 
convertible top is closed.
>Do not mount any roof rack systems on the 
convertible top.
>When opening the wet convertible top, e.g., 
after driving in the rain, water drops may 
enter the luggage compartment. In order to 
avoid water stains or soiling, remove all  

REFERENCEAT A GLANCE CONTROLS DRIVING TIPS MOBILITY
 37
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 page43.
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 should come between the 
airbags 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 keep their heads 
away from the side airbag and do not lean 
against the cover of the head airbag in the MINI; 
otherwise, serious injuries can result if the airbag 
deploys. <
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 page72.
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 page39.
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 pas-
senger'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 cloth-
ing and regularly pull the belt in the upper-body 
area taut; otherwise, its restraining effect could 
be impaired.<
Safety belts, refer to page40.
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. 

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. 

Transporting children safely
44
3.Allow the belt strap to retract and pull it taut 
against the child restraint system.
The safety belt is locked.
To unlock the safety belt
1.Open the belt buckle.
2.Remove the child restraint system.
3.Allow the safety belt strap to retract all 
the way.
LATCH child-restraint 
fixing system
LATCH: Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren.
To install and use the LATCH child restraint 
system, follow the operating and safety 
instructions provided by the manufacturer of the 
system; otherwise, the protective function of the 
seat may be compromised.<
Anchor points for LATCH anchors
Before installing the child seat, pull the belt out 
of the area for the child-restraint fixing system.
The anchor points for the lower LATCH anchors 
are located behind the labeled protective caps.
Make sure that both lower LATCH anchors 
are properly engaged and that the child 
restraint system rests firmly against the seat 
backrest; otherwise, the protective function of 
the seat may be compromised.<
Child restraint system with tether strap
Use the tether strap anchors to secure 
child restraint systems only; otherwise, the 
anchors could be damaged.<
There are two additional anchors for child 
restraint systems with tether straps, arrows.
Placement of the tether strap
Make sure the upper retaining strap does 
not run over sharp edges and is not 
twisted as it passes to the top anchor. Other-
wise, the strap will not properly secure the child 
restraint system in the event of an accident.<
MINI
1Direction of travel
2Head restraint
3Tether strap hook
4Cargo bay floor
5Anchor
6Seat backrest
7Tether strap of the child restraint system
1.Push the head restraint upward.
2.Guide the tether strap between the head 
restraint holders. 

REFERENCEAT A GLANCE CONTROLS DRIVING TIPS MOBILITY
 45
3.Attach the tether strap to the anchor using 
the hook.
4.Push the head restraint into its lowermost 
position.
5.Attach the tether strap to the anchor using 
the hook.
6.Pull the retaining strap tight.
MINI Convertible
Ensure that the upper strap9 is passed 
between the seat backrest8 and the roll-
over protection system with cross member3; 
otherwise, the strap will properly secure the 
child restraint system.<
1Direction of travel
2Head restraint
3Rollover protection system with cross 
member
4Cargo bay cover
5Cargo bay floor
6Tether strap hook
7Anchor
8Seat backrest
9Tether strap of the child restraint system
1.Push the head restraint upward.
2.Unlock backrest and slightly fold forward, 
refer to page95.
3.Guide the tether strap between the head 
restraint holders.
4.Attach the tether strap to the anchor using 
the hook.
5.Fold backrest back and lock in place. Push 
headrest down as far as possible.
6.Pull the retaining strap tight. 

Things to remember when driving
94
Cargo loading
To avoid loading the tires beyond their 
approved carrying capacity, never over-
load the vehicle. Overloading can lead to over-
heating and increases the rate at which damage 
develops inside the tires. The ultimate result can 
assume the form of a sudden blowout.<
Avoid fluid spills in the cargo bay as they 
could damage the vehicle.<
MINI: Cargo bay
Cargo bay cover
Do not place any objects on the cover; 
otherwise, they could endanger the car's 
occupants, e.g. in the case of braking or sudden 
swerving, or they may damage the cover.<
When you open the tailgate, the cargo bay cover 
is raised.
To load bulky luggage, the cover can be 
removed.
1.Unhook the lift straps from the tailgate.
2.Pull the cover out of the holders toward 
the rear.
Expanding the cargo bay
The rear set backrest is split. Both sides can be 
folded separately to expand the cargo bay.1.Pull the lever.
2.Fold rear seat backrests forward.
When folding the backrest back up, make 
sure that the seat's locking mechanisms 
engage properly. Otherwise, cargo could be 
thrown around in the event of sharp braking or 
swerving and endanger the occupants.<
Adjusting rear seat backrest*
Expand the cargo bay by raising the split rear 
seat backrests to a steeper angle.
1.Pull the lever, arrow1, and fold the rear seat 
backrest forward.
2.Fold up the lever of the backrest lock until it 
audibly engages, arrow2.
3.Fold back the backrest until it engages.
If the rear seat backrests are positioned at 
a steeper angle, do not install child-
restraint systems in the rear of the vehicle as 
their protective features may be ineffective.<
MINI Convertible: Luggage 
compartment
Do not place any objects on the luggage 
compartment roller cover, as this may 
damage the cover or the convertible top.< 

Under the bonnet
118
Adding engine oil
Do not add the maximum quantity of 1 US 
quart/1 liter of engine oil until the oil level has 
dropped to just above the lower mark on the 
dipstick, page117.
Add oil within the next 30 miles/50 km; 
otherwise, the engine could be 
damaged.<
Keep oils, greases, etc. out of the reach of 
children and comply with the warnings on 
the containers. Otherwise, health hazards may 
result.<
Oil change
Have the oil changed only by a MINI dealer or a 
workshop that has specially trained personnel 
working in accordance with the specifications of 
the MINI manufacturer.
Oil types
Do not use oil additives as this could result 
in engine damage.<
Approved engine oils
Your dealer can advise you on which engine oils 
have been approved by the manufacturer of 
your MINI.
The engine oil quality is critical for the life of the 
engine.
Only use approved High Performance oil.
The approved oils are SAE 0W-40, 0W-30, 
5W-40 and 5W-30.<
Alternative oil types
If the approved engine oils are not available, up 
to 1 US quart/1 liter of another oil with the fol-
lowing specification may be used:
API SM or higher
Coolant
Do not add coolant to the cooling system 
when the engine is hot. Escaping coolant 
can cause burns.<
Coolant consists of half water and half additive. 
Not all commercially available additives are suit-
able for your MINI. Your MINI dealer knows 
which additives are suitable and will be glad to 
advise you.
Only use suitable additives; otherwise, 
engine damage may result. Because addi-
tives are harmful to your health, it is important 
to follow the instructions on the containers.<
Comply with the appropriate environmen-
tal protection regulations when disposing 
of coolant additives.<
Checking coolant level
1.Do not open the hood until the engine has 
cooled down.
2.Turn the cap of the expansion tank a little 
counterclockwise to allow any accumulated 
pressure to escape, then continue turning 
to open.
3.The coolant level is correct if it is between 
the Min and Max markings.
4.If the coolant is low, slowly add coolant up to 
the specified level; do not overfill.
5.Turn the cap until there is an audible click.
6.Have the reason for the coolant loss elimi-
nated as soon as possible.