
Opening and closing
20
Opening and closing
Keys/remote controls
Remote control
Each remote control contains a rechargeable 
battery that is recharged when it is in the igni-
tion lock while the car is being driven. You 
should therefore use each remote control at 
least twice a year to maintain the charge status. 
In vehicles equipped with Comfort Access
*, the 
remote control contains a replaceable battery, 
page30.
If more than one remote control unit is used, the 
settings called up and implemented depend on 
which remote control is recognized when the 
car is unlocked, refer to Personal Profile, 
page20.
In addition, information about service require-
ments is stored in the remote control, refer to 
Service data in the remote control, page119.
New remote controls
Your MINI dealer can supply new remote con-
trols as additional units or as replacements in the 
event of loss.
Integrated key
Press button1 to release the key.
The integrated key fits the following locks:
>Driver's door, page24.
>MINI Convertible: Glove compartment, refer 
to page86.
>MINI Convertible: Locking the rear seat 
backrest95.
Personal Profile
The concept
The functions of your MINI can be set individu-
ally. By means of Personal Profiles, most of these 
settings are stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use. When you unlock the car, the 
remote control is recognized and the settings 
stored for it are called up and implemented.
This means that your settings will be activated 
for you, even if in the meantime your car was 
used by someone else with another remote con-
trol and the corresponding settings.
At most three remote controls can be set for 
three different people. A prerequisite is that 
each person uses a separate remote control.
Personal Profile settings
For more information on specific settings, refer 
to the specified pages. 

REFERENCEAT A GLANCE CONTROLS DRIVING TIPS MOBILITY
 21
>Response of the central locking system 
when the car is being unlocked21
>Automatic locking of the vehicle25
>Triple turn signal activation50
>Settings for the displays in the speedometer 
and tachometer:
>12h/24h mode of the clock, refer to For-
mats and units of measure59
>Date format, refer to Formats and units 
of measure59
>Units of measure for fuel consumption, 
distance covered/remaining distances 
and temperature, refer to Formats and 
units of measure59
>Light settings:
>Pathway lighting75
>Daytime running lights76
>Automatic climate control
*: activating/
deactivating the AUTO program, setting the 
temperature, air volume and air 
distribution82
>Entertainment:
>Audio volume, refer to separate Owner's 
Manual
>Speed-dependent volume, refer to sepa-
rate Owner's Manual
Central locking system
The concept
The central locking system is ready for operation 
whenever the driver's door is closed.
The system simultaneously engages and 
releases the locks on the following:
>Doors
>Tailgate
>Fuel filler flap
Operating from outside
>Via the remote control
>Via the door lock
*
>In cars with Comfort Access*, via the door 
handles on the driver's and passenger's 
sides.
The anti-theft system is also operated at the 
same time. It prevents the doors from being 
unlocked using the lock buttons or door han-
dles. The remote control can also be used to 
switch on/off the welcome lamps and interior 
lamps. The alarm system
* is also activated or 
deactivated, page27.
Operating from inside
Button for central locking system, page25.
In the event of a sufficiently severe accident, the 
central locking system unlocks automatically. In 
addition, the hazard warning flashers and inte-
rior lamps come on.
Opening and closing: 
from outside
Persons or animals in a parked vehicle 
could lock the doors from the inside. Take 
the key with you when you leave the vehicle 
so that the vehicle can be opened from the 
outside.<
Using the remote control
Unlocking
Press the   button.
The welcome lamps and interior lamps come on.
Unlocking mode
You can also set which parts of the car are 
unlocked. The setting is stored for the remote 
control in use. 

Opening and closing
22
1.Switch on the ignition, refer to page46.
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:
>
Press the   button once to unlock 
only the driver's door and the fuel 
filler flap
*. 
Press the button twice to unlock the 
entire vehicle.
>
Press the   button once to unlock 
the entire vehicle.
9.Press and hold the button until the display 
changes. The setting is stored for the remote 
control currently in use.
Convenient opening
Hold the   button down. 
The power windows are opened and the glass 
sunroof
* is raised. In the MINI Convertible, the 
windows and the sliding sunroof are opened.
In order to open the convertible top of your MINI 
Convertible: release button and push again until 
the convertible top is completely open. The side 
window remains open.
With Comfort Access 
*: when you are close to 
the vehicle, the windows are raised after the 
convertible top opens if you continue pressing 
the button.
Convenient closing is not possible by 
means of the remote control.<
Locking
Press the   button.
Do not lock the vehicle from the outside if 
there is any person inside, because the 
vehicle cannot be unlocked from inside without 
special knowledge.<
MINI Convertible: Convenient closing*
When you are close to the vehicle, the remote 
control for Comfort Access can be used to close 
the convertible top and the windows.
Hold the   button down.
The convertible top and the windows are closed. 

Opening and closing
24
Malfunctions
The remote control may malfunction due to 
local radio waves. If this occurs, unlock and lock 
the car at the door lock with the integrated key.
If the car can no longer be locked with a remote 
control, the battery in the remote control is dis-
charged. Use this remote control during an 
extended drive; this will recharge the battery, 
page20.
For US owners only
The transmitter and receiver units comply with 
part 15 of the FCC/Federal Communications 
Commission regulations. Operation is governed 
by the following:
FCC ID:
LX8766S 
LX8766E 
LX8CAS
Compliance statement: 
This device complies with part 15 of the FCC 
Rules. Operation is subject to the following two 
conditions:
>This device must not cause harmful interfer-
ence, and
>this device must accept any interference 
received, including interference that may 
cause undesired operation.
Any unauthorized modifications or 
changes to these devices could void the 
user's authority to operate this equipment.<
Using the door lock
You can set which parts of the car are unlocked, 
page21.When there is no alarm system
* or Com-
fort Access
*, only the driver's door is 
locked with the door lock.<
To lock all doors, the fuel filler flap and the tail-
gate together:
With the doors closed, press the interior central 
locking button, page25 to lock the vehicle.
Unlocking and opening the driver or passenger 
door, page25.
Locking the vehicle.
>Lock the driver's door with the integrated 
key via the door lock, or
>press the safety lock button on the pas-
senger's door and close the door from 
the outside.
Convenient operation
With an alarm system* or Comfort Access*, the 
windows and glass sunroof
* can be operated 
via the door lock.
Opening/closing
Hold the key in the position for unlocking or 
locking.
In the MINI Convertible, the convertible top 
closes first, followed by the folding sunroof, and 
finally the side windows close.
During the roof closing process (in case of 
the convertible top also during the open-
ing process) ensure no one gets pinched. 
Releasing the key stops the operation.<
Manual operation
In the event of an electrical malfunction, the 
driver's door can be unlocked or locked by turn-
ing the integrated key in the door lock to the end 
positions. 

REFERENCEAT A GLANCE CONTROLS DRIVING TIPS MOBILITY
 25
Opening and closing: 
from inside
The switch locks or unlocks the doors and tail-
gate when the doors are closed, but the anti-
theft system is not activated. The fuel filler flap 
remains unlocked
*.
Unlocking and opening
>Either unlock the doors together using 
the switch for the central locking system 
and then pull the door handle above the 
armrest or
>pull on the door handle of either door twice: 
the first time unlocks the door, the second 
time opens it.
Locking
>Press the switch or
>press down the safety lock button of a door. 
To prevent you from being locked out, the 
open driver's door cannot be locked using 
the lock button.
Persons or animals in a parked vehicle 
could lock the doors from the inside. Take 
the key with you when you leave the vehicle 
so that the vehicle can be opened from the 
outside.<
Automatic locking
You can also set the situations in which the car 
locks. The setting is stored for the remote con-
trol in use.1.Switch on the ignition, refer to page46.
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. 

Opening and closing
26
8.Briefly press the button to select:
>
The central locking system automatically 
locks the vehicle after some time if no 
door has been opened.
>
The central locking system automatically 
locks the vehicle as soon as you drive off.
>
The central locking system automatically 
locks the vehicle after some time if no 
door has been opened, or as soon as you 
drive off.
>
The central locking system remains 
unlocked.
9.Press and hold the button until the display 
changes. The setting is stored.
Tailgate
To avoid damage, make sure there is 
sufficient clearance before opening the 
tailgate.<
Opening
In some market-specific versions, the tail-
gate cannot be unlocked using the remote 
control unless the vehicle is unlocked first.<
Press the button in the handle, arrow, or the 
 button of the remote control, for an 
extended period. The tailgate is unlocked and 
can be opened.
MINI Convertible
The maximum load that may be placed on 
the open trunk lid is 175 lbs/80 kg.<
Manual release in the MINI Convertible
In the event of an electrical malfunction, you can 
also unlock the tailgate manually.
1.Use the integrated key and open the back-
rest 1 lock.
2.Press button2 and fold down backrest 
together with the belt strap.
3.Pull the handle, see arrow. The tailgate is 
released.
Closing
Make sure that the closing path of the tail-
gate is clear; otherwise, injuries may 
occur.< 

REFERENCEAT A GLANCE CONTROLS DRIVING TIPS MOBILITY
 27
The handle recesses on the interior trim panel of 
the tailgate make it easier to pull it down.
Alarm system*
The concept
The alarm system, when activated, reacts if:
>A door, the engine compartment lid or the 
tailgate is opened
>There is movement inside the car
>The car's inclination changes, for instance if 
an attempt is made to jack it up and steal the 
wheels or to raise it prior to towing away
>There is an interruption in the power supply 
from the battery
The alarm system briefly indicates unauthorized 
entry or tampering by means of:
>An acoustic alarm
>Switching on the hazard warning flashers
Arming and disarming
Whenever the car is locked or unlocked, the 
alarm system is armed or disarmed.
Even when the alarm system is armed, you can 
open the tailgate by means of the   button 
on the remote control.
When you subsequently close the tailgate it is 
again locked and monitored.
In certain market-specific versions, 
unlocking via the door lock triggers the 
alarm.<
Panic mode*
You can activate the alarm system if you find 
yourself in a dangerous situation.
Press the   button for at least two seconds.
Switching off the alarm: 
Press any button.
Switching off an alarm
>Unlock the car with the remote control.
>Insert the key fully into the ignition lock.
>In cars with Comfort Access
*, press the but-
ton on the door lock.
Display on the revolution counter
When the system is armed, all LEDs pulse. After 
approx. 16 minutes one LED flashes.
>LEDs pulse or LED flashes: system is armed.
>One LED flashes at short intervals:
A door, the bonnet or the tailgate is not 
properly closed. Even if these are not closed 
fully, the remaining items are deadlocked 
and the LEDs pulse after approx. 10 seconds 
for approx. 16 minutes. Afterwards, one LED 
flashes.
The interior movement detector is not acti-
vated.
>LEDs go out after the vehicle is unlocked:
No attempt was made to tamper with 
the car.
>LEDs flash after unlocking until the key is 
inserted in the ignition, but for no longer 
than approx. 5 minutes: an attempt was 
made to tamper with the car. 

Opening and closing
28
Tilt alarm sensor
The vehicle's inclination is monitored. The alarm 
is triggered, for instance, if an attempt is made 
to steal the car's wheels or tow it away.
Interior movement detector
Before the interior movement detector can 
operate correctly, the windows and glass roof 
must be closed.
MINI Convertible
The passenger compartment is monitored up to 
the height of the seat's surface. This way, the 
anti-theft alarm system including the interior 
motion sensor are armed, even if the convertible 
top is open. Falling objects, e.g. tree leaves, may 
trigger a false alarm, refer to Avoiding false 
alarms.
Avoiding false alarms
The tilt alarm sensor and the interior movement 
detector can be switched off together.
This prevents false alarms, e.g. in the following 
situations:
>In duplex garages
>When being transported on car-carrying 
trains, ferries or trailers
>If pets are to remain inside the car
Switching off the tilt alarm sensor and 
interior movement detector
>Press the  button on the remote con-
trol twice in succession.
>Lock the vehicle twice with the inte-
grated key.
LEDs flash in short succession for approx. 
2seconds.
The tilt alarm sensor and the interior movement 
detector are switched off until the car is next 
unlocked and locked.
Comfort Access*
Comfort Access enables you to enter your vehi-
cle without having to hold the remote control in your hand. All you need to do is wear the remote 
control close to your body, e.g. in your jacket 
pocket. The vehicle automatically detects the 
remote control within the immediate vicinity or 
in the passenger compartment.
Comfort Access supports the following func-
tions:
>Unlocking/locking the vehicle
>Unlocking the tailgate by itself
>Starting the engine
>MINI Convertible: Convenient closing
>MINI Convertible: Convertible top operation
Functional requirements
>The vehicle or the tailgate can only be 
locked when the vehicle detects that the 
remote control currently in use is outside of 
the vehicle.
>The vehicle cannot be locked or unlocked 
again until after approx. 2 seconds.
>The engine can only be started when the 
vehicle detects that the remote control is 
inside the vehicle.
>The doors and tailgate must be closed to 
be able to operate the windows and glass 
sunroof
*.
Comparison to standard remote controls
In general, there is no difference between using 
Comfort Access or pressing the buttons on the 
remote control to carry out the functions men-
tioned above. 
Instructions on opening and closing are found 
starting on page20.
Special features regarding the use of Comfort 
Access are described below.
If you notice a brief delay while opening or 
closing the windows, the glass sunroof or 
the convertible top, the system is checking 
whether a remote control is inside the vehicle. 
Repeat the opening or closing procedure, if nec-
essary.<