
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
 39
1.Pull up the lever on the seat backrest, 
arrow1.
The backrest folds forward.
2.Move the seat forward by pushing on the 
backrest, arrow2.
Previous position
1.Push the seat back into its previous position.
Do not fold the backrest up until the 
seat is in its previous position. Other-
wise, the seat will engage in its current posi-
tion. In this case, adjust the longitudinal 
position manually, page38.<
2.Fold the backrest back up to lock the seat.
When moving the seat backwards, ensure 
that you do not cause personal injury or 
property damage.
Before driving off, engage the front seats and 
seat backrests. Otherwise, there is a risk of acci-
dent due to unexpected movement.<
Head restraints
Correctly adjusted head restraint
A correctly adjusted head restraint reduces the 
risk of neck injury in the event of an accident.
Correctly adjust the head restraints of all 
occupied seats; otherwise, there is an 
increased risk of injury in an accident.<
Height
Adjust the head restraint so that its center is 
approximately at ear level.
Distance
Adjust the distance so that the head restraint is 
as close as possible to the back of the head.
Height adjustment
To raise: pull up.
To lower: Press the button, arrow1, and slide 
the head restraint down.
Removing
Only remove a head restraint if no one will be 
sitting on the seat in question.
Reinstall the head restraint before trans-
porting passengers, as otherwise the 
head restraint cannot provide its protective 
function.<
MINI: Front
1.Pull up as far as it will go.
2.Fold the backrest forward slightly.
3.Press button1 and pull the head restraint 
out as far as it will go.
4.Fold back the backrest.
MINI Convertible: Front
1.Pull up as far as it will go.
2.Fold the backrest forward slightly. 

Adjustments
40
3.Press button1 and pull the head restraint 
out as far as it will go.
4.Additionally press button 2 and pull the 
head restraint out completely.
5.Fold back the backrest.
Rear
1.Pull up as far as it will go.
2.Press button1 and pull the head restraint 
out completely.
Seat heating*
Switching on
Press once for each temperature level. 
Three LEDs indicate the highest temperature.
If you continue driving within the next 15 min-
utes, the seat heating is automatically activated 
at the previously set temperature.
The temperature is lowered or the heating is 
switched off entirely to save on battery power.
The LEDs stay lit.
Switching off
Press button longer.
Safety belts
Observe the instructions on page37 to 
ensure the best possible personal pro-
tection.
safety belt as an additional safety device, but 
they do not represent a substitute.
Front and rear seats
Closing
Make sure you hear the lock engage in the belt 
buckle.
The upper belt anchor is suitable for adults of 
any stature as long as the seat is adjusted prop-
erly, page37.
Opening
1.Grasp the belt firmly.
2.Press the red button in the buckle.
3.Guide the belt into its reel.
MINI Convertible: rear belt guide
Please ensure that the belt guide loop, 
arrow, is locked when putting on the rear 
seat belts.< 

REFERENCEAT A GLANCE CONTROLS DRIVING TIPS MOBILITY
 41
Seat belt reminder
Front seats
The indicator lamps come on and an 
acoustic signal sounds. Check whether 
the safety belt has been fastened cor-
rectly. The "Fasten safety belts" 
reminder is issued when the driver's safety belt 
has not been fastened. The "Fasten safety belts" 
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 
accident.<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. 

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. 

Technology for driving comfort and safety
72
Airbags
The following airbags are located under the 
marked covers:
MINI:
1Front airbags
2Side airbags in backrests
3Head airbags at the front and rearMINI Convertible:
1Front airbags
2Side/head airbags in the backrests
Protective effect
Observe the instructions on page37 to 
ensure the best possible personal pro-
tection.<
The front airbags help protect the driver and 
front passenger by responding to frontal 
impacts in which safety belts alone cannot pro-
vide adequate restraint. When needed, the head 
and side airbags help provide protection in the 
event of side impact. The relevant side airbag 
supports the side upper body area. The head air 
bag supports the head.
The side/head airbag in the MINI Convertible 
protects the head during impact.
The airbags are designed to not be triggered in 
every type of collision, e.g. not in minor acci-
dents, certain rollover situations or rear impacts.
Do not apply adhesive materials to the 
cover panels of the airbags, cover them or 
modify them in any other way.
Keep the dashboard and window on the passen-
ger side free from obstruction, i.e. do not cover it 
with adhesive film or coverings, and do not affix 
any holders such as for a navigation device or a 
mobile phone.
Do not attach seat covers, cushions or other 
objects not specifically approved for seats with 
integral side airbags to the front seats. Do not hang items of clothing such as coats or jackets 
over the backrests. Do not attempt to remove 
the airbag retention system from the vehicle. Do 
not modify the individual components of the 
system or its wiring in any way. This includes the 
upholstered covers on the steering wheel, 
instrument panel, seats and roof posts, as well as 
the sides of the roof lining. Do not attempt to 
remove or dismantle the steering wheel.
Do not touch the individual components imme-
diately after the system has been triggered, 
because there is a danger of burns.
In the event of malfunctions, deactivation, or 
triggering of the airbag restraint system, have 
the testing, repair, removal, and disposal of air-
bag generators executed only by a MINI dealer 
or a workshop that works according to repair 
procedures of the manufacturer of your MINI 
with correspondingly trained personnel and has 
the required explosives licenses. Otherwise, 
unprofessional attempts to service the system 
could lead to failure in an emergency or undes-
ired airbag activation, either of which could 
result in personal injury.<
Warning notices and information about the air-
bags can also be found on the sun visors. 

REFERENCEAT A GLANCE CONTROLS DRIVING TIPS MOBILITY
 73
Automatic deactivation of the front 
passenger airbags
An analysis of the impression in the front pas-
senger seat cushion determines whether and 
how the seat is occupied. The front and side air-
bags for the front passenger are activated or 
deactivated by the system accordingly.
The indicator lamp above the interior rear-
view mirror shows the current status of 
the front passenger airbags, deactivated or acti-
vated, refer to Status of front passenger airbags 
below.<
Before transporting a child on the front 
passenger seat, read the safety precau-
tions and handling instructions under Transport-
ing children safely, page43.
The front and side airbags can also be deacti-
vated by adolescents and adults sitting in certain 
positions; the indicator lamp for the front pas-
senger airbags comes on. In such cases, the pas-
senger should change his or her sitting position 
so that the front passenger airbags are activated 
and the indicator lamp goes out. If the desired 
airbag status cannot be achieved by changing 
the sitting position, transport the relevant pas-
senger on a rear seat. Do not attach covers, 
cushions, ball mats or other items to the front 
passenger seat unless they are specifically rec-
ommended by the manufacturer of your MINI. 
Do not place any items under the seat which 
could press against the seat from below. Other-
wise, a correct analysis of the seat cushion is not 
ensured.<
Status of front passenger airbags
MINI:MINI Convertible:
The indicator lamp for the front passenger air-
bags shows the functional status of the front 
passenger's front and side airbags in accordance 
with whether and how the front passenger seat 
is occupied. The indicator lamp shows whether 
the front passenger airbags are activated or 
deactivated.
>The indicator lamp comes on as intended 
when a child in a specially designated child 
restraint system is detected on the seat.
The front and side airbags for the front pas-
senger are not activated.
Most child seats are detected by the 
system. This particularly applies to 
child seats that were required by the NHTSA 
at the time of manufacture of the vehicle. 
After installing a child seat, check that the in-
dicator lamp for the front passenger airbags 
comes on. It indicates that the child seat has 
been detected and that the front passenger 
airbags are deactivated.<
>T h e  i n d i c a t o r  l a m p  d o e s  n o t  c o m e  o n  a s  l o n g  
as a person of sufficient size and in a correct 
sitting position is detected on the seat.
The front and side airbags for the front pas-
senger are activated.
>The indicator lamp does not come on if the 
seat is empty.
The front and side airbags for the front pas-
senger are not activated. 

REFERENCEAT A GLANCE CONTROLS DRIVING TIPS MOBILITY
 87
To prevent injury in the event of an acci-
dent, close the glove compartment after 
use while the vehicle is being driven.<
MINI Convertible: Locking
Use the integrated key to lock the remote con-
trol system, refer to page20.
Ventilation*
Depending on your vehicle's equipment, it may 
be possible to ventilate the glove compartment.
Opening
Rotate the switch in the direction of the arrow.
Closing
Rotate the switch in the opposite direction of the 
arrow until it is in the vertical position.
Depending on the temperature setting of the air 
conditioning or the automatic climate control, 
high temperatures may result in the glove com-
partment.
Center armrest*
Storage compartment
The center armrest between the front seats con-
tains either a compartment or the cover for the 
mobile phone base plate
* or the snap-in 
adapter
*.
Opening
The cover slides along guide rails and can be 
opened fully by pushing it back and lifting it.
Closing
Push the cover forwards.
Connection for external 
audio device
>iPods/iPhones or USB devices such as MP3 
players and USB memory sticks: Connect via 
the USB audio interface.
>iPhone/mobile phone music players: Con-
nect via the snap-in adapter
*, refer to the 
separate Owner's Manual. Playback is only 
possible if there is no device connected to 
the USB audio interface.
Connecting via the USB audio interface
1Connection for audio playback:
TRS connector 1/8 in/3.5 mm
2USB interface
*