
Notes
6
Service and warranty
We recommend that you read this publication 
thoroughly.
Your MINI is covered by the following war-
ranties:
>New Vehicle Limited Warranty
>Rust Perforation Limited Warranty
>Federal Emissions System Defect Warranty
>Federal Emissions Performance Warranty
>California Emission Control System Limited 
Warranty
Detailed information about these warranties is 
listed in the Service and Warranty Information 
Booklet for US models or in the Warranty and 
Service Guide Booklet for Canadian models.
Reporting safety defects
For US customers
The following applies only to vehicles owned 
and operated in the US.
If you believe that your vehicle has a defect 
which could cause a crash or could cause injury 
or death, you should immediately inform the 
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 
NHTSA, in addition to notifying MINI of 
North America, LLC, P.O. Box 1227, 
Westwood, New Jersey 07675-1227, 
Telephone 1-800-831-1117.
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may 
open an investigation, and if it finds that a safety 
defect exists in a group of vehicles, it may order 
a recall and remedy campaign. However, NHTSA 
cannot become involved in individual problems 
between you, your dealer, or MINI of North 
America, LLC.
To contact NHTSA, you may call the Vehicle 
Safety Hotline toll-free at 1-888-327-4236 
(TTY:  1-800-424-9153); 
go to http://www.safercar.gov; or write to: 
Administrator, NHTSA, 400 Seventh Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20590. You can also obtain other information about motor vehicle safety 
from http://www.safercar.gov
For Canadian customers
Canadian customers who wish to report a 
safety-related defect to Transport Canada, 
Defect Investigations and Recalls, may call 
1-800-333-0510 toll-free from anywhere in 
Canada or 1-613-993-9851 from the Ottawa 
region and from other countries, or contact 
Transport Canada by mail at: Transport Canada, 
ASFAD, Place de Ville, Tower C, 330 Sparks 
Street, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0N5.
You can also obtain other information about 
motor vehicle safety from http://www.tc.gc.ca 

REFERENCE
AT A GLANCE CONTROLS DRIVING TIPS MOBILITY
 15
1MINI: Microphone for voice processing sys-
tem
* and for hands-free telephone*
MINI Convertible: Microphone in the steer-
ing column
2Indicator/warning lamp
* for front passen-
ger airbags73
4Hazard warning flashers
5Speedometer12
6Drive for audio CDs
7Switching audio sources on/off and adjust-
ing volume
8Air conditioner or automatic climate 
control
*
9Switches in center console
10AUX-IN port, USB audio interface
*87
11Driving stability control systems
>Dynamic Stability Control DSC65
>Dynamic Traction Control
 DTC* 66
12Sport button
*67 3
Reading lamps
*79
Color of ambient lighting
*79
Glass sunroof, electric
*30
MINI Convertible: opening and clos-
ing the sliding/tilting roof32
Interior lamps78
Temperature, 83 81
Recirculated-air mode, 83 81
Air distribution for air 
conditioner82
Air distribution to the 
windshield
*83
Air distribution to the upper 
body area
*83
Air distribution to the footwell
*83
Automatic air distribution and 
flow rate
*83
Maximum cooling
*83
Cooling function, 84 81
Defrosting windows
*, 83 82
Rear window defroster, 83 81 
Windshield heating
*, 84 82
Air flow rate, 82 81
Seat heating
*40
Power windows31
MINI Convertible: central power 
window unit31
Rear fog lamp
*77
Fog lamps
*77
Central locking system, inside25 

REFERENCEAT A GLANCE CONTROLS DRIVING TIPS MOBILITY
 49
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.
Kickdown
Kickdown 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. This position is recommended for a per-
formance-oriented driving style.
To deactivate the sport program or manual 
mode M/S, move the selector lever to the right 
into position D.
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. 

From A to Z
160
From A to Z
INDEX
A
Accessories, refer to Your 
individual vehicle4
Activated-charcoal filter for 
automatic climate control84
Additives
– coolant118
– engine oil118
Adjusting temperature inside 
the car, refer to Air 
conditioner81
Adjusting temperature inside 
the car, refer to Automatic 
climate control82
Air conditioner80
Air conditioning mode
– air conditioner81
– automatic climate control82
– ventilation84
Air distribution
– automatic83
– individual82
– manual82
Air flow rate81,82
– air conditioning system81
– automatic climate control82
– heating, ventilation81
Air outlets, refer to Air vents80
Air pressure, checking, refer to 
Tire inflation pressure104
Air recirculation, refer to 
Recirculated-air 
mode81,83
Air supply
– air conditioner81
– automatic climate control82
– ventilation84
Air vents80
Airbags72
– sitting safely37
– warning lamp74Airing, refer to Ventilation84
AKI, refer to Fuel 
specifications103
Alarm system27
All-season tires, refer to Winter 
tires115
Always Open Timer57
Ambient air, refer to 
Recirculated-air 
mode81,83
Ambient lighting79
Antenna, care121
Antifreeze
– coolant118
– washer fluid53
Antilock Brake System ABS65
Anti-theft alarm system, refer 
to Alarm system27
Anti-theft system21
Approved axle loads, refer to 
Weights157
Approved engine oils118
Approved gross vehicle 
weight, refer to Weights157
Armrest, refer to Center 
armrest87
Ashtray89
Assistant systems, refer to
– Dynamic Stability Control 
DSC65
Audio device, external87
AUTO program for automatic 
climate control83
Automatic
– air distribution83
– air flow rate83
– cruise control53
– headlamp control75
Automatic climate control80
– automatic air distribution83Automatic transmission with 
Steptronic48
– interlock48
– overriding selector lever 
lock50
– shiftlock48
– sport program49
AUX-IN, refer to External audio 
device87
Average fuel consumption56
– setting the units59
Average speed56
Axle loads, refer to 
Weights157
B
Background lighting, refer to 
Ambient lighting79
Backrests, refer to Seats37
Backup lamps
– replacing bulb128,129
Band-aids, refer to First aid 
pouch136
Bar, refer to Tow-starting, 
towing away138
Battery135
– charging135
– disposal30,135
– jump-starting136
– temporary power failure135
Battery renewal
– remote control30
Being towed138
Belt tensioner, refer to Safety 
belts40
Belts, refer to Safety belts40
Beverage holders, refer to 
Cupholders89
Blower, refer to Air flow 
rate81,82
Bonnet116 

REFERENCEAT A GLANCE CONTROLS DRIVING TIPS MOBILITY
 167
Rubber parts, care123
Runflat System Component 
RSC, refer to Run-flat 
tires114
Run-flat tires114
– flat tire68
– new tires114
– tire inflation pressure104
– winter tires115
Runflat Tyres, refer to Run-flat 
tires114
S
Safety belts40
– damage41
– indicator lamp41
– reminder41
– sitting safely37
Safety belts, care124
Safety systems
– airbags72
– Antilock Brake System 
ABS65
– Dynamic Stability Control 
DSC65
– safety belts40
Safety tires, refer to Run-flat 
tires114
Screw thread for tow 
fitting138
Seat adjustment
– mechanical38
Seats37
– adjusting the seats38
– heating40
– sitting safely37
Securing the vehicle
– from inside25
– from outside21
Selector lever
– automatic transmission with 
Steptronic48
Selector lever lock
– automatic transmission with 
Steptronic, refer to 
Shiftlock48
– overriding manually50Selector lever positions
– automatic transmission with 
Steptronic48
Service car, refer to Roadside 
Assistance136
Service data in the remote 
control119
Service Interval Display, refer 
to Condition Based Service 
CBS119
Service, refer to Roadside 
Assistance136
Service requirement display, 
refer to Condition Based 
Service CBS119
Service requirements60
Settings
– clock, 12h/24h mode59
Shifting gears
– automatic transmission with 
Steptronic49
– manual transmission48
Shiftlock
– automatic transmission, refer 
to Changing selector lever 
positions48
Side airbags72
Side turn signal indicator
– replacing bulb128
Side windows, refer to 
Windows31
Signal horn, refer to Horn10
Sitting safely37
– airbags37
– safety belts
37
– with head restraint37
Size, refer to Dimensions155
Sliding/tilt sunroof
– refer to Glass sunroof, 
electric30
Slipstream deflector, refer to 
Wind deflector35
Slot for remote control46
Smokers' package, refer to 
Ashtray89
Snap-in adapter, refer to 
Center armrest storage 
compartment87Snow chains115
Socket for Onboard Diagnosis 
OBD119
Socket, refer to Connecting 
electrical appliances89
Space-saver spare tire
– changing tires132
– inflation pressure104
Spare wheel, refer to Space-
saver spare tire132
Special oils, refer to Approved 
engine oils118
Speed154
– with winter tires115
Speed control, refer to Cruise 
control53
Speedometer12
Split rear backrest, refer to
Through-loading system95
Split rear seat backrest, refer to 
Expanding the cargo bay94
Sport button67
Stability control, refer to 
Driving stability control 
systems64
Start/stop button46
– starting the engine47
– switching off the engine47
Starting assistance, refer to 
Jump-starting136
Starting, refer to Starting the 
engine47
Starting the engine
– start/stop button46
Start-off assistance, refer to
– DSC65
– Hill Assist66
Status of this Owner's Manual 
at time of printing4
Steering wheel42
– adjustment42
– buttons on steering wheel11
– lock46
– shift paddles49
Steptronic, refer to Automatic 
transmission with 
Steptronic48