
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.< 

Technology for driving comfort and safety
64
Technology for driving comfort and 
safety
Park Distance 
Control PDC*
The concept
PDC assists you with parking backwards. Acous-
tic signals warn you of the presence of an object 
behind the vehicle. To measure the distance, 
there are four ultrasonic sensors in either 
bumper.
However, an acoustic warning does not sound 
until an object is approx. 24 in/60 cm from the 
corner sensors, or approx. 5 ft/1.50 m from the 
center sensors.
PDC is a parking aid that can indicate 
objects when they are approached slowly, 
as is usually the case when parking. Avoid 
approaching an object at high speed; otherwise, 
physical circumstances may lead to the system 
warning being issued too late.<
Automatic mode
With the engine running or the ignition switched 
on, the system is activated automatically after 
approx. 1 second when you engage reverse gear 
or move the automatic transmission selector 
lever to position R. Wait this short period before 
driving.
Acoustic signals
As the distance between vehicle and object 
decreases, the intervals between the tones 
become shorter. If the distance to the nearest 
object falls to below roughly 1 ft/30 cm, then a 
continuous tone sounds.
If the distance remains constant, e.g. when driv-
ing parallel to a wall, the acoustic signal stops 
after approx. 3 seconds.
Adjustments
The volume of the acoustic signals can be 
adjusted, refer to the Owner's Manual for Radio.
Malfunction
Indicator lamp comes on: PDC is mal-
functioning. Have the system checked.
To avoid this problem, keep the sensors 
clean and free of ice or snow in order to ensure 
that they will continue to operate effectively. 
When using a high-pressure cleaner, do not 
direct the jet toward the sensors for lengthy 
periods and only spray from a distance of at least 
4in/10cm.
System limitations
Even with PDC, final responsibility for esti-
mating the distance between the vehicle 
and any obstructions always remains with the 
driver. Sensors, too, have blind spots in which 
objects cannot be detected. Moreover, ultra-
sonic detection can reach its physical limits with 
objects such as trailer tow bars and couplings, 
thin and wedge-shaped objects, etc. Low 
objects already indicated, such as curbs, may 
enter the sensors' blind spots before or after a 
continuous audible signal is given. Higher, pro-
truding objects, such as wall ledges, may not be 
detectable. Therefore, always drive cautiously; 
otherwise, there is a risk of personal injury or 
property damage. Loud sound sources outside 
or inside the car can drown out the PDC signal.<
Driving stability control 
systems
Your MINI has a number of systems that help to 
maintain the vehicle's stability even in adverse 
driving conditions.
The laws of physics cannot be repealed, 
even with driving stability control systems. 
An appropriate driving style always remains the 
responsibility of the driver. Therefore do not 
reduce the additional safety margin by engaging  

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
 169
Trailer operation
– trailer loads and gross vehicle 
weight157
Transmission
– automatic transmission with 
Steptronic48
– manual transmission48
– overriding selector lever lock 
for automatic transmission 
with Steptronic50
Transport securing devices, 
refer to Securing cargo96
Transporting children safely43
Tread depth, refer to Minimum 
tire tread113
Trip odometer55
Trip-distance counter, refer to 
Trip odometer55
Triple turn signal activation50
Trunk lid
– emergency operation26
– releasing manually26
Trunk, refer to Luggage 
compartment in the MINI 
Convertible94
Turn signal indicator50
– front, replacing bulb127
– indicator lamp12
– rear, replacing bulb128
– side, replacing bulb128
Turning circle, refer to 
Dimensions155
Tying down loads, refer to 
Cargo loading96
U
Uniform Tire Quality Grading 
UTQR112
Units
– average fuel consumption59
– temperature59
Universal garage door opener, 
refer to Integrated universal 
remote control85
Universal remote control85
Unlatching, refer to 
Unlocking29Unlocking
– from inside25
– from outside21
– tailgate29
– without remote control, refer 
to Comfort Access28
Upholstery, care123
USB audio interface87
V
Valve
– dust cap133
Vehicle
– battery135
– breaking in92
– cargo loading94
– dimensions155
– Identification Number, refer 
to Engine compartment117
– parking47
– storage124
– weight157
Vehicle jack132
– jacking points134
Ventilation
– air conditioner84
Vents, refer to Air vents80
Vents, refer to Ventilation84
Volume of cargo area157
W
Warning and indicator 
lamps13,140
Warning messages, refer to 
Check Control62
Warning triangle136
Washer fluid53
– capacity of reservoir53
Washer fluid reservoir53
Waste tray, refer to Ashtray89
Water on roads, refer to 
Driving through water93
Waterfall lighting, refer to 
Ambient lighting79
Wear indicators in tires, refer to 
Minimum tread depth113
Weights157Welcome lamps75
Wheel stud wrench
– space-saver spare tire132
Wheelbase, refer to 
Dimensions155
Wheels and tires104
Wheels, new114
Width, refer to 
Dimensions155
Wind deflector35
Window washer, refer to 
Washer fluid53
Window washer reservoir, 
refer to Washer fluid
– volume, refer to 
Capacities158
Windows31
– closing31
– convenient operation22
– opening31
– pinch protection system32
Windshield
– cleaning52
– defrosting and removing 
condensation82,83
Windshield, defrosting, refer to 
Defrosting windows82,83
Windshield washer system51
– washer fluid53
– washer nozzles53
Windshield wiper blades, 
changing125
Windshield wipers, refer to 
Wiper system51
Winter tires115
– storage115
Wiper blade replacement125
Wiper system51
Work in the engine 
compartment116
Wrench/screwdriver, refer to 
Onboard vehicle tool kit
125
X
Xenon lamps
– replacing bulb126