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