CONTENTS
The fastest way to find information on a particu-
lar topic or item is by using the index, refer to
page194.
NOTES
4 Notes
6 Reporting safety defects
AT A GLANCE 9
10Cockpit
16 Radio MINI Boost CD
CONTROLS 19
20Opening and closing
37 Adjustments
43 Transporting children safely
46 Driving
56 Controls overview
66 Technology for drivin g comfort and safety
78 Lamps
84 Climate
89 Practical interior accessories
DRIVING TIPS 95
96Things to remember when driving
ENTERTAINMENT 105
106Radio MINI Boost CD
COMMUNICATIONS 117
118Telephone
MOBILITY 131
132Refueling
134 Wheels and tires
146 Under the hood
151 Maintenance
153 Care
157 Replacing components
169 Giving and receiving assistance
173 Indicator and warning lamps
REFERENCE 187
188Technical data
194 Everything from A to Z
NotesNOTES
5
For your safety
Maintenance and repair
Advanced technology, e.g. the use of
modern materials and high-performance
electronics, requires specially adapted mainte-
nance and repair methods. Therefore, have the
necessary work on your MI NI only carried out by
a MINI dealer or a work shop that has specially
trained personnel workin g in accordance with
the specifications of the MINI manufacturer. If
this work is not carried out properly, there is a
danger of subsequent damage and related
safety hazards. <
Parts and accessories
For your own safety, use genuine parts
and accessories approved by the manu-
facturer of the MINI.
When you purchase accessories tested
and approved by the manufacturer of the MINI
and Original MINI Parts, you simultaneously
acquire the assurance that they have been
thoroughly tested by the manufacturer of the
MINI to ensure optimum performance when
installed on your vehicle.
The manufacturer of the MINI warrants these
parts to be free from defects in material and
workmanship.
The manufacturer of the MINI will not accept any
liability for damage result ing from installation of
parts and accessories not approved by the man-
ufacturer of the MINI.
The manufacturer of the MINI cannot test every
product made by other manufacturers to verify
if it can be used on a MINI safely and without risk
to either the vehicle, its operation, or its occu-
pants.
Original MINI Parts, MINI Accessories and other
products approved by the manufacturer of the
MINI, together with professional advice on using
these items, are available from all MINI dealers. Installation and operation of accessories that
have not been approved by the manufacturer of
your MINI, such as alarms, radios, amplifiers,
radar detectors, wheels, suspension compo-
nents, brake dust shield
s, telephones, including
operation of any mobile phone from within the
vehicle without using an externally mounted
antenna, or transceiver equipment, for instance,
CBs, walkie-talkies, ham radios or similar acces-
sories, may cause extensiv e damage to the vehi-
cle, compromise its safety, interfere with the
vehicle's electrical s y s t e m o r a f f e c t t h e v a l i d i t y o f
the MINI Limited Warranty. See your MINI dealer
for additional information. <
Maintenance, replacement, or repair of
the emission control devices and systems
may be performed by any automotive repair
establishment or individu al using any certified
automotive part. <
California Proposition 65 warning
California law requires us to issue the following
warning:
Engine exhaust and a wide variety of
automobile components and parts,
including components foun d in the interior fur-
nishings in a vehicle, contain or emit chemicals
known to the State of California to cause cancer
and birth defects and reproductive harm. In
addition, certain fluids co ntained in vehicles and
certain products of component wear contain or
emit chemicals known to the State of California
to cause cancer and birth defects or other repro-
ductive harm.
Battery posts, terminals and related accessories
contain lead and lead compounds. Wash your
hands after handling.
Used engine oil contains chemicals that have
caused cancer in laboratory animals. Always
protect your skin by washing thoroughly with
soap and water.<
AT A GLANCECockpit
10
Cockpit
Around the steering wheel: controls and displays
1Adjusting the exterior mirrors, folding them
in and out
*41
2
Parking lamps 78
Low beams 78
Automatic headlamp control
*78
Adaptive Light Control
*80
Turn signals 51
High beams 81
Headlamp flasher 51
Roadside parking lamps
*81
Computer
*57
CockpitAT A GLANCE
11
3Always Open Timer 58
7 Ignition lock 46
8 Buttons
* on steering wheel 9
Horn: the entire surface
10 Adjusting the steering wheel 42
11 Releasing the hood 146
4
Tachometer 12
Instrument lighting 82
Resetting the trip odometer 56
5 Wiper system 52
6 Switching the ignition on/off and
starting/stopping the engine
46
Continuing cruise control
*54
Right:
Storing speed and accelerating or
decelerating
Left:
Increase or reduce volume
Activating/deactivating cruise
control
*54
Telephone
*:
Accepting and ending a call, start-
ing dialing
* of selected phone
number and redialing if no phone
number is selected
Activating/deactivating voice
activation system
*
Changing the radio station
Selecting a music track
Scrolling through the redial list
Opening and closingCONTROLS
27
Closing
Make sure that the closing path of the lift-
gate is clear; otherwise, injuries may
occur. <
The handle recesses on the interior trim panel of
the liftgate 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
liftgate 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 syst em is armed, you can
open the liftgate by means of the button
on the remote control.
When you subsequently close the liftgate 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
button 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 hood or the liftgate is not prop-
erly 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
activated.
> LEDs go out after the vehicle is unlocked:
No attempt was made to tamper with the
car.
CONTROLSOpening and closing
28
>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.
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 integrated
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.
Functional requirements
> The vehicle or the liftgate 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 liftgate must be closed to be
able to operate the windows and glass
roof
*.
Comfort Access support s the following func-
tions:
> Unlocking/locking the vehicle
> Unlocking the liftgate separately
> Starting the engine
> MINI Convertible: convenient closing and
soft-top control with the remote control for
Comfort Access
Comparison to standard remote controls
Essentially, it makes no difference whether you
control the above-mentioned functions using
Comfort Access or by pr essing the buttons on
the remote contro l for Comfort Access.
Instructions on opening and closing are found
starting on page 20.
Special features regarding the use of Comfort
Access are described below.
AdjustmentsCONTROLS
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 th e 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
children safely, refer to page 43.
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 inju ry 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 occupa nts keep their heads
away from the side airbag and do not lean
against the head-level airbag in the MINI; other-
wise injuries can occur when the airbag is
triggered. <
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 ex tremely sensitive individ-
uals. This effect is usually only temporary.
For airbag locations and additional information
on airbags, refer to page 75.
Head restraint
A correctly adjusted head restraint reduces the
risk of neck injury in the event of an accident.
Adjust the head rest raint in such a way
that its center is at approx. ear level.
Otherwise, there is an increased risk of injury in
the event of an accident. <
Head restraints, refer to page 39.
Safety belt
Before every drive, make sure that all occupants
wear their safety belts. Airbags complement the
safety belt as an additi onal safety device, but
they do not represent a substitute.
Number of safety belts
Never allow more th an one person to
wear a single safety belt. Never allow
infants or small children to ride in a passenger'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 sh arp 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 page 40.
AdjustmentsCONTROLS
39
Lumbar support*
You can also adjust the contour of the backrest
to obtain additional support in the lumbar
region.
The upper hips and spinal column receive
supplementary support to help you maintain a
relaxed, upright sitting position.
Turn the wheel to increase or decrease the
curvature.
Getting in back
1.Pull up the lever on the seat backrest,
arrow 1.
The backrest folds forward.
2. Move the seat forwar d by pushing on the
backrest, arrow 2.
Return seat to original position
The driver's seat has a mechanical memory
function for the forwar d/back setting and the
backrest adjustment.
1. Slide the seat to return to its starting
position. Do not fold the backrest up until the
seat is in its prev
ious position. Other-
wise, the seat will en gage in its current
position. In this case, adjust the longitudinal
position manually, page 38.<
2. Fold the backrest back up to lock the seat.
When moving the seat backward, ensure
that you do not cause personal injury or
property damage.
Before driving off, engage the front seats and
seat backrests. Otherwis e, there is a risk of
accident 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 th at 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, arrow 1, and slide
the head restraint down.