
CONTROLSAdjustments
50
Adjustments
Vehicle equipment
In this chapter, all production, country, and
optional equipment that is offered in the model
range is described. Equipment is also described
that is not available because of, for example,
selected options or coun try version. This also
applies to safety relate d functions and systems.
Sitting safely
The ideal sitting position can make a vital contri-
bution to relaxed, fatigu e-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 56.
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 deployed.
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 passeng ers keep their heads
away from the side/head airbag; otherwise inju-
ries can occur when airbags are deployed.
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 as well as additional infor-
mation, refer to page
93.
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.
Otherwise, there is an increased risk of injury in
the event of an accident. <
Head restraints, refer to page 52.
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.
Number of safety belts
Never allow more than 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
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CONTROLSTransporting children safely
56
Transporting children safely
Vehicle equipment
In this chapter, all production, country, and
optional equipment that is offered in the model
range is described. Equipment is also described
that is not available because of, for example,
selected options or coun try version. This also
applies to safety relate d functions and systems.
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. <
MINI Convertible: 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
buckled in with a safety belt as soon as there
no longer is any child restraint system that is
appropriate 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 th e 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 page 93.
Child restraint systems,
installation
Observe the child restraint system manu-
facturer's instructions when selecting,
installing and using child restraint systems.
Otherwise, the protective effect may be
diminished. <
On the front passenger seat
After installing a chil d restraint system on
the front passenger se at, 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 be st possible position for
the belt. Do not change the seat position after
this.
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Transporting children safelyCONTROLS
57
Child seat security
MINI Coupe, MINI Roadster
The safety belt for the passenger can be pre-
vented from being pulled out in order to secure
child restraint systems.
MINI Convertible
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.
Locking the safety belt
1.Secure the child restraint system with the
belt.
2. Pull the belt strap all the way out.
3. Allow the belt strap to retract and pull it taut
against the child restraint system.
The safety belt is locked.
Unlocking the safety belt
1. Open the belt buckle.
2. Remove the child restraint system.
3. Allow the safety belt strap to retract all the
way.
LATCH child restraint
fixing system
LATCH: lower Anchors and Tethers for Children.
To install and use the LATCH child restraint
system, follow the operating and safety
instructions provided by the manufacturer of the
system; otherwise, the protective function of the
seat may be compromised. <
MINI Convertible: anchor points for
LATCH anchors
Before installing the child seat, pull the belt out
of the area for the child restraint fixing system.
The anchor points for the lower LATCH anchors
are located behind the labeled protective caps.
Make sure that both lower LATCH anchors
are properly engaged and that the child
restraint system rests fi rmly against the seat
backrest; otherwise, the protective function of
the seat may be compromised. <
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CONTROLSTransporting children safely
58
Child restraint system with tether strap
Use the tether strap anchors to secure
child restraint systems only; otherwise, the
anchors could be damaged. <
MINI Coupe:
For child restraint system s with tether straps,
there is an additional anchor, arrow.
MINI Convertible:
There are two additional anchors for child
restraint systems with tether straps, arrows.
Placement of the tether strap
Make sure the upper tether strap does not
run over sharp edges and is not twisted as
it passes to the top anchor. Otherwise, the strap
will not properly secure the child restraint
system in the event of an accident. <
MINI Coupe
1Direction of travel
2 Head restraint
3 Partition
4 Rear cargo well
5 Tether strap hook
6 Anchor
7 Seat backrest
8 Tether strap of the child restraint system
Attaching upper tether strap to the
attachment point
1.Removing front cargo area cover, see
page 116.
2. Slide the head restraint upward.
3. Guide the tether strap between the head
restraint holders.
4. Attach the tether strap to the anchor using
the hook.
5. Push the head restraint into its lowermost
position.
6. Pull the tether strap tight.
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Transporting children safelyCONTROLS
59
MINI Convertible
Ensure that the upper strap9 is passed
between the seat backrest 8 and the roll-
over protection syst em with cross member 3;
otherwise, the strap will not properly secure the
child restraint system.<
1 Direction of travel
2 Head restraint
3 Rollover protection system with cross
member
4 Cargo area cover
5 Rear cargo well
6 Tether strap hook
7 Anchor
8 Seat backrest
9 Tether strap of the child restraint system
Attaching upper tether strap to the
attachment point
1.Slide the head restraint upward.
2. Unlock backrest and slightly fold forward,
refer to page 118.
3. Guide the tether strap between the head
restraint holders.
4. Attach the tether strap to the anchor using
the hook.
5. Fold backrest back and lock in place. Push
headrest down as far as possible.
6. Pull the tether strap tight.
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Technology for driving comfort and safetyCONTROLS
93
Airbags
1Front airbags
2 Side/head airbags in the backrests
Protective action
Observe the instructions on page 50 to
ensure the best possible personal
protection.<
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 side/head airbag sup-
ports the body in the lateral chest area as well as
the head.
The airbags are designed to not be triggered in
every type of collision, e.g. not in minor acci-
dents, certain rollover si tuations 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-
g e r s i d e f r e e f r o m o b s t r u c t i o n , i . e . d o n o t c o v e r i t
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 upholstery in the center of the steering wheel,
on the instrument cluster, the doors, and the
roof pillars as well as the sides of the headliner.
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 malfuncti
ons, deactivation, or
triggering of the airbag restraint system, have
the testing, repair, remova l, and disposal of air-
bag generators executed only by a MINI dealer
or a workshop that work s 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 in formation about the
airbags can also be found on the sun visors.
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
airbags for the front passenger are activated or
deactivated by the system accordingly.
The indicator lamp above the interior
rearview mirror shows the current status
of the front passenger airbags, deactivated or
activated, 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, page 56.
The front and side airbag s 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
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CONTROLSTechnology for driving comfort and safety
94
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 items unde r the seat which could
press against the seat from below. Otherwise, a
correct analysis of th e seat cushion is not
ensured. <
Status of front passenger airbags
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 indica tor lamp shows whether
the front passenger airbags are activated or
deactivated.
> The indicator lamp co mes on as intended
when a child in a spec ially designated child
restraint system is detected on the seat.
The front and side airbags for the front
passenger are not activated.
Most child seats are detected by the
system. This particularly applies to
child seats that were required by NHTSA at
the time of manufacture of the vehicle. After
installing a child seat, check that the indica-
tor lamp for the front passenger airbags
lights up. 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
passenger are activated.
> The indicator lamp does not come on if the
seat is empty.
The front and side airbags for the front
passenger are not activated.
Operational readines s of airbag system
As of radio readiness, page 60, the warning
lamp lights up briefly to indicate that the entire
airbag system and the belt tensioners are
operational.
Airbag system malfunction
> The warning lamp does not come on when
radio readiness is switched on.
> The warning lamp stays lit continuously.
In the event of a fault in the airbag system,
have it checked without delay; otherwise,
there is the risk that the system will not function
as intended even if a severe accident occurs. <
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REFERENCEEverything from A to Z
270
Carpets, care230
Car phone
– installation location, refer to Center armrest 108
– refer to Telephone 108
Car phone, refer to Telephone 170,180
Car radio, refer to Radio 149
Car wash, care 227
Car washes 227
Catalytic conver ter, refer to
Hot exhaust system 115
CD, audio playback 157
CD player 157
– controls 146
– fast forward/reverse 158
– random order 158
– selecting a track 157
– switching on/off 146
– tone control 147
– volume 147
Center armrest 108
Center brake lamp 236
Center console, refer to Around the center
console 14
Central locking system 29
– Comfort Access 36
– from inside 32
– from outside 29
Changing bulbs 232
Changing the language on the Control Display 80
Changing the measurement units on the Control
Display 74
Changing wheels 239
Charging the battery 241
Chassis number, refer to
Engine compartment 221
Check Control 77
Child restraint fixing system
LATCH 57
Child restraint systems 56
Child seats 56 Chrome parts, care
229
Chrome parts, refer to Care 227
Cigarette lighter 109
Cleaning headlamps 67
– washer fluid 67
Clock
– setting time 76
– 12 h/24 h mode 76
Closing
– from inside 32
– from outside 29
Cl ot
hes hooks 108
Cockpit 10
Cold start, refer to Starting the engine 61
Comfort Access 36
– replacing the battery 38
– what to observe before
entering a car wash 37
Comfort area, refer to Around the center console 14
Compartment for remote control, refer to Ignition
lock 60
Computer 71
– displays on Control Display 73
Condensation, refer to When the vehicle is parked 116
Condition Based Service CBS 225
Configuring settings, refer to
Personal Profile 28
Connecting vacuum cleaner, refer to Connecting electrical
appliances 110
Consumption, refer to Average fuel consumption 72
Contact editing 178
Contacts 177,194
– new contact 195
Continuing route guidance 135
Control Display
– settings 73 Control Display, refer to iDrive
– switching on/off
17
Control Display, refer to Onboard computer 17
Controls and displays 10
Control stick, refer to Onboard computer 17
Control unit, refer to Onboard computer 17
Convenience operation
– convertible top 32
– windows 30
Convenient access, refer to
Comfort Access 36
Convenient star t, refer to
Starting the engine 61
Convertible top 39
– manual 44
– mechanical 44
Coolant 224
– checking level 224
– filling 224
Coolant temperature 224
Cooling, maximum 104
Cooling fluid, refer to
Coolant 224
Copyright 2
Corneri n
g li
ght, refer to
Adaptive Light Control 97
Criteria for route 135
Cruise control
– indicator lamp 13
Cruising range 71
Cupholders 109
Curb weight, refer to Weights 257
Current fuel consumption 72
Current playback
– external devices 162
D
Dashboard, refer to Cockpit 10
Dashboard instruments, refer to Displays 12
Dashboard lighting, refer to Instrument lighting 99
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