Notes
7
Event data recorder EDR
This vehicle is equipped with an event data
recorder EDR. The main purpose of an EDR is to
record, in certain crash or crash-like situations
such as an air bag deployment or collision with a
road obstacle, data that will assist in under-
standing how a vehicle' s systems performed.
The EDR is designed to record data related to
vehicle dynamics and safe ty systems for a short
period of time, typically 30 seconds or less.
The EDR in this vehicle is designed to record data
such as:
> How various systems in your vehicle were
operating.
> Whether or not the driver and passenger
safety belts were fastened.
> How far, if at all, the driver was depressing
the accelerator and/or brake pedal.
> How fast the vehicle was traveling.
These data can help provide a better under-
standing of the circumstances in which crashes
and injuries occur.
EDR data are recorded by your vehicle only if a
nontrivial crash situation occurs; no data are
recorded by the EDR un der normal driving con-
ditions and no personal data, e. g., name, gen-
der, age, and crash location, are recorded.
However, other parties, such as law enforce-
ment, could combine the EDR data with the type
of personally identifying data routinely acquired
during a crash investigation.
Reading the data recorded by an EDR requires
special equipment and access to the vehicle or
the EDR. In addition to the vehicle manufac-
turer, other parties that have the special equip-
ment such as law enforcement, can read the
information if they have access to the vehicle or
the EDR.
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 that
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 simi lar 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.safer-
car.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 tele-
phone the toll-free hotline 1-800-333-0510.
You can also obtain ot her information about
motor vehicle safety from http://www.tc.gc.ca/
roadsafety.
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38
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 informatio n on transporting chil-
dren safely, refer to page 46.
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 ai rbag and do not lean
against the cover of the head airbag; otherwise
injuries can occur when the airbags are
deployed. < 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 extremely sensitive individ-
uals. This effect is usually only temporary.
For airbag locations and
additional information
on airbags, refer to page 81.
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. Oth-
erwise, there is an increased risk of injury in the
event of an accident. <
Head restraints, refer to page 41.
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
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. <
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Safety belts, refer to page42.
Seats
Note before adjusting
Never attempt to adjust your seat while
the vehicle is moving. The seat could
respond with unexpected movement, and the
ensuing loss of vehicle control could lead to an
accident.
On the front passenger seat as well, do not
incline the backrest too far to the rear while the
vehicle is being driven; otherwise, there is a dan-
ger in the event of an a ccident of sliding under
the safety belt, eliminat ing the protection nor-
mally provided by the belt. <
Comply with the instruct ions on head restraint
height on page 41 and on damaged safety belts
on page 44.
Seat adjustment, front
Observe the instructions on page 39 to
ensure the best possible personal protec-
tion. <
Longitudinal direction
Pull the lever, arrow 1, and slide the seat into the
desired position, arrows 2.
After releasing the lever, move the seat slightly
forward or back so that it engages properly.
Height
Pull up or push down the lever repeatedly,
arrows 1, until the desired height is reached.
Backrest
MINI Countryman:
Pull lever, arrow 1, and apply weight to or
remove weight from the backrest as needed.
MINI Paceman:
Pull the lever, arrow 1, and apply your weight to
the backrest or lift it off as necessary, arrows 2.
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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 sup-
plementary support to help you maintain a
relaxed, upright sitting position.
The illustration shows the MINI Countryman as
an example.
Turn the wheel to increase or decrease the cur-
vature.
MINI Paceman: getting in back
1. Pull up the lever on the seat backrest,
arrow 1.
The backrest folds forward.
2. Move the seat forward by pushing on the
backrest, arrow 2.
After getting in or out, revert to the original seat
position, refer to the following section.
To facilitate entry into the rear seat, you might
slide the safety belt backwards in the lower belt
slide rail.
Return seat to original position
The driver's seat has a mechanical memory
function for the forward/back setting and the
backrest adjustment.
1. Slide the seat to return to its starting posi-
tion.
Do not fold the backrest up until the
seat is in its previous position. Other-
wise, the seat will engage in its current posi-
tion. In this case, ad just the longitudinal
position manually, page 39.<
2. Fold the backrest back up to lock the seat.
When moving the seat backward, make
sure that you do not cause personal injury
or property damage.
Before driving off, enga ge the front seats and
seat backrests. Otherwise, there is a risk of acci-
dent due to unexpected movement. <
MINI Countryman: seat adjustment, rear
Do not adjust rear seats while the vehicle
is moving; otherwise, passengers could be
injured.
Make sure that the locking devices of the rear
seats engage properly. Otherwise the restrain-
ing effect of the safety belts during an accident
could be reduced. <
Longitudinal adjustment
1.Pull the lever and slide the seat into the
desired position.
2. Release the lever and mo ve the seat slightly
forward or back so that it engages properly.
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Seat heating
Switching on
Press once for each temperature level.
Three LEDs indicate the highest temperature.
If you continue driving within the next
15 minutes, the seat heating is automatically
activated at the previously set temperature.
The temperature is lowe red or the heating is
switched off entirely to reduce the drain on the
battery.
The LEDs stay lit.
Switching off
Press button longer.
Safety belts
Observe the instructions on page 39 to
ensure the best possible personal protec-
tion. <
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.
Front and rear seats
MINI Countryman:
MINI Paceman:
Closing
Make sure you hear the lock engage in the belt
buckle.
The upper belt anchor is suitable for adults of
any stature as long as th e seat is adjusted prop-
erly, page 39.
Opening
1.Grasp the belt firmly.
2. Press the red button in the buckle.
3. Guide the belt into its reel.
MINI Countryman: height adjustment for
rear safety belt tongues
When the outer rear seats are unoccupied, the
safety belt tongues can be slid back to the cargo
area trim panel with a clasp to prevent noise.
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MINI Countryman: rear seat center belt
The belt buckle marked with the word CENTER is
designed exclusively for the middle passenger.
If the center safety belt is used in the back, the
backrests must be locked, see page107; other-
wise the safety belt will not have a restraining
effect.
Belt take-up on headliner
The take-up for the safety belt is on the head-
liner.
1 Opening for safety belt
2 Receptacle for small belt latch
Remove small belt latch from the take-up. Guide
both belt latches downwards.
Fastening
Insert safety belt with small belt latch 2 into the
small belt buckle 3.
Opening
Press red button on small belt buckle 3 with belt
latch 1.
If the center belt is locked:
Press red button 3 with the belt latch of the left
outside belt.
Buckle belt
1 Large belt latch
2 Small belt latch
3 Small belt buckle
4 Large belt buckle
The belt latch 1 must be inserted into the belt
buckle 4. Make sure you hear the lock engage in
the belt buckle.
Insert the belt latch into the belt buckle so
that the safety belt is properly attached
when a person is buckled in, and is not
twisted. <
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Stow away the center belt
If the center seat is not occupied, then insert the
belt buckles3 and 4 into the corresponding
holders, arrows.
Guide belt latches to the belt take-ups on the
headliner, refer to page 43, and insert them in
the provided take-ups.
Safety Belt Reminder
Front seats
The indicator lamps come on and an
acoustic signal sounds. A message also
appears on the Control Display. Check
whether the safety belt has been fas-
tened correctly. The Safety Belt Reminder is
issued when the driver's safety belt has not been
fastened. The Safety Belt Reminder is also acti-
vated at road speeds above approx. 5 mph or
8 km/h if the front passenger's safety belt has
not been fastened, if objects are placed on the
front passenger seat, or if driver or front passen-
ger unfasten their safety belts.
Damage to safety belts
If the safety belts ar e damaged or stressed
in an accident: have th e safety belt system
and its seat-belt tensioners replaced and the
belt anchors checked. Have this work carried out
only by a MINI dealer or by a workshop that has
specially trained personnel working in accor-
dance with the specifications of the MINI manu-
facturer; otherwise, correct operation of these
safety systems is not ensured.<
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors
The mirror on the passenger's side is more
curved than the driver's mirror. The
objects seen in the mirror are closer than they
appear. Do not gauge your distance from traffic
behind you on the basis of what you see in the
mirror; otherwise, there is an increased risk of an
accident. <
Adjusting electrically
1Adjustments
2 Select left/right mirror
3 Tilting mirrors in and out
Selecting the mirror: Switching to the othe r mirror: slide the
mirror switch.
To adjust: The same as the button movement.
Folding mirrors in and out:
Press button 3.
The mirrors can be folded in at road speeds up to
approx. 20 mph/30 km/h.
This can be beneficial in narrow streets, for
example, or for moving mi rrors that were folded
in by hand back out into their correct positions.
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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. <
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 acci-
dent. <
Children 13 years of age or older must be buck-
led in with a safety belt as soon as there no
longer is any child restraint system that is appro-
priate for their age, size and weight.
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 82.
Child restraint systems,
installation
Before installing a child restraint system on the
rear seats, move the seat as far back as possible.
5-seater: adjust the inclination of the center
backrest to the respective outer backrest.
After the child restr aint system has been
installed on the respecti ve rear seat, move the
backrest forward so that the it rests lightly
against the child restrain t system, refer to Rear
seat backrests on page 107.
Observe the child restraint system manu-
facturer's instructions when selecting,
installing and using child restraint systems. Oth-
erwise, the protective effect may be dimin-
ished. <
On the front passenger seat
After installing a chil d restraint system on
the front passenger se at, make sure that
the front, side, and knee airbags for the front
passenger are deactivated; otherwise, there is
an increased risk of inju ry 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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