The shoulder strap's anchorage point will be
correct for adult seat occupants of every build if
the seat is correctly adjusted.
One person per safety belt
Never allow more than one person to
wear a single safety belt. Never allow infants or
small children to ride on a passenger's lap. ◀
Putting on the belt
Lay the belt, without twisting, snugly
across the lap and shoulders, as close to the
body as possible. Make sure that the belt lies
low around the hips in the lap area and does
not press on the abdomen. Otherwise, the belt
can slip over the hips in the lap area in a frontal
impact and injure the abdomen.
The safety belt must not lie across the neck, rub
on sharp edges, be routed over solid or breaka‐
ble objects, or be pinched. ◀
Reduction of restraining effect
Avoid wearing clothing that prevents the
belt from fitting properly, and pull the shoulder
belt periodically to readjust the tension across
your lap; otherwise, the retention effect of the
safety belt may be reduced. ◀
Buckling the belt MINI Countryman:
MINI Paceman:
Make sure you hear the latch plate engage in
the belt buckle.
The shoulder strap's anchorage point will be
correct for adult seat occupants of every build if
the seat is correctly adjusted, refer to page 36.
Unbuckling the belt
1.Hold the belt firmly.2.Press the red button in the belt buckle.3.Guide the belt back into its reel.
Fastening the rear buckle tongues When the outer rear seats are not occupied, thebuckle tongues of the rear seats can be slid up
to the cargo area trim with the clip.
This helps avoid annoying noises when driving.
MINI Countryman: center safety belt of
rear seat
The belt buckle embossed with the word CEN‐
TER is intended exclusively for use by passen‐
gers riding in the center position.
If the center safety belt in the rear is used, the
backrests must be locked, refer to page 99.
The safety belt will not have a restraining effect
if the backrest is not locked.
Belt holder in the headliner The holder for the safety belt is located in the
headliner.
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1Opening for the safety belt2Holder for the small buckle tongue
Take the small buckle tongue out of the holder.
Move both buckle tongues downward.
Closing
Insert the small buckle tongue 2 of the safety
belt into the small belt buckle 3.
Opening Press the red button on the small belt buckle 3
with buckle tongue 1.
When the center safety belt is locked:
Press the red button 3 with the buckle tongue
of the outer left safety belt.
Putting on the belt1Large buckle tongue2Small buckle tongue3Small belt buckle4Large belt buckle
Buckle tongue 1 must be inserted in belt
buckle 4. Make sure you hear the buckle
tongue engage in the belt buckle.
Insert the buckle tongue into the belt buckle in
such a way that the belt lies smoothly against
the body of the buckled person and is not
twisted.
Stowing the center safety belt
If the center seat is not occupied, insert the belt
buckles 3 and 4 into the respective holders, ar‐
rows.
Move the buckle tongues to the belt holder on
the headliner, refer to page 39, and insert them
into the provided holders.
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NotesManufacturer's information for child re‐
straint fixing systems
To select, mount and use child restraint fixing
systems, observe the information provided by
the system manufacturer; otherwise, the pro‐
tective effect can be impaired. ◀
On the front passenger seat
Deactivating the airbags After installing a child restraint fixing system on
the front passenger seat, ensure that the front,
side, and knee airbags on the front passenger
side are deactivated.
Deactivating the front passenger airbags
If a child restraint fixing system is used in
the front passenger seat, the front passenger
airbags must be deactivated; otherwise, there
is an increased risk of injury to the child when
the airbags are triggered, even with a child re‐
straint fixing system. ◀
Seat position and height
Before installing a child restraint fixing system,
move the front passenger seat as far back as
possible and adjust its height to the highest po‐
sition to obtain the best possible position for
the belt and to offer optimal protection in the
event of an accident.
Do not change this seat position once it has
been set.Child seat security
The graphic shows the MINI Countryman as an
example.
The rear safety belts and the safety belt for the
front passenger can be locked to prevent ex‐
tension in order to permit attachment of child
restraint fixing systems.
To lock the safety belt
1.Secure the child restraint fixing system with
the belt.2.Pull out the belt webbing completely.3.Allow the belt webbing to be pulled in and
pull it taut against the child restraint fixing
system.
The safety belt is locked.
To unlock the safety belt
1.Open the belt buckle.2.Remove the child restraint fixing system.3.Allow the belt webbing to be pulled in com‐
pletely.
Center safety belt: unlock belt buckle 3 in
addition, refer to page 40.
Guide the safety belt to the holder on the
headliner.
LATCH child restraint fix‐
ing system
LATCH: Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children.
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Attaching the upper retaining strap to
the mounting point1.Slide the head restraint upward.2.Center seat: fold the cargo area floor for‐
ward.3.Guide the upper retaining strap between
the supports of the head restraint.4.Attach the upper retaining strap to the
mounting point with the hook.5.Slide the head restraint into the bottom po‐
sition.6.Pull the upper retaining strap taut.
MINI Countryman: lock‐
ing doors and windows
Rear doors
Push the locking lever on the rear doors down.
The door can now be opened from the outside
only.
Safety switch for power window This locks the rear window switches so that the
windows cannot be operated from the rear.
Press the safety switch, refer to page 35.
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DrivingVehicle equipmentThis chapter describes all series equipment as
well as country-specific and special equipment
offered for this model series.Therefore, it also
describes equipment that may not be found in
your vehicle, for instance due to the selected
special equipment or the country version. This
also applies to safety-related functions and sys‐
tems.
Ignition lock Insert the remote control into the
ignition lock
Insert the remote control all the way into the
ignition lock.
Radio ready state is switched on. Individual
electrical consumers can operate.
Removing the remote control from the
ignition lock
Do not forcibly pull the remote control
out of the ignition lock
Do not forcibly pull the remote control out of
the ignition lock as this may cause damage. ◀
Before removing the remote control, push it all
the way in to release the locking mechanism.
The ignition is switched off if it was on.
Automatic transmission
You can only take out the remote control if
transmission position P is engaged: interlock.
Start/Stop button
Pressing the Start/Stop button switches the ig‐
nition on or off and starts the engine.
The engine starts when the Start/Stop button is
pressed and:
▷Manual transmission: the clutch is de‐
pressed.▷Automatic transmission: the brake is de‐
pressed.
Radio ready state
Individual electrical consumers can operate.
Radio ready state is switched off automatically:
▷When the remote control is removed from
the ignition lock.▷With Comfort Access, refer to page 30, by
pressing the button on the door handle or
the
button on the remote control.
▷After a certain period of time.
Ignition on All electrical consumers can operate. Most indi‐
cator and warning lamps light up for different
lengths of time.
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To save battery power when the engine is off,
switch off the ignition and any unnecessary
electronic systems/power consumers.
Radio ready state and ignition off All indicator and warning lamps in the displays
go out.
The ignition switches off automatically when
the driver's door is opened. Pressing the Start/
Stop button again switches the ignition back
on.
For example, the ignition is not switched off in
the following situations:▷Depress the clutch or brake pedal.▷The low beams are switched on
Starting the engine
General information Enclosed areas
Do not let the engine run in enclosed
areas; otherwise, breathing of exhaust fumes
may lead to loss of consciousness and death.
The exhaust gases contain carbon monoxide,
an odorless and colorless but highly toxic gas. ◀
Unattended vehicle
Do not leave the car unattended with the
engine running; otherwise, it presents a poten‐
tial source of danger.
Before leaving the car with the engine running,
shift to neutral or engage transmission posi‐
tion P and set the handbrake firmly; otherwise,
the vehicle may begin to roll. ◀
Frequent starting in quick succession
Avoid repeated futile attempts at starting
the car and avoid starting the car frequently in
quick succession. Otherwise, the fuel is not
burned or is inadequately burned, and there is
the danger of overheating and damaging the
catalytic converter. ◀
Do not wait for the engine to warm-up while
the vehicle remains stationary; start driving
right away, but at moderate engine speeds.
Do not depress the accelerator when starting
the engine.
Starting the engine
Manual transmission
Remote control in the ignition lock or, with
Comfort Access, inside the vehicle, refer to
page 30.
1.Depress the brake pedal.2.Depress the clutch pedal.3.Press the Start/Stop button.
The ignition is activated automatically for a cer‐
tain time and is stopped as soon as the engine
starts.
Automatic transmission
Remote control in the ignition lock or, with
Comfort Access, inside the vehicle, refer to
page 30.
1.Depress the brake pedal.2.Move the selector lever to position P or N.3.Press the Start/Stop button.
The ignition is activated automatically for a cer‐
tain time and is stopped as soon as the engine
starts.
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Engine stop
General information Take the remote control with you
Take the remote control with you when
leaving the vehicle so that children, for exam‐
ple, cannot operate the windows and injure
themselves. ◀
Set the handbrake and further secure the
vehicle as required
Set the handbrake firmly when parking; other‐
wise, the vehicle may roll. On steep upward
and downward inclines, further secure the ve‐
hicle, for example, by turning the steering
wheel in the direction of the curb. ◀
Before driving into a car wash
To make it possible for the vehicle to roll in an
automatic car wash, follow the information on
Washing in automatic car washes, refer to
page 186.
Switching off the engine
Manual transmission1.With the vehicle at a standstill, press the
Start/Stop button.2.Shift into first gear or reverse.3.Set the handbrake firmly.4.Remove the remote control from the igni‐
tion lock.
Automatic transmission
1.Engage transmission position P with the ve‐
hicle stopped.2.Press the Start/Stop button.3.Set the handbrake firmly.4.Remove the remote control from the igni‐
tion lock.Handbrake
The concept
The handbrake is primarily intended to prevent
the vehicle from rolling while parked; it brakes
the rear wheels.
Also follow the instructions under Switching off
the engine, refer to page 51.
Setting
The lever engages automatically.
Releasing
Pull up slightly, press the button, and lower the
lever.
Notes Using the handbrake while driving
If it should become necessary to use the
handbrake while driving, do not pull the hand‐
brake too forcefully. Keep the button on the
handbrake lever pressed at all times.
Excessive application of the handbrake can
block the rear wheels and lead to fishtailing of
the vehicle. ◀
The brake lamps do not light up when the
handbrake is pulled.
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Do not use the washing facilities when
the hood is open
Only use the washing facilities when the hood
is fully locked; otherwise, the headlamp washer
system may become damaged. ◀
Windshield washer nozzles The windshield washer nozzles are heated au‐
tomatically while the engine is running or the
ignition is switched on.
Rear window wiper0Resting position1Switching on intermittent wipe
Turn the cap to level 1.
When reverse gear is engaged, the system
switches to continuous operation.2Cleaning the rear window with intermittent
wipe
Turn the cap further to level 2 and hold.3Cleaning the rear window in the resting po‐
sition
Turn the cap to level 3 and hold.
The rear window wiper does not move if the
cap is in position 1 before the ignition is
switched on.
To switch on the rear window wiper:
1.Move the cap to its basic position.2.Select the required position again.Do not use the washing mechanisms
when the washer fluid reservoir is empty
Do not use washing mechanisms when the
washer fluid reservoir is empty, otherwise you
will damage the washer pump. ◀
Washer fluid
General information Antifreeze for washer fluid
Antifreeze is flammable and can cause in‐
juries if used improperly.
Therefore, keep it away from sources of igni‐
tion.
Only keep it in the closed original container and
inaccessible to children.
Follow the notes and instructions on the con‐
tainer.
United States: The washer fluid mixture ratio is
regulated by the U.S. EPA and many individual
states; do not exceed the allowable washer
fluid dilution ratios limits that apply. Follow the
usage instructions on the washer fluid con‐
tainer. Use BMW's Windshield Washer Concen‐
trate or the equivalent. ◀
Washer fluid reservoir Adding washer fluid
Only add washer fluid when the engine is
cool, and then close the cover completely to
avoid contact between the washer fluid and
hot engine parts.
Otherwise, there is the danger of fire and a risk
to personal safety if the fluid is spilled. ◀Seite 55DrivingControls55
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