MINI COOPER 2008 User Guide
Page 11 of 164
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
Reference At a glance
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Cockpit
10
Cockpit
Around the steering wheel: Controls and displays
1Adjusting the exterior mirrors, folding them 
in and out
*33
2
Parking lamps66
Low beams66
Automatic headlamp control
*66
Turn signals43
High beams68
Headlamp flasher43
Roadside parking lamps
*68
Computer
*49
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Reference
At a glance Controls Driving tips Mobility
 11
6Ignition lock39
7Buttons
* on steering wheel
8Horn: the entire surface
9Adjusting the steering wheel34
10Releasing the bonnet106 3Tachometer12
Instrument lighting69
Resetting the trip odometer48
4
Wiper system44
5Switching the ignition on/off and 
starting/stopping the engine39
Continuing cruise control
*46
Right:
Storing speed and accelerating or 
decelerating
Left:
Volume
Activating/deactivating cruise 
control
*47
Telephone
*:
Accepting and ending a call, start-
ing dialing
* of selected phone 
number and redialing if no phone 
number is selected
Activating/deactivating voice com-
mand system
*
Changing radio station
Selecting music track
Scrolling through phone book and 
lists with stored phone numbers
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Cockpit
12
Displays
1Tachometer48
with indicator and warning lamps13
2Display for
>Clock48
>Outside temperature48
>Current vehicle speed48
>Indicator and warning lamps13
3Resetting the trip odometer484Display for
>Position of automatic transmission
*41
>Computer
*49
>Date of next scheduled service, and 
remaining distance to be driven53
>Odometer and trip odometer48
>Initializing the Flat Tire Monitor
*60
>Resetting the Tire Pressure Monitor
*61
>Settings and information50
>Personal Profile settings18
5Instrument lighting69
6Speedometer
with indicator and warning lamps13
7Fuel gauge49
8Radio display, refer to separate Owner's 
Manual
9Radio, refer to separate Owner's Manual
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Reference
At a glance Controls Driving tips Mobility
 13
Indicator and warning 
lamps
The concept
Indicator and warning lamps can light up in var-
ious combinations and colors in indicator area 1 
or2.
Some lamps are checked for proper functioning 
and thus come on briefly when the engine is 
started or the ignition is switched on.
What to do in case of a malfunction
A list of all indicator and warning lamps, as well 
as notes on possible causes of malfunctions and 
on how to respond, can be found starting on 
page131.
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Cockpit
14
Around the center console
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Reference
At a glance Controls Driving tips Mobility
 15
1Microphone for voice command system* 
and for telephone in hands-free mode*
2Indicator/warning lamp* for front passen-
ger airbags65
4Hazard warning flashers
5Speedometer12
6Drive for audio CDs
7Switching audio sources on/off and adjust-
ing volume
8Air conditioner or automatic climate con-
trol
*
9Switches in center console
10Driving stability control systems
>All-Season Traction Control ASC
*58
>Dynamic Stability Control DSC
*58
11Sport button
*59 3
Reading lamps
*70
Color of ambient lighting
*70
Glass sunroof, electric
*27
Interior lamps69
Temperature72, 74
Recirculated-air mode72, 74
Automatic recirculated-air control 
AUC
* and recirculated-air 
mode74
Air distribution for air 
conditioner73
Air distribution to the 
windshield
*74
Air distribution to the upper body 
area
*74
Air distribution to the footwell
*74
Automatic air distribution and flow 
rate
*74
Maximum cooling
*74
Cooling function72, 75
Defrosting windows
*73, 75
Rear window defroster72, 74 
Windshield heating
*73, 75
Air flow rate72, 73
Seat heating
*33
Power windows28
Rear fog lamp
*69
Central locking system, inside22
Fog lamps
*69
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Controls At a glance
Driving tips
Mobility
Reference Controls
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Opening and closing
18
Opening and closing
Keys/remote controls
Remote control
Each remote control contains a rechargeable 
battery that is recharged when it is in the igni-
tion lock while the car is being driven. You 
should therefore use each remote control at 
least twice a year to maintain the charge status. 
In vehicles equipped with convenient access
*, 
the remote control contains a replaceable bat-
tery, page27.
If more than one remote control is used, the set-
tings called up and implemented depend on 
which remote control is recognized when the 
car is unlocked, refer to Personal Profile, 
page18.
In addition, information about service require-
ments is stored in the remote control, refer to 
Service data in the remote control, page110.
New remote controls
Your MINI Dealer can supply new remote con-
trols as additional units or as replacements in the 
event of loss.
Integrated key
Press button1 to release the key.
The integrated key fits the following locks:
>Driver's door, page22
Personal Profile
The concept
The functions of your MINI can be set individu-
ally. By means of Personal Profiles, most of these 
settings are stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use. When you unlock the car, the 
remote control is recognized and the settings 
stored for it are called up and implemented.
This means that your settings will be activated 
for you, even if in the meantime your car was 
used by someone else with another remote con-
trol and the corresponding settings.
At most three remote controls can be set for 
three different people. A prerequisite is that 
each person uses a separate remote control.
Personal Profile settings
For more information on specific settings, refer 
to the specified pages.
>Response of the central locking system 
when the car is being unlocked19
>Automatic locking of the vehicle22
>Triple turn signal activation43
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