steering wheel adjustment MINI Convertible 2009 Owner's Manual

REFERENCEAT A GLANCE CONTROLS DRIVING TIPS MOBILITY
35
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 the 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 chil-
dren safely, refer to page41.
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 injury to the hands or arms
in the event of the airbag being triggered off.
No one and nothing is to come between the air-
bags 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 passengers keep their heads
away from the side airbag and do not lean
against the cover of the head airbag of the MINI;
otherwise, serious injuries can result when the
airbag deploys.<
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 page71.
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 page37.
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.
Never allow more than one person to
wear a single safety belt. Never allow
infants or small children to ride in a pas-
senger'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 sharp 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 page38.
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

Adjustments
40
and windshield, and do not affix adhesive labels
or stickers of any kind to the windshield directly
in front of the mirror.
Steering wheel
Adjustments
Do not adjust the steering wheel position
while the car is in motion, otherwise there
is a risk of accident due to an unexpected move-
ment.<
1.Fold the lever down.
2.Move the steering wheel to the preferred
distance and angle to suit your seated
position.
3.Swing the lever back up.
Do not use force to swing the lever
back up, otherwise the mechanism
will be damaged.<

From A to Z
166
Gross vehicle weight, refer to
Weights159
H
Halogen lamps
– replacing bulb127
Handbrake, refer to Parking
brake45
Hands-free system14
Hazard warning flashers14
Head airbags71
Head restraints37
– sitting safely35
Headlamp control,
automatic74
Headlamp flasher48
– indicator lamp11,141
Headlamps
– replacing bulb127
Headlamps, care123
Heated
– mirrors39
– rear window80,82
– seats38
Heating79
– mirrors39
– rear window80,82
– seats38
Heavy loads, refer to Stowing
cargo96
Height adjustment
– seats36
– steering wheel40
Height, refer to
Dimensions157
High beams76
– headlamp flasher76
– indicator lamp141
– replacing bulb127
High water, refer to Driving
through water93
Hill Start Assist65
Hills93
Holders for cups88
Homepage4
Horn10
Hot exhaust system92
Hydroplaning92
I
Ice warning53
Icy roads, refer to Outside
temperature warning53
Ignition44
– switched off44
– switched on44
Ignition key position 1, refer to
Radio readiness44
Ignition key position 2, refer to
Ignition on44
Ignition key, refer to
Integrated key/remote
control18
Ignition lock44
Imprint2
Indicator and warning
lamps13,141
– Tire Pressure Monitor TPM69
Indicator lighting, refer to
Instrument lighting77
Individual air distribution81
Individual settings, refer to
Personal Profile18
Inflation pressure monitoring,
refer to Tire Pressure Monitor
TPM68
Initializing
– Flat Tire Monitor FTM66
– glass sunroof, electric28
Instrument cluster, refer to
Displays12
Instrument lighting77
Instrument panel, refer to
Cockpit10
Instrument panel, refer to
Displays12
Integrated key18
Integrated universal remove
control84
Interior lamps77
– remote control21
Interior rearview mirror39
– automatic dimming
feature39
Interlock46
Intermittent mode of the
wipers49Internet page4J
Jacking points134
Jets, refer to Window washer
nozzles51
Jump starting137
Jumpering, refer to Jump
starting137
K
Key Memory, refer to Personal
Profile18
Key, refer to Keys/remote
controls18
Keyless go, refer to Convenient
access26
Keyless opening and closing,
refer to Convenient
access26
Kick-down47
– automatic transmission with
Steptronic47
Knock control103
L
Lamps and bulbs, replacing
bulbs126
Lamps, refer to Parking lamps/
Low beams74
Lashing eyes, refer to Securing
cargo96
LATCH child-restraint fixing
system42
Leather care124
LEDs light-emitting diodes127
Length, refer to
Dimensions157
License plate lamp
– bulb replacement130
Light switch74
Light-alloy wheels, care124
Light-emitting diodes
LEDs127
Lighter88
– socket88

REFERENCEAT A GLANCE CONTROLS DRIVING TIPS MOBILITY
169
Runflat Tyres, refer to Run-Flat
Tires114
S
Safety belts38
– damage39
– indicator lamp38
– reminder38
– sitting safely35
Safety belts, care125
Safety systems
– airbags71
– Antilock Brake System
ABS64
– Dynamic Stability Control
DSC64
– safety belts38
Safety tires, refer to Run-Flat
Tires114
Screw thread for tow
fitting139
Seat adjustment
– mechanical36
Seats35
– adjusting the seats36
– heating38
– sitting safely35
Securing the vehicle
– from inside22
– from outside19
Selector lever
– automatic transmission with
Steptronic46
Selector lever lock
– automatic transmission with
Steptronic, refer to
Shiftlock46
– overriding manually48
Selector lever positions
– automatic transmission with
Steptronic46
Service car, refer to Roadside
Assistance137
Service data in the remote
control120
Service Interval Display, refer
to Condition Based Service
CBS120Service, refer to Roadside
Assistance137
Service requirement display,
refer to Condition Based
Service CBS120
Service requirements58
Settings
– clock, 12h/24h mode57
Shifting gears
– automatic transmission with
Steptronic47
– manual transmission46
Shiftlock
– automatic transmission, refer
to Changing selector lever
positions46
Side airbags71
Side turn signal indicator
– replacing bulb129
Side windows, refer to
Windows28
Signal horn, refer to Horn10
Sitting safely35
– airbags35
– safety belts35
– with head restraint35
Size, refer to Dimensions157
Sliding/tilt sunroof
– refer to Glass sunroof,
electric27
Slipstream deflector, refer to
Wind deflector33
Slot for remote control44
Smokers' package, refer to
Ashtray88
Snap-in adapter, refer to
Center armrest storage
compartment86
Snow chains115
Socket for Onboard Diagnosis
OBD120
Socket, refer to Connecting
electrical appliances88
Space-saver spare tire
– changing tires133
– inflation pressure104
Spare wheel, refer to Space-
saver spare tire133Special oils, refer to Approved
engine oils118
Speed156
– with winter tires115
Speed control, refer to Cruise
control51
Speedometer12
Split rear backrest, refer to
Through-loading system95
Split rear seat backrest, refer to
Expanding the cargo bay94
Sport button65
Stability control, refer to
Driving stability control
systems63
Start/stop button44
– starting the engine44
– switching off the engine45
Starting assistance, refer to
Jump starting137
Starting, refer to Starting the
engine44
Starting the engine
– start/stop button44
Start-off assistance, refer to
– DSC64
– Hill Start Assist65
Status of this Owner's Manual
at time of printing4
Steering wheel40
– adjustment40
– buttons on steering wheel11
– lock44
– shift paddles47
Steptronic, refer to Automatic
transmission with
Steptronic46
Storage area
– cargo bay94
Storage compartment, front
passenger side87
Storage compartments87
Storage space
– storage compartments87
Storage space, refer to
– Luggage compartment in the
MINI Convertible94
Storing the vehicle125
Storing tires115