MINI COOPER 2011 Service Manual

AdjustmentsCONTROLS
39
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
supplementary support to help you maintain a
relaxed, upright sitting position.
Turn the wheel to increase or decrease the
curvature.
Getting in back
1.Pull up the lever on the seat backrest,
arrow 1.
The backrest folds forward.
2. Move the seat forwar d by pushing on the
backrest, arrow 2.
Return seat to original position
The driver's seat has a mechanical memory
function for the forwar d/back setting and the
backrest adjustment.
1. Slide the seat to return to its starting
position. Do not fold the backrest up until the
seat is in its prev
ious position. Other-
wise, the seat will en gage in its current
position. In this case, adjust the longitudinal
position manually, page 38.<
2. Fold the backrest back up to lock the seat.
When moving the seat backward, ensure
that you do not cause personal injury or
property damage.
Before driving off, engage the front seats and
seat backrests. Otherwis e, there is a risk of
accident due to unexpected movement. <
Head restraints
Correctly adjusted head restraint
A correctly adjusted head restraint reduces the
risk of neck injury in the event of an accident.
Correctly adjust the head restraints of all
occupied seats; otherwise, there is an
increased risk of injury in an accident. <
Height
Adjust the head restraint so that its center is
approximately at ear level.
Distance
Adjust the distance so th at the head restraint is
as close as possible to the back of the head.
Height adjustment
To raise: pull up.
To lower: press the button, arrow 1, and slide
the head restraint down.

CONTROLSAdjustments
40
Removing
Only remove a head restraint if no one will be
sitting on the seat in question.
Reinstall the head restraint before trans-
porting passengers, as otherwise the head
restraint cannot provide its protective func-
tion. <
Front
1.Pull up as far as it will go.
2. Fold the backrest forward slightly.
3. Press button 1 and pull the head restraint
out as far as it will go.
4. Fold back the backrest.
Rear
1.Pull up as far as it will go.
2. Press button 1 and pull the head restraint
out completely.
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 heat ing 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 38 to
ensure the best possible personal
protection. <
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
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 the seat is adjusted
properly, page 38.
Opening
1. Grasp the belt firmly.
2. Press the red button in the buckle.
3. Guide the belt into its reel.

AdjustmentsCONTROLS
41
MINI Convertible: rear belt guide
Please ensure that the belt guide loop,
arrow, is locked when putting on the rear
seat belts.<
Safety belt reminder
Front seats
The indicator lamps come on and an
acoustic signal so unds. Check whether
the safety belt has been fastened
correctly. The 'Fasten safety belts'
reminder is issued when the driver's safety belt
has not been fastened. Th e "Fasten safety belts"
reminder is also activate d 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 passenger unfasten their safety belts.
Damage to safety belts
If the safety belts are damaged or stressed
in an accident: have the safety belt system
and its seat-belt tensio ners 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
manufacturer; otherwise, correct operation of
these safety systems is not ensured. <
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors
The front passenger's mirror is more con-
vex 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. <
1 Adjusting the left or right exterior mirror
2 Folding mirrors in and out
*
Manual adjustment
The mirrors can also be adjusted manually: press
the edge of the glass.
Folding mirrors in and out*
Turn the knob beyond the pressure point in
direction 2. 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 mirrors that were folded
in by hand back out into their correct positions.
Automatic heating*
At external temperatures below a certain limit,
both exterior mirrors are automatically heated
while the engine is running or the ignition
switched on.

CONTROLSAdjustments
42
Interior rearview mirror
To reduce glare from vehicles behind you when
you are driving at night:
Turn the knob.
Interior and exterior mirrors,
automatic dimming feature*
It is controlled by two photosensors:
>Inside the interior rearview mirror, arrow
> On the back of the mirror.
For proper function:
> Keep the photosensors clean
> Do not cover the area between the interior
rearview mirror and the windshield
> Do not place stickers or decals on the
windshield 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 du e 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. <

Transporting children safelyCONTROLS
43
Transporting children safely
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. Othe rwise, 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 re straint 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 76.
Child restraint systems,
installation
Observe the child restraint system manu-
facturer's instructions when selecting,
installing and using ch ild restraint systems.
Otherwise, the protective effect may be
diminished. <
On the front passenger seat
After installing a child restraint system on
the front passenger seat, 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.
Child seat security
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.

CONTROLSTransporting children safely
44
To lock 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.
To unlock 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. <
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 t hat bo th l ow er LATC H ancho rs
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. <
Child restraint system with tether strap
Use the tether strap anchors to secure
child restraint systems only; otherwise, the
anchors could be damaged. <
There are two additional anchors for child
restraint systems with tether straps, arrows.
Placement of the tether strap
Make sure the upper retaining strap
does not run over sharp edges and is not
twisted as it passes to the top anchor. Other-
wise, the strap will not properly secure the child
restraint system in the event of an accident. <
MINI
1Direction of travel
2 Head restraint
3 Tether strap hook
4 Rear cargo well
5 Anchor
6 Seat backrest
7 Tether strap of the child restraint system

Transporting children safelyCONTROLS
45
Attaching upper retaining strap to the
attachment point
1.Slide the head restraint upward.
2. Guide the tether strap between the head
restraint holders.
3. Attach the tether strap to the anchor using
the hook.
4. Push the head restraint into its lowermost
position.
5. Attach the tether strap to the anchor using
the hook.
6. Pull the retaining strap tight.
MINI Convertible
Ensure that the upper strap 9 is passed
between the seat backrest 8 and the
rollover protection system 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 reta ining strap to the
attachment point
1. Slide the head restraint upward.
2. Unlock backrest and slightly fold forward,
refer to page 100.
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 retaining strap tight.

CONTROLSDriving
46
Driving
Ignition lock
Inserting the key into the ignition lock
Insert the key all the way into the ignition lock.
Radio readiness
Individual electrical consumers can operate.
Removing the key from the ignition lock
Press in the key briefly. It is ejected slightly.
At the same time:
>The ignition is switched off if it was on
beforehand.
Automatic transmission
The key can only be removed if the selector lever
is in position P: interlock.
Start/Stop button
Press the Start/Stop button to switch radio readi-
ness or the ignition on and off. Do not depress
the brake or clutch while doing so.
If the Start/Stop button is pressed while
the clutch is depressed in the manual
transmission or the brake pedal is depressed in
the automatic transmission, the engine starts. <
Radio readiness
Individual electrical consumers can operate. The
time and external temperature are displayed in
the tachometer.
Radio readiness is switched off automatically:
>When the key is removed from the ignition
lock
> When using Comfort Access
* by pushing the
button on the door handle or the
button on the remote control, refer to
Locking on page 29
> After a certain has elapsed
Ignition on
Most indicator and warn ing lamps in indicator
area 1, page 13, light up for varying lengths of
time.
When the engine is off, switch off the
ignition and any unnecessary electrical
consumers in order to preserve the battery. <

DrivingCONTROLS
47
Radio readiness and ignition off
All indicator and warning lamps in the displays
go out.
The ignition automatically turns off
* when the
driver's door is opened. Pressing the Start/Stop
button again switches the ignition back on.
The ignition is not switched off in situations such
as the following:
> The clutch or brake is depressed
> The low beams are switched on
Starting the engine
Do not allow the engine to run in enclosed
areas; otherwise, inhalation of the noxious
exhaust gases can lead to loss of consciousness
and death. Exhaust gases contain carbon mon-
oxide, an odorless and colorless, but highly toxic
gas. Never leave an unattended vehicle with
the engine running; otherwise, such a vehicle
represents a potent ial safety hazard.
Before leaving the car while the engine is run-
ning, place the transmission in neutral or move
the selector lever to position P and forcefully
apply the parking brake to prevent the car from
moving. <
Avoid frequent starting in quick succes-
sion or repeated start attempts in which
the engine does not start. Otherwise, the fuel is
not burned or inadequately burned and there is
a danger of overheating and damaging the
catalytic converter. <
Do not let the engine warm up with the vehicle
at a standstill. Move of f immediately at a moder-
ate engine speed.
When starting the engine, do not depress the
accelerator pedal.
Manual transmission
Key in ignition lock or inside vehicle with
Comfort Access, refer to page 28.
1. Depress the brake.
2. Depress the clutch.
3. Press the Start/Stop button.
Automatic transmission*
Key in ignition lock or inside vehicle with
Comfort Access, refer to page 28.
1. Depress the brake.
2. Shift the selector lever into position P or N.
3. Press the Start/Stop button.
The starter operates auto matically for a certain
time, and stops automatically as soon as the
engine has started.
Switching off the engine
Always take the key with you when you
leave the vehicle.
When parking, apply the parking brake force-
fully; otherwise, the vehicle could begin to roll. <
Manual transmission
1.With the car at a standstill, press the Start/
Stop button.
2. Shift into first gear or reverse.
3. Forcefully apply the parking brake.

CONTROLSDriving
48
Automatic transmission*
1.With the car at a stop, move the selector
lever to position P.
2. Press the Start/Stop button.
3. Forcefully apply the parking brake.
Before driving into a car wash
By following these steps, the vehicle is able to
roll:
1.Place the remote control, even with Comfort
Access, in the ignition lock.
2. Depress the brake.
3. Move the selector lever to position N.
4. Switch off the engine.
Parking brake
The parking brake is primarily intended to
prevent the vehicle from rolling while parked;
it brakes the rear wheels.
Applying
The lever locks in position automatically.
Releasing
Pull slightly upward, press the button and lower
the lever.
In exceptional cases, if the parking brake
has to be used to slow or stop the car,
do not pull the lever up too hard. In doing so,
continuously press the button of the parking
brake lever.
Otherwise, excessive force could lead to over-
braking and loss of traction, i.e. fishtailing, at the
rear axle. <
Manual transmission
When shifting into 5t h or 6th gear, press
the gearshift lever to the right. Otherwise,
the engine could be damaged if you inadvert-
ently shift into 3rd or 4th gear. <
Reverse gear
Select this only when the vehicle is stationary.
When the gearshift lever is pressed to the left, a
slight resistance has to be overcome.
Automatic transmission*
with Steptronic
In addition to the fully automatic mode, you can
shift gears manually using Steptronic, page 49.
Parking the vehicle
To prevent the vehicle from rolling, always
select position P and apply the parking
brake before leaving the vehicle with the engine
running. <
Removing the key
To remove the key from the ignition lock, first
move the selector lever into position P and then
switch off the engine: in terlock. Remove the key
from the ignition lock, refer to page 46.
Selector lever positions
P R N D M/S + –