belts MINI Countryman 2013 Owner's Manual

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.

00320051004F004C00510048000300280047004C0057004C005200510003

CONTROLSAdjustments
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. <

00320051004F004C00510048000300280047004C0057004C005200510003

AdjustmentsCONTROLS
39
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.

00320051004F004C00510048000300280047004C0057004C005200510003

CONTROLSAdjustments
40
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.

00320051004F004C00510048000300280047004C0057004C005200510003

CONTROLSAdjustments
42
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.

00320051004F004C00510048000300280047004C0057004C005200510003

CONTROLSAdjustments
44
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.

00320051004F004C00510048000300280047004C0057004C005200510003

Transporting children safelyCONTROLS
47
Child seat security
The illustration shows the MINI Countryman as
an example.
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 sys-
tems.
Locking 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.
Unlocking 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.
Center belt: unlocking additional belt
buckle 3, see page 43.
Guide safety belt to the take-up on the
headliner.
LATCH child restraint
fixing system
LATCH: Lower Anchors an d Tethers for Children.
To install and use the LATCH child restraint
system, follow the op erating 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
When the child is restrained by the internal har-
nesses, the lower anchors may be used to attach
the CRS to the vehicle seat up to a combined
child and CRS weight of 65 lb/30 kg.
Before installing the child seat, pull the belt out
of the area for the child restraint fixing system.
MINI Countryman:
MINI Paceman:
The mounts for the lower LATCH anchors are
located at the points indicated by the arrows.
Make sure that both lower LATCH anchors
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. <

00320051004F004C00510048000300280047004C0057004C005200510003

Technology for driving comfort and safetyCONTROLS
81
Airbags
MINI Countryman:
MINI Paceman:
The following airbags are located under the
marked covers:
1Front airbags
2 Knee airbag 3
Side airbags in backrests
4 Head airbags at the front and rear
Protective action
Observe the instructions on page 38 to
ensure the best possible personal protec-
tion. <
The front airbags help protect the driver and
front passenger by responding to frontal
impacts in which safety belts alone cannot pro-
vide adequate restraint. When needed, the head
and side airbags help provide protection in the
event of side impact. Th e relevant side airbag
supports the side upper body area. The head air
bag supports the head.
The airbags are designed to not be triggered in
every type of collision, e.g. not in minor acci-
dents, certain rollover si tuations or rear impacts. Do not apply adhesive materials to the
cover panels of the airbags, cover them or
modify them in any other way.
Keep the dashboard and window on the passen-
g e r s i d e f r e e f r o m o b s t r u c t i o n , i . e . d o n o t c o v e r i t
with adhesive film or co verings, and do not affix
any holders such as for a navigation device or a
mobile phone.
Do not attach seat covers, cushions or other
objects not specifically approved for seats with
integral side airbags to the front seats. Do not
hang items of clothing su ch as coats or jackets
over the backrests. Do not attempt to remove
the airbag retention system from the vehicle. Do
not modify the individual components of the
syst em o r it s w iring in an y w ay . This inclu des th e

00320051004F004C00510048000300280047004C0057004C005200510003

CareMOBILITY
223
tened again after they have been removed, e.g.
for cleaning.<
Floor mats can be removed to be cleaned.
If the carpets are very dirty, clean with a microfi-
ber cloth and water or an interior cleaner. When
doing so, rub forward and back in the driving
direction; otherwise, the carpet may become
matted.
Interior plastic parts
These include:
> Plastic surfaces
> Lamp glass
> Display panes
> Mat parts
Only clean with water and, if necessary, solvent-
free plastic cleaners. Do not use solvents such as alcohol, lac-
quer thinner, cold clea ners, fuel, or similar,
as these will damage the surfaces. <
Decorative strips
Only clean decorative strips and fine wood parts
with damp cloths. Wipe dry with a soft cloth.
Safety belts
Dirty belt straps impede the reeling action and
thus have a negative impact on safety.
Do not clean chemically, as this may
destroy the webbing. <
Displays
To clean displays, such as the radio or display
elements, use an anti-static microfiber cloth.
Avoid pressing too hard when cleaning
the display as this can cause damage. <
Do not use chemical or abrasive house-
hold cleaning agents. Keep fluids of any
kind away from the device . Surfaces or electrical
components may otherwise become corroded
or damaged. <
CD/DVD drives
Do not use cleaning CDs as this could
damage parts of the drive. <
Vehicle storage
If you park your vehicle longer than three
months, ask your MINI dealer to advise you.

00320051004F004C00510048000300280047004C0057004C005200510003

Everything from A to ZREFERENCE
261
B
Background lighting, refer to
Ambient lighting 87
Backrests, refer to Seats 39
Backup lamps
– replacing bulb 228
Band-aids, refer to First aid pouch 236
Bar, refer to Tow-starting,
towing away 239
Base plate for telephone or mobile phone
– refer to Snap-in adapter 185
Bass sounds, refer to Tone control 141
Battery 233
– disposal 35,234
– jump-starting 236
– temporary power failure 234
Battery renewal
– remote control 35
Being towed 238
Belts, refer to Safety belts 42
Belt tensioner, refer to Safety
belts 42
Beverage holders, refer to Cupholders 100
Black ice, refer to External temperature warning 61
Blower, refer to Air flow rate 88,90
Bluetooth, activating/
deactivating 165,175
Bluetooth audio 157
– device pairing 158
– disconnecting an audio connection 160
– playback 159
– unpairing device 160
– what to do if... 160
Bottle holders, refer to
Cupholders 100
Brake Assist 72
Brake fluid, refer to Service
requirements 64 Brake lamps
– replacing bulbs
228
Brake pads, breaking in 104
Brake rotors 106
– brakes 104
– breaking in 104
Brakes
– ABS 72
– breaking in 104
– MINI Maintenance
System 218
– parking brake 52
– service requirements 64
Brakes, refer to Braking safely 105
Br ake system
104
– breaki ng

in104
– disc brakes 106
– MINI Maintenance
System 218
Breakdown service, refer to Roadside Assistance 236
Breaking in the clutch 104
Break-in period 104
Brightness of Control
Display 70
Bulb changing, refer to Lamps and bulbs 224
Button for starting the engine 50
Buttons on the steering wheel 11
C
Calendar 191
– displaying appointment 191
– selecting calendar day 191
California Proposition 65
warning 5
Call
– ending 168,180
– muting the microphone 181
Calling, refer to Phone numbers, dialing 168,180
Can holders, refer to Cupholders 100 Capacities
251
Car battery, refer to Vehicle battery 233
Car care 220
Care 220
– car-care products 220
– car washes 220
– CD/DVD drives 223
– high-pressure washers 221
– leather 222
– manual washing 221
– upholstery and fabrics 222
– windows 221
– wiper blades 221
Cargo, securing 112
Cargo area 106
– capacity 249
– Comfort Access 34
– lamp 87
– opening from outside 31
– trunk lid, refer to Tailgate 31
Cargo area, expanding 106
Cargo area lamp 87
Cargo area lid, refer to Tailgate 31
Cargo area partition net, refer to Cargo net 109
Cargo loading 110
– securing cargo 112
– stowing cargo 111
– vehicle 106
Cargo net 109
Car key, refer to Keys/remote
controls 26
Carpets, care 222
Car phone
– installation location, refer to Center armrest 97
Car phone, refer to
Telephone 164,174
Car radio, refer to Radio 143
Car wash
– before driving in 52
Car wa sh, care
220
Car w a

shes220
Catalytic converter, refer to Hot exhaust system 105

00320051004F004C00510048000300280047004C0057004C005200510003