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BMW and MINI dashboard warning lights

14 lights that the MINI Hardtop 2 Door / 4 Door handbook (2021) shows, each in our own drawing, with MINI's name for it next to ours, the colour the handbook gives it and what the handbook says to do. Tap a light for its full page.

Check your own handbook — models differ. This page is one handbook for one model. Another BMW/MINI model or year can have lamps this one lacks, or draw the same lamp differently; only your car's own handbook is sure.

Read this first

MINI belongs to BMW and its handbooks use BMW's names: DSC for stability control, Check Control for the message system, Approach control warning for the forward collision lamp. The lights below are confirmed by a MINI handbook only; a BMW shares the naming but check your own. MINI groups the lamps by colour (red, yellow, blue, green) and pairs most of them with a Check Control message on the display, which says more than the lamp can — read it. This is a US handbook: the tyre lamp here is the US Tire Pressure Monitor; European MINIs may have the Flat Tire Monitor instead.

The 14 lights in the MINI Hardtop 2 Door / 4 Door handbook

Seat belt warning light

MINI calls it “Safety belt reminder”.

Red, flashing or lit: a front seat belt is not buckled. Objects on the passenger seat can set it off.

Colour in this handbook: Red

Confirmed by: MINI handbook — MINI Hardtop 2 Door / 4 Door, 2021. Check your own handbook — models differ.

Airbag warning light

MINI calls it “Airbag system”.

Red: the airbags and belt tensioners may not be working — have the car checked immediately.

Colour in this handbook: Red

Confirmed by: MINI handbook — MINI Hardtop 2 Door / 4 Door, 2021. Check your own handbook — models differ.

Parking brake light

MINI calls it “Parking brake”.

Red: the parking brake is set.

Colour in this handbook: Red

Confirmed by: MINI handbook — MINI Hardtop 2 Door / 4 Door, 2021. Check your own handbook — models differ.

Forward collision warning light

MINI calls it “Approach control warning”.

Red, lit: an early warning — increase the distance. Flashing: a collision is imminent — brake or steer to avoid it.

Colour in this handbook: Red

Confirmed by: MINI handbook — MINI Hardtop 2 Door / 4 Door, 2021. Check your own handbook — models differ.

ABS warning light (anti-lock brakes)

MINI calls it “Antilock Braking System ABS”.

Yellow: brake assist may not work; avoid abrupt braking, allow a longer stopping distance and have it checked immediately.

Colour in this handbook: Yellow / amber

Confirmed by: MINI handbook — MINI Hardtop 2 Door / 4 Door, 2021. Check your own handbook — models differ.

Stability control light (ESC)

MINI calls it “DSC Dynamic Stability Control”.

Yellow, flashing: DSC is stabilising the car — slow down. Lit: DSC has a fault.

Colour in this handbook: Yellow / amber

Confirmed by: MINI handbook — MINI Hardtop 2 Door / 4 Door, 2021. Check your own handbook — models differ.

Stability control off light (ESC OFF)

MINI calls it “DSC deactivated or DTC activated”.

Yellow: DSC is off, or its looser DTC mode is on.

Colour in this handbook: Yellow / amber

Confirmed by: MINI handbook — MINI Hardtop 2 Door / 4 Door, 2021. Check your own handbook — models differ.

Low tyre pressure light (TPMS)

MINI calls it “Tire Pressure Monitor TPM”.

Yellow, lit: low tyre pressure or a flat — follow the Check Control message.

Colour in this handbook: Yellow / amber

Confirmed by: MINI handbook — MINI Hardtop 2 Door / 4 Door, 2021. Check your own handbook — models differ.

TPMS light (tyre pressure monitor fault)

MINI calls it “Tire Pressure Monitor TPM (flashing, then lit)”.

Flashing, then steady: the system cannot detect pressure loss — interference, an unfinished reset, a wheel without a sensor, or a fault.

Colour in this handbook: Yellow / amber

Confirmed by: MINI handbook — MINI Hardtop 2 Door / 4 Door, 2021. Check your own handbook — models differ.

Power steering warning light (EPS)

MINI calls it “Steering system”.

Yellow: the steering system may not be working — have it checked.

Colour in this handbook: Yellow / amber

Confirmed by: MINI handbook — MINI Hardtop 2 Door / 4 Door, 2021. Check your own handbook — models differ.

Check engine light (engine malfunction)

MINI calls it “Emissions”.

Yellow, lit: emissions are getting worse — have it checked soon. Flashing: heavy misfiring — slow down and have it checked immediately.

Colour in this handbook: Yellow / amber

Confirmed by: MINI handbook — MINI Hardtop 2 Door / 4 Door, 2021. Check your own handbook — models differ.

High beam (main beam) indicator

MINI calls it “High beams”.

Blue: the high beams are on.

Colour in this handbook: Blue

Confirmed by: MINI handbook — MINI Hardtop 2 Door / 4 Door, 2021. Check your own handbook — models differ.

Turn signal indicator

MINI calls it “Turn signal”.

Green: the turn signal is on; unusually rapid flashing means a bulb has failed.

Colour in this handbook: Green

Confirmed by: MINI handbook — MINI Hardtop 2 Door / 4 Door, 2021. Check your own handbook — models differ.

Front fog light indicator

MINI calls it “Front fog lights”.

Green: the front fog lights are on.

Colour in this handbook: Green

Confirmed by: MINI handbook — MINI Hardtop 2 Door / 4 Door, 2021. Check your own handbook — models differ.

Not in this handbook

49 lights on this site are not shown by this handbook, so they are left off this page — among them brake system warning light, brake pad wear warning light, oil pressure warning light, engine coolant temperature warning light, battery / charging warning light, side airbag warning light. That does not mean no BMW/MINI has them — only that this handbook does not. If your car shows one, find it by colour and shape.

Other makes

Source: the handbook

A light is listed only when this handbook shows it. The names in quotes are MINI's wording; the rest is ours, written from the handbook.