For those who prefer to travel with a jack, here's a low-cost solution. Go to your local auto salvage yard and purchase a late '90's to early '2000's Honda Civic (or comparable model) scissors jack. I paid $25 for mine. Closed, it's approximately 14-15 inches long and only 3-1/4 inches high. Drill a 1/4" hole in the saddle and fashion a block approximately 2x1x1 that will fit into the recess of the jacking pad under the vehicle. I cut mine out of DELRIN, a very resilient plastic. Drill a 1/4" hole in the center and countersink to receive the bolt head. Thread the assembly through the saddle, turning it at right angles to the saddle and fasten with a nut. I used red LOCTITE on the threads.
You'll find that, when used, it clears the aero rocker panel in the rear and easily in the front. The jack will fit in the hidden well by just opening up the jack slightly. It's been so effective, I use it in the garage because it can be used quickly and efficiently. Using the front jacking pad will allow you to raise both front and rear wheels. Don't forget to chock a diagonally opposed wheel.

 

Thanks for sharing the idea.
I purchased a scissor jack at harbor freight for $20
http://www.harborfreight.com/1-1-2-h...ack-66907.html
I use a small 2x4 on the jack with the stock orange jack pad.
Your delrin block is even a better (safer) idea.
I store the jack and 2x4 behind the drivers seat.

 

The scissor-jack from early Mazda Miata's works well also, I kept mine from my wreck. They have a slot that fits over the wall of the jack pad on the Mini.

 

Thanks, quikmni. Your set-up has the potential to slip off the 2x4. You need to make the 2x1x1 block and bolt it to the jack to avoid a potential accident.

 

Why not just get a Mini jack from a wrecking yard? The jack in my 06 JCW cabriolet works perfectly, even though I've got the full aero kit.

 

The jack from my '05 MCS will not clear. We're talking MINI GP aerokit. Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think they're the same. What's the p/n of your jack?

 

Not the best photo of it, but this is exactly what I've got:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ws/eBayISA...ectorid=229508

You can see the Mini part number on the bag, and the jack itself is a Bilstein unit with a part number of 1501930-05

And since that link may not work forever, here's the number on the bag:

71.11-6769113-01

 

I've got the same jack. In an emergency, it will work but too close a fit for me and a real pain to fit into the jacking pad and it's not as stable as the scissors jack.