Does anyone have any recommendations for the best spots to jack up the MCS using a standard garage floor jack? I recall the problem someone on this site had several months ago with a failing jackpoint (the place where you're supposed to use the standard jack)...and even though that might have been a one-of-a-kind problem, I thought I'd check to see if those of you who jack your cars up regularly have any suggestions for alternative locations.

It's getting to be snowtire change over time, and I'd surely like to be able to jack my car up by myself to do the changeover. And no, I don't have a regular MINI jack.

 

I picked up a scissors type hydraulic jack at Wal-Mart for around $15.
It has a small steel channel on top that fits perfectly into the 4 plastic jack points on the mini and won't allow it to slip.
This jack comes in a plastic carrying case and has a pin lock so it cannot collapse accidentally.

EB/W Mini-S

 

Thanks Servoman! I'd been thinking about a hydraulic floor jack (one of those ones with wheels), but the scissors jack, assuming that it gives me enought heigth would be ideal...and I could carry it around too. Is this basically what the stock jack on the Cooper is?

 

I have been rotatig the tires, myself , using a HD jack.

There is a point just forward of the front jack point and towards the center that is perfect another just back and inside from the the rear jack point.
I use a piece of wood on the cup on the HD jack to make the pressure is distributed evenly

 

>>Thanks Servoman! I'd been thinking about a hydraulic floor jack (one of those ones with wheels), but the scissors jack, assuming that it gives me enought heigth would be ideal...and I could carry it around too. Is this basically what the stock jack on the Cooper is?

Haven't seen the stock jack. But the hydraulic scissors jack will get both wheels off the ground from the forward jack point.

 

Well, I did go to Walmart, and I believe what you were calling a "scissors" jack is what I call a "floor" jack (I thought a scissors jack was the smaller type w/o wheels). So, pardon my question about the stock jack...of course the Walmart jack isn't anything like the stock. Unless you want to practically fill the boot with a big mother jack Anyhow, thanks for the tip about the jackpoints. I figured that with such a small car there ought to be a way to get 2 wheels off the ground at once.

 

>>Well, I did go to Walmart, and I believe what you were calling a "scissors" jack is what I call a "floor" jack (I thought a scissors jack was the smaller type w/o wheels). So, pardon my question about the stock jack...of course the Walmart jack isn't anything like the stock. Unless you want to practically fill the boot with a big mother jack Anyhow, thanks for the tip about the jackpoints. I figured that with such a small car there ought to be a way to get 2 wheels off the ground at once.

No. The one I was referring to is not a floor jack. It has no wheels and resembles (is) a scissors type. I will get the name/number off the box when I get home.

 

>>>>Well, I did go to Walmart, and I believe what you were calling a "scissors" jack is what I call a "floor" jack (I thought a scissors jack was the smaller type w/o wheels). So, pardon my question about the stock jack...of course the Walmart jack isn't anything like the stock. Unless you want to practically fill the boot with a big mother jack Anyhow, thanks for the tip about the jackpoints. I figured that with such a small car there ought to be a way to get 2 wheels off the ground at once.
>>
>>No. The one I was referring to is not a floor jack. It has no wheels and resembles (is) a scissors type. I will get the name/number off the box when I get home.

Here is what is on the label:
Mack Hydraulics 1 ton Effortless Tire Changer
5.5 to 14 inch lift range
#9305
BarCode# 4953809305

 

I just bought one of these on eBay.
The site shows pics.
David

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...TQ:MOTORS:1123

 

Invest in some quality jack stands as well... not sure how much I would trust a $10 jack... just good peace of mind.