There are places inboard of the jack points to place the jack stands, that leave the jack points free to put the jack under to level the car. A couple of the MC2 2006 issues had DIY brake jobs and showed some points for jack stand placement.

 

http://www.amazon.com/Blitz-Rhino-Ra.../dp/B0002YTN4I

Call it a day.

 

For those of you who may have full under body paneling, as on the GP or do not wish to jack your car with the 2 x 4 method on the weld line I have a different method. See post #10 in this thread
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ck-stands.html
Yes, this method does take a little longer to accomplish and you also need to have a pair of ramps in addition to a floor jack and stands. The end result is you are lifting your MINI from only the jacking points designed to do this job and there is no chance of deforming or crushing any metal.
Steve

 

Here's a fun pic of my R53 up on 'stands.



I actually use the "frame rail" under the front floorpan. You have to be careful you use a 4x8" piece of 3/4" plywood or something like that to diffuse the force of the jack, and you want to be right on the end of the rails box section so you don't crush the middle of the rail, but I've jacked up each side of the car like that for years now. It's super easy as long as you don't get stupid and forget a piece of wood or crush the rail in the middle. That rail isn't exactly a load-bearing point, so destroy at your own risk!

 

WOW. I always get chills when I see cars up on jacks. I jacked up my car once, and it tipped, and I ended up with a ruined side skirt. Not a fun experience. Prob. a bad jack. I feel embarrassed to say, but I need lesson in jacking up a car. I always feel chills even when I'm jacking the car up properly, it's all the creaking and seeing my car a foot off the ground...

 

I'll admit if you're not confident where you're jacking is stable, and you're not confident with your movements, it's not only nerve-wracking, it's dangerous for you and the car! I've been working on cars my whole life; my street rods are usually on stands more often than not being detailed or revised, so knowing how to raise a car and get either a side or an axle stable with stands is paramount.

Here is a picture of my R56 at MINI of Grand Rapids getting polyurethane front control arm bushings installed. It's a rare time for me not doing my own labor. The dealership's MINI FCAB tool is far cheaper than the time it takes to remove the whole front subframe and get a new alignment.



Having a 2-post/4-arm hydraulic lift like this would be the ultimate cats meow in a personal garage. Some day.... *dreams off into space*

 

Yeah I much rather have it on a lift. I don't do much work on my car (only because I don't know how, but I'm learning) but my friend whose a mechanic at a dealership got a whole lift to himself and us on his days off.

 

My car nearly slid off the jack stands when I was trying to get all 4 wheels up in the air. My jack stands are not a U shaped design like some of you have. The jacking points just don't seem like the best place to place stands. I need to find that tutorial people mentioned Rand Webb had.