26 replies to this topic

[TheOriginalSkunk]

basicly i want to know what jack is best for a mini i dont want one that will damage the car

[woodley miniman]

I always use a 2 ton trolley Jack with a piece of wood on top. I've never had any problems

[fenghuang]

Do you want it for the workshop or to keep in the boot for emergencies?

For workshop: I'd agree about a trolley jack, but get one with the highest lift you can afford.
NEVER work under a car that's just supported on a jack, so consider axle stands or ramps. (I just got a pair of ramps of eBay for half the price of a cheap trolley jack.)

For the boot, personally I'd go for a bottle jack as they're smaller.

[cal844]

I use a trolley jack for the workshop, for emergencies i use a 2 tonne scissor jack

[AVV IT]

No jack should damage the car if you use it correctly, that is unless you're using the standard classic mini side jack and your jacking points have seen better days! If you're going to be using a jack with any regularity, then you'll need a decent trolley jack and axle stands. Ramps are great, but they have their limitations, because you can't use them with the wheels off, so you'll still usually need a jack as well. Also you usually need to find someway of anchoring ramps in order to drive up them, otherwise you'll just push them along the ground when you're trying to drive up them.

For roadside/emergency use I'd go with a small scissor jack in the boot, bottle jacks are generally better, but you'll struggle to find one that will fit under a classic mini, because of the low ground clearance.

[cal844]

On a side note always use the subbies to lift the car

[Vinay-RS]

On a side note always use the subbies to lift the car

What about the hole on the side into which the standard Jack fits?

 

 

No jack should damage the car if you use it correctly, that is unless you're using the standard classic mini side jack and your jacking points have seen better days! If you're going to be using a jack with any regularity, then you'll need a decent trolley jack and axle stands. Ramps are great, but they have their limitations, because you can't use them with the wheels off, so you'll still usually need a jack as well. Also you usually need to find someway of anchoring ramps in order to drive up them, otherwise you'll just push them along the ground when you're trying to drive up them.

For roadside/emergency use I'd go with a small scissor jack in the boot, bottle jacks are generally better, but you'll struggle to find one that will fit under a classic mini, because of the low ground clearance.

Can a bottle jack be used at the side hole on the sill?

[alex-95]

 

On a side note always use the subbies to lift the car

What about the hole on the side into which the standard Jack fits?

 

 

No jack should damage the car if you use it correctly, that is unless you're using the standard classic mini side jack and your jacking points have seen better days! If you're going to be using a jack with any regularity, then you'll need a decent trolley jack and axle stands. Ramps are great, but they have their limitations, because you can't use them with the wheels off, so you'll still usually need a jack as well. Also you usually need to find someway of anchoring ramps in order to drive up them, otherwise you'll just push them along the ground when you're trying to drive up them.

For roadside/emergency use I'd go with a small scissor jack in the boot, bottle jacks are generally better, but you'll struggle to find one that will fit under a classic mini, because of the low ground clearance.

Can a bottle jack be used at the side hole on the sill?

 

Most people don't like to use the hole in the sill as they don't know how structurally sound it is and worry that the jack will go through the sill, Nope can't use a bottle jack on the hole in the sill, would need to be put on the subframe 

[megamini_jb]

When I got my first mini 7 years ago, I was new to minis and went and put the standrd jack in the sill hole, could hear it slowly going then went through ha. Always use the subby

[Vinay-RS]

When I got my first mini 7 years ago, I was new to minis and went and put the standrd jack in the sill hole, could hear it slowly going then went through ha. Always use the subby

That sounds quite scary... 

[megamini_jb]

Didn't take much weight to be honest till it crunched lol

With one of my previous minis, one of the owners used to jack it up on the front floors!! Looked a right state, but they needed doing anyway

[Vinay-RS]

Didn't take much weight to be honest till it crunched lol

With one of my previous minis, one of the owners used to jack it up on the front floors!! Looked a right state, but they needed doing anyway

Guess the subframes are the safest option then

[AVV IT]

Didn't take much weight to be honest till it crunched lol
With one of my previous minis, one of the owners used to jack it up on the front floors!! Looked a right state, but they needed doing anyway

Guess the subframes are the safest option then

It depends on what condition your sills and jacking points are in. I'd happily use the standard mini jack on one if my minis, because the sills and jacking points have only recently been replaced, so I know they're good & solid. Those on my other mini are probably still the originals though, so I certainly wouldn't want to risk it. If you don't know or are unsure, then always use the subframes.

Sadly both my minis have "previous owner bent foot well syndrome" where some monkey has tried to jack them up using the floor pans!

[TheOriginalSkunk]

cool im going to grap a 2 ton trolly and axel stand set for £36 and a bottle jack £10 for roadside then

[AVV IT]

cool im going to grap a 2 ton trolly and axel stand set for £36 and a bottle jack £10 for roadside then

As I mentioned earlier, you'll struggle to find a bottle jack that's low enough to fit under the classic mini, which is why a number of us have recommended a scissor jack to carry in the boot for emergency/roadside use. If you can get a specific bottle jack recommended (that's known to be low enough to fit under the classic mini subframes) then great, but I don't know of any myself.

This is what I carry in the boot of my minis and I find it's just the right size to be kept out of the way, wedged neatly between the spare wheel and the boot lid hinge panel. http://www.amazon.co...P9mL&ref=plSrch