[Dave at Pelican Parts]

We don't have any diesel MINIs here in the US, sad to say.

You may be able to get enough access by putting the front of the car in "service mode", which (on the 2nd-generation cars) means moving the front of the car out a little ways, something like 20cm worth. The process is somewhat involved, since you have to detach quite a few things that connect the front and sides of the engine bay together.

I have seen a Youtube video on this process. I bet a search on "MINI service mode" would turn it up.

I am not sure if the 1st-gen cars have a similar function or not.

--DD