In various cars with front-drive configuration the whole power unit needed to be removed for many repairs, and especially for the clutch, but that did not apply to the Mini where the clutch could be removed with the power unit in-situ.
In vehicles with front-wheel drive configuration, it's common to need to disassemble the power unit for repairs, particularly when addressing the clutch. In contrast, the Mini's unique design allows for the clutch to be serviced without removing the power unit from the vehicle.