| Forget it, think with your head not your heart, even if you do all that, are you planning on staying there forever and owning that car till the day it dies?
You spend all that time, cash and effort to take a MINI One over to the US, convert it and then what you've spent more than the car is worth in the first place. Plus insurance as an import/converted car isn't going to be as easy, registering more hassle.
Then you decide to come home you write all that off as it certainly isn't going to be top of anyones list for buying a second hand motor or pay it all out again to bring it back with you?
Its a car Andrew, nothing more, nothing less, get one when you get there, you'll probably be able to pick up a used Cooper for less than that would cost you to do. | 
