LHD to RHD? Is it possible??

[MiniJD]

Can this be done?!?! Is it even possible to move all the pedals and steering wheels to the other side? Or rather feasible?!

Why you all ask, this could sound a little silly but I own a MCS JCW in Milan Italy where I used to reside and still keep to blast around when I'm over there to see my fiancé. However, I will probably be moving back home to Sydney Australia pretty soon. Problem is, as we all know, my lovely country still believes in its British Heritage and thus drives on the other side (But measures in Metric?!). I really REALLY want to take it back with me, it's taken me all over Europe from Istanbul to London and all in between and I seem to have a certain emotional bond with it!!

Please tell me if it's possible, and if so, WHO ON EARTH COULD DO THIS?! Since the guys at my local Mini service in the UK think I'm completely crazy already.

Thanks for the help.

J

[iain cooper]

would be possible as RHD conversions are carried out in certain circumstances, but in my opinion certainly not worth the cost which would be substantial.

you would most likely get used to it, ie driving on the left with LHD, as there are quite a few LHD cars over here in UK, imports, etc

[MiniJD]

You're right about getting used to it, when I was driving around London it was fine (except for all those flashy things in the mirror that really distracted me! ), but it gets really irritating and even a tad dangerous when you try overtaking large vehicle and find yourself fully in the oncoming lane only to find out there's someone else there

[iain cooper]

yes I agree it could be dangerous in certain circumstances and a lot of extra care would need to be taken.

even may take some of the fun/manoverability away from the car.

could you not sell it privately and buy a RHD version ?

[coopersooper]

in princible its straight forward, all you have to do is change the steering rack and a couple of other things, itll be quite costly and prob too much hassle

[Lucky Dave]

Im sure if you spoke to a mini breakers they could supply you all the rhd bits.

Im the sort who likes a chalenge though!

[jordangpboy]

Quote: Originally Posted by Lucky Dave (original)

Im the sort who likes a chalenge though!

You can say that again!

[South Shore Lad]

Like others have said, should be relatively easy once parts are sourced. Main dealer type labour prices would probably make it prohibitively expensive though. A project for a well clued-up mechanic to tackle on an expenses basis if you've got such a friend (!?) may ease the financial burden.

Otherwise I'd guess very expensive - easier to get a different MINI?

The only time I've heard of LHD to RHD conversions has been for, say, when classics (E-Types etc) have been imported from California and so on, and the conversion is part of a general restoration project.

SSL

[South Shore Lad]

and for the vast majority of people, driving on the left should be the logical way - it's everyone else that is wrong

A bit of history (vague recollections really!) -

Most people are right handed.
Whilst marching it was easier to march on the left. Reason being that if your enemy came towards you, you were ready to 'draw' your weapon (club in stone age times, various swords etc as the centuries went by) with your stronger right hand as your opposite number was about to do the same!!
I believe it was Napoleon who confused matters by gaining an advantage by marching on the right. As Napoleon's influence spread, so did the change from left to right (or something along those lines). The old British Empire and a few others clung on to the original system.

SSL

[Randall Raines]

Quote: Originally Posted by coopersooper (original)

in princible its straight forward, all you have to do is change the steering rack and a couple of other things, itll be quite costly and prob too much hassle

It is possible but there is quite a lot more than just the steering rack and a couple of other things .

It would cost you more in labour than anything else, I once knew someone who was thinking of importing damaged LHD cars to the UK & repairing them (while doing this changing them to RHD) as they wouldn't be classed as write-offs, this was only because he would've been changing most of the parts or striping the car in preparation for the repair, and as has been mentioned, part of a restoration, so it's easier to work it in-to the job without to much extra expense, when we looked in-to doing this, the parts weren't really a problem, but you would have some wiring issues and the bulkhead panel looked like it would've needed changing (in our opinion ).

[MiniJD]

Thanks a lot for all the input guys. I think I'll take your advise and see if I can find all the parts at the breakers and how much they cost, also see how much work it would be. If that doesn't work, then I guess it's time to say good bye to my baby

It would definately be easier to get a different Mini, but out of all the cars I've owned in the past this is the only one that for some reason still gets me excited even when I look at it (Not that it's anything special). And to think I never wanted it in the first place!

I'm not even going to go into the correct and uncorrect side, but I must say I do wish they made up their minds on one side.

[jordangpboy]

Also im not sure what it would do to the re-sale of the car too.

[Randall Raines]

I would advise against trying to do it myself, but as I said it's not impossible, I think the bulkhead panel part of things and the wiring issues would be the main cause for concern.

Here is a little list of items that I think you may need & need to change (this refers to the 1st Gen):

• Wing mirrors, these are different due to the position of the driver & you cant just re-adjust them (you do need to replace the mirrors).
• Windscreen wiper mechanism, or complete unit.
• Scuttle panel, different due to wipers.
• Bracket for the ABS unit (possibly) as this is fitted to the opposite side to the Brake Servo.
• Brake pipes on the bulk-head due to everything swapping around.
• Steering-rack and power steering pipes.
• Strengthener behind the dashboard (aluminium beam, steering column fastens to it & it's shaped for the passenger AIRBAG), on either face-lift or pre face-lift.
• Dash-top on the face-lift (passenger AIRBAG deploys out of the top of it).
• Dashboard carcass, some trim pieces, glove-box and shelf.
• Headlamps unless you have the face-lift xenons fitted & these have a lever that you can change the beam from LHD - RHD (only face-lift xenons).
• You will either need to change the complete wiring-loom or modify what you have, for the changed over items (this could turn out to be a very big job).
• Heater-box not to sure about this, the heater-matrix & Air-Con pipes exit on the left hand side and the air-intake is on the left as well, I could see these interfering with the pedals & the steering column, I have never seen a LHD MINI so I don't know if they are different (thinking about it now they will be different).
• Bulkhead panel, obviously this will be slightly different to accommodate the pedal fixings, brake servo, strengthener bracket for the steering column & brake servo & various different holes for the exiting or intakes of the changed over items.
• MPH clocks if applicable.

Quite a few of the items that need changing, just need swapping over (use your old ones) and the wiring & brackets / fixings changing to fasten them on & get them working.

Can anybody else think of anything else that I've missed out .

Luckily in the next few days (17th, I've been told) my Internet line is going off for a week or so so I wont be around for a week or two to respond or answer any questions .

[mab01uk]

If only it was as simple and easy as on the old classic Mini, especially the original ones with the centre speedo which inspired the new MINI dash, a new steering rack and a few other parts was about all you needed to swap them over............................

[MiniJD]

Thanks a lot Randall, list is extremely helpful. Well, I guess I have a couple of months so wish me luck