LHD to RHD? Is it possible?? - MINI Cooper Forum - MINI2 Mini Cooper Forums
Mini2.com Forum Header Mini2.com Forum Header
Go Back   MINI Cooper Forum - MINI2 Mini Cooper Forums > All Models & Variants > General Discussion

General Discussion Use this forum to discuss MINI topics which are not related to other forums. Posts may be moved from here to alternative forums by the moderators without notice

Please Visit our Site Sponsors
Mini2.com is the premier BMW Mini Forum on the internet. Registered Users do not see the above ads.
Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Rate Thread
  #1 (permalink)  
Old Jan 15th, 2008, 12:44 PM
MiniJD's Avatar
MINI2 Newbie
Offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Sydney / Australia
Posts: 6
Local Time: 11:54 PM
Australia Male
Australia LHD to RHD? Is it possible??

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
Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
Advertisement
 
  #2 (permalink)  
Old Jan 15th, 2008, 12:57 PM
still learning
Offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: near Glasgow
Posts: 1,167
Local Time: 10:54 PM
Scotland Male
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
Reply With Quote
  #3 (permalink)  
Old Jan 15th, 2008, 01:39 PM
MiniJD's Avatar
MINI2 Newbie
Offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Sydney / Australia
Posts: 6
Local Time: 11:54 PM
Australia Male
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
Reply With Quote
  #4 (permalink)  
Old Jan 15th, 2008, 02:27 PM
still learning
Offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: near Glasgow
Posts: 1,167
Local Time: 10:54 PM
Scotland Male
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 ?
Reply With Quote
  #5 (permalink)  
Old Jan 15th, 2008, 02:37 PM
coopersooper's Avatar
MINI2 Regular
Offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Banbury
Posts: 75
Local Time: 09:54 PM
United Kingdom
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
Reply With Quote
  #6 (permalink)  
Old Jan 15th, 2008, 02:41 PM
MINI2 Master
Offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: 01905 620011
Posts: 1,164
Local Time: 09:54 PM
United Kingdom View Lucky Dave's Classified Ads
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!
Reply With Quote
  #7 (permalink)  
Old Jan 15th, 2008, 02:59 PM
jordangpboy's Avatar
MINI2 Regular
Online
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Birmingham
Posts: 310
Local Time: 10:54 PM
United Kingdom Male
Quote: Originally Posted by Lucky Dave (original)

Im the sort who likes a chalenge though!


You can say that again!

http://www.supermega.co.uk
MINI Cooper Cabrio R57 PW/B
Reply With Quote
  #8 (permalink)  
Old Jan 15th, 2008, 04:22 PM
South Shore Lad's Avatar
MINI2 Senior
Offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Lancashire Seaside
Posts: 359
Local Time: 10:54 PM
United Kingdom Male
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
Reply With Quote
  #9 (permalink)  
Old Jan 15th, 2008, 04:33 PM
South Shore Lad's Avatar
MINI2 Senior
Offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Lancashire Seaside
Posts: 359
Local Time: 10:54 PM
United Kingdom Male
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
Reply With Quote
  #10 (permalink)  
Old Jan 15th, 2008, 05:22 PM
Randall Raines's Avatar
MINI & other ½ both whine
Offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Messin' with a MINI
Posts: 519
Local Time: 09:54 PM
United Kingdom Male
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 ).

Destined to live life £5 behind. Disclaimer Any advice given is my opinion only, if you decide to act on any advice / info I've given, it's at your own risk!
Reply With Quote
  #11 (permalink)  
Old Jan 15th, 2008, 08:27 PM
MiniJD's Avatar
MINI2 Newbie
Offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Sydney / Australia
Posts: 6
Local Time: 11:54 PM
Australia Male
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.
Reply With Quote
  #12 (permalink)  
Old Jan 15th, 2008, 08:55 PM
jordangpboy's Avatar
MINI2 Regular
Online
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Birmingham
Posts: 310
Local Time: 10:54 PM
United Kingdom Male
Also im not sure what it would do to the re-sale of the car too.

http://www.supermega.co.uk
MINI Cooper Cabrio R57 PW/B
Reply With Quote
  #13 (permalink)  
Old Jan 15th, 2008, 10:30 PM
Randall Raines's Avatar
MINI & other ½ both whine
Offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Messin' with a MINI
Posts: 519
Local Time: 09:54 PM
United Kingdom Male
DIY Items that you may need to change a MINI from LHD to RHD.

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 .

Destined to live life £5 behind. Disclaimer Any advice given is my opinion only, if you decide to act on any advice / info I've given, it's at your own risk!

Last edited by Randall Raines; Jan 16th, 2008 at 09:29 AM. Reason: changed steering rack to steering column
Reply With Quote
  #14 (permalink)  
Old Jan 15th, 2008, 10:53 PM
mab01uk's Avatar
MINI2 Master
Offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: London
Posts: 3,590
Local Time: 10:54 PM
United Kingdom Male
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............................
Reply With Quote
  #15 (permalink)  
Old Jan 16th, 2008, 07:07 AM
MiniJD's Avatar
MINI2 Newbie
Offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Sydney / Australia
Posts: 6
Local Time: 11:54 PM
Australia Male
Thanks a lot Randall, list is extremely helpful. Well, I guess I have a couple of months so wish me luck
Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
Advertisement
 
Reply
Tags: , , ,



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


All times are GMT. The time now is 09:54 PM.



Powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2012, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
SEO by vBSEO 3.3.2