[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

[Randall Raines]

Quote: Originally Posted by mab01uk (original)

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............................

You would've thought it would have been easier with cars being made for different markets all over the world (some cars are simpler than others to-do), some parts are universal when they start off, the dashboard carcasses set off to fit either LHD or RHD and then they are cut out to suite either LHD or RHD .

Quote: Originally Posted by MiniJD (original)

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

So your actually going to attempt it then , Good-Luck! .

I forgot about the carpet & mats on my list although you could get away with putting a set of RHD mats over the holes on the left-hand side.

I was actually working on a MINI today and I had a look at the heater-box unit (inside the MINI) and the center part of it looks universal (LHD & RHD) but the intake for the air that holds the pollen filter is on the left and would get in the way of the steering column & the pedals however the heater fan is fitted on the other side (right) but the fittings are the same, so you would be-able to remove both items & put the fan in on the left (giving you clearance) but you would have to buy the RHD pollen-filter housing that the pollen-filter fits into (or a complete RHD heater-box as a used parts dealer probably wont split the unit), ive just checked the part #s and the part # for RHD & LHD heater box housings are the same .

I've just checked & you may be-able buy this part seperate so that could save you some money see the link:.

(MICROFILTER/HOUSING PARTS)

I've attached a pic of the stripped out MINI that I was working on today and you may be able to see (pic may not be to clear) what I mean about the strenghthener (face-lift 1 Gen) behind the dashboard and the pollen-filter housing.

The door handles & some other parts AIRBAGs etc... etc... are universal they just need swapping over, & you may even get away with putting a RHD dashboard wiring loom in (to save on some wiring alterations, you may not be-able to do this as will depend on your main loom & you would still have to alter the main loom), but if you do get a used one out of a RHD car make sure the MINI that it came out of had the same spec as your MINI.

Are you actuall in the UK at the moment? .

[W44NE G]

I wouldn't do it... there's going to be a hell of a lot of costs involved in the work, nevermind the shipping to Aus and the re-registration and possible import taxes etc (unsure what they're like over there when it comes to taxes).

Also, although it's the same car it wouldn't be the same if you get what I mean. You'd be driving on the other side of the car and if it was my car it just wouldn't feel right I don't think.

Get some good pics of it, sell it to someone who seems like they''ll take care of it and buy a similar model in Aus I say.