MINI2

psnewman · Apr 7th, 2003, 10:22 AM

Is it possible, at moderate cost and difficulty, to convert a LHD MINI Cooper to RHD. There is a possibility I may be moving from the States to a country that drives "on the wrong side" (Right side?) and I'd like to know how difficult it would be to convert.

Peter

olerud400 · Apr 7th, 2003, 11:29 AM

My guess is that it would be extremely prohibitive cost wise. You are probably better off selling your LHD and buying a RHD...

tip · Apr 7th, 2003, 11:48 AM

No big deal driving your RHD over here. In fact it would be easier to parallel park a RHD car here than our own LHD models. Just think after parking you will never have to step out into traffic, just open the drivers write on the the curb.

See RHD does have its benefits.

MrDurst · Apr 7th, 2003, 04:53 PM

Yeah, just buy RHD.

StevePSB · Apr 7th, 2003, 08:04 PM

Where are you possibly moving to? UK, Ireland, Australia, India or one of the ex-colonies (there's loads of tiny little places that drive on the left).

Yes, sell up and buy a new one. The cost would be massive (I work in a Vauxhall parts dept, so I know it'd be expensive).

scooterboy · Apr 7th, 2003, 09:29 PM

I'd keep it. I even entertained the idea of trying to get a RHD here in the US, just for the novelty. But I chickened out.

StevePSB · Apr 8th, 2003, 09:01 PM

How would you have managed that?

GTmini · Apr 8th, 2003, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by StevePSB
How would you have managed that?

Import one from overseas and then get it certified to be street legal. I'm guessing it's not cheap, but I know it's definitely done with Nissan Skylines (which are RHD). I'm sure you pay the government quite a tax for such a privelege though.

cooper4us · Apr 9th, 2003, 04:57 AM

Hmmm, yea but the Nissan Skylines are not sold in North American, meanwhile the MINIs are.

I think it would be a very tough proposition to bring a RHD MINI into a country that sells LHD versions. There has to be some kind of protectionist law or clause, otherwise lots of people would prefer to bring over the more "genuine" article.

MiniMan7 · Apr 9th, 2003, 04:59 AM

I'd say keep it! Unless theres a law or something, then you're screwed...

BillK · Apr 9th, 2003, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by cooper4us
Hmmm, yea but the Nissan Skylines are not sold in North American, meanwhile the MINIs are.

I think it would be a very tough proposition to bring a RHD MINI into a country that sells LHD versions. There has to be some kind of protectionist law or clause, otherwise lots of people would prefer to bring over the more "genuine" article.

The problem with importing a RHD MINI to the US has nothing to do with which side the steering wheel is on, it has to do with all the other regulatory and certification issues. Lots of RHD cars on the road here, including classic MINI's and of course post office jeeps.

Bk MCS · Apr 9th, 2003, 07:21 AM

Dont even think about converting it to RHD. First off you would probably want to go buy a wrecked MCS. Strip it out. Gut the dash area and footwells. Then you have to move it all over to the other side. You also would need RHD car pieces, you probably coulndt use the LHD parts or it would look funny. And all of this must be measured to the exact mm position of a RHD setup. Then fix it up. I read in one of my magazines that some guy, famous for JDM cars, did this to an american LHD integra, converted it to a RHD integra and made it into a type r. Costs alot of money just to get the wheel moved over. As for legality. All you would have to do is get a vin number and get it registered or whatever (if you do it how I said and didnt just buy one).

Lumspeed · Apr 9th, 2003, 07:43 AM

Give me your old job , we can swap car's .

I need the ' SUN '.

Lumspeed.

SRRAE · Apr 9th, 2003, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by GTmini
Import one from overseas and then get it certified to be street legal. I'm guessing it's not cheap, but I know it's definitely done with Nissan Skylines (which are RHD). I'm sure you pay the government quite a tax for such a privelege though.

When a car is imported in to the US, they have to be road tested and crash tested first and the US government will not pay for these. 10 cars of that model have to be submitted for crash tests, Skylines are OK because these numbers have been tested.

I heard a story of a very very rich and silly person in the US who wanted a Mitsubishi EVO, and imported 11 of them so 10 could be tested and he then drove the only Mitsubishi Evo in the whole of the US

Dont know how true it is though.

Apr 7th, 2003, 10:22 AM	#1
psnewman MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Oregon Coast Local Time: 01:52 AM Posts: 21 Offline	LHD to RHD Is it possible, at moderate cost and difficulty, to convert a LHD MINI Cooper to RHD. There is a possibility I may be moving from the States to a country that drives "on the wrong side" (Right side?) and I'd like to know how difficult it would be to convert. Peter

Apr 7th, 2003, 11:29 AM	#2 (permalink)
olerud400 MINI2 Regular Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Livingston, NJ Local Time: 09:52 PM Posts: 265 Offline	My guess is that it would be extremely prohibitive cost wise. You are probably better off selling your LHD and buying a RHD... The Lazer Chili Red w/ White Top/mirrors/wheels clear third brake light Sony Mp70 + T69 more to come?

Apr 7th, 2003, 11:48 AM	#3 (permalink)
tip Motor On! Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Toronto Local Time: 08:52 PM Posts: 830 Offline	No big deal driving your RHD over here. In fact it would be easier to parallel park a RHD car here than our own LHD models. Just think after parking you will never have to step out into traffic, just open the drivers write on the the curb. See RHD does have its benefits. BRG/W MCS

Apr 7th, 2003, 09:29 PM	#6 (permalink)
scooterboy MINI2 Master Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: NH Local Time: 09:52 PM Posts: 792 Offline	I'd keep it. I even entertained the idea of trying to get a RHD here in the US, just for the novelty. But I chickened out. My MINI Mods

Apr 9th, 2003, 04:57 AM	#9 (permalink)
cooper4us MINI2 Master Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Florida Local Time: 08:52 PM Posts: 1,423 Offline	Hmmm, yea but the Nissan Skylines are not sold in North American, meanwhile the MINIs are. I think it would be a very tough proposition to bring a RHD MINI into a country that sells LHD versions. There has to be some kind of protectionist law or clause, otherwise lots of people would prefer to bring over the more "genuine" article. '02 MINI Cooper CVT On Order: 2004 MCS (Est production date: 9/5/03)

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Apr 7th, 2003, 04:53 PM	#4 (permalink)
MrDurst MINI2 Regular Join Date: Mar 2003 Local Time: 02:52 AM Posts: 122 Offline	Yeah, just buy RHD.

Apr 7th, 2003, 08:04 PM	#5 (permalink)
StevePSB MINI2 Master Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Bedworth / Doncaster Local Time: 02:52 AM Posts: 1,569 Offline	Where are you possibly moving to? UK, Ireland, Australia, India or one of the ex-colonies (there's loads of tiny little places that drive on the left). Yes, sell up and buy a new one. The cost would be massive (I work in a Vauxhall parts dept, so I know it'd be expensive).

Apr 8th, 2003, 09:01 PM	#7 (permalink)
StevePSB MINI2 Master Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Bedworth / Doncaster Local Time: 02:52 AM Posts: 1,569 Offline	How would you have managed that?

Apr 8th, 2003, 11:23 PM	#8 (permalink)
GTmini MINI2 Senior Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Los Angeles, CA Local Time: 06:52 PM Posts: 455 Offline	Quote: Originally posted by StevePSB How would you have managed that? Import one from overseas and then get it certified to be street legal. I'm guessing it's not cheap, but I know it's definitely done with Nissan Skylines (which are RHD). I'm sure you pay the government quite a tax for such a privelege though.

Apr 9th, 2003, 04:59 AM	#10 (permalink)
MiniMan7 Let's Motor. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Hamilton, Ontario Local Time: 10:52 PM Posts: 2,891 Offline	I'd say keep it! Unless theres a law or something, then you're screwed... http://www.mini2.com/gallery/personal/16791/32165.jpg

Apr 9th, 2003, 07:05 AM	#11 (permalink)
BillK MINI2 Senior Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Irvine, CA Local Time: 06:52 PM Posts: 541 Offline	Quote: Originally posted by cooper4us Hmmm, yea but the Nissan Skylines are not sold in North American, meanwhile the MINIs are. I think it would be a very tough proposition to bring a RHD MINI into a country that sells LHD versions. There has to be some kind of protectionist law or clause, otherwise lots of people would prefer to bring over the more "genuine" article. The problem with importing a RHD MINI to the US has nothing to do with which side the steering wheel is on, it has to do with all the other regulatory and certification issues. Lots of RHD cars on the road here, including classic MINI's and of course post office jeeps. MC/VR/B/PP&SP/CVT/Xenon

Apr 9th, 2003, 07:21 AM	#12 (permalink)
Bk MCS MINI2 Regular Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Florida State University! Local Time: 08:52 PM Posts: 178 Offline	Dont even think about converting it to RHD. First off you would probably want to go buy a wrecked MCS. Strip it out. Gut the dash area and footwells. Then you have to move it all over to the other side. You also would need RHD car pieces, you probably coulndt use the LHD parts or it would look funny. And all of this must be measured to the exact mm position of a RHD setup. Then fix it up. I read in one of my magazines that some guy, famous for JDM cars, did this to an american LHD integra, converted it to a RHD integra and made it into a type r. Costs alot of money just to get the wheel moved over. As for legality. All you would have to do is get a vin number and get it registered or whatever (if you do it how I said and didnt just buy one).

Apr 9th, 2003, 07:43 AM	#13 (permalink)
Lumspeed MINI2 Regular Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Gateshead . North East England . UK . Local Time: 01:52 AM Posts: 176 Offline	Give me your old job , we can swap car's . I need the ' SUN '. Lumspeed. Lumspeed

Apr 9th, 2003, 09:59 AM	#14 (permalink)
SRRAE MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Nov 2002 Local Time: 01:52 AM Posts: 20 Offline	Quote: Originally posted by GTmini Import one from overseas and then get it certified to be street legal. I'm guessing it's not cheap, but I know it's definitely done with Nissan Skylines (which are RHD). I'm sure you pay the government quite a tax for such a privelege though. When a car is imported in to the US, they have to be road tested and crash tested first and the US government will not pay for these. 10 cars of that model have to be submitted for crash tests, Skylines are OK because these numbers have been tested. I heard a story of a very very rich and silly person in the US who wanted a Mitsubishi EVO, and imported 11 of them so 10 could be tested and he then drove the only Mitsubishi Evo in the whole of the US Dont know how true it is though.

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