LHD to RHD

[psnewman]

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]

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

[tip]

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]

Yeah, just buy RHD.

[StevePSB]

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]

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]

How would you have managed that?

[GTmini]

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]

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]

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

[BillK]

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]

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]

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

I need the ' SUN '.

Lumspeed.

[SRRAE]

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.