Switching sides Left hand Drive to Right hand drive

D

dheadley

Guest
Hey out there, I just moved from the US to the UK and my 2001 Disco is currently on a boat on the way over here, I've heard a rumor that there is a way to switch the steering etc, is this true or just s cruel joke?
 

andrewv

Well-known member
Anythings possible, but I'd imagine it would be very expensive. Outside of a new dash, you'd have to swap pretty much everything, ie steering box, reservoir etc. to the other side, and everything over there back to the left. If you find out, I'd be curious to know how much it is.
 
D

Discodon

Guest
not quite sure why being a V8 rather than deisel makes it more difficult. Both are, for obvious reasons (well, they are made here!) , very popular over here.

If it is a v8, be prepared for the $7/gallon fuel prices.

Where about in the UK are you? I'm sure there's plenty of helpful people around.

Check out the local forum - www.difflock.com

Discodon - in the UK.
 

bri

Well-known member
Apr 20, 2004
6,178
152
US
Too bad it is already on the boat you should have sold it and re-invested the money when you got to the UK!

Brian
 
D

Discodon

Guest
Hmmm, someone deleted their post which makes my one above make no sense now :(
 

bri

Well-known member
Apr 20, 2004
6,178
152
US
I think they deleted it because they thought that it was UK to US not US to UK.

Brian
 
D

Discodon

Guest
Just a thought.......

If you're thinking of changing it over then I'm guessing it will be here permenantly. In that case you'll have to pay import duty on it? On top of it costing a fortune to change over, it will have no resale value in the UK.

Might be worth getting the sailors to push it over the side, cash in on the insurance and get a RHD one in UK?

Other option would be do leave it LHD, pay no duty (not sure if you have to anyway), use it as it is (plenty of people do this) and sell it on then. At least it will have some resale value then.

just my 2c worth.
Don
 

LuisC

Well-known member
Jun 25, 2004
494
0
Austin, Texas
I remember several years ago, I stumbled across an article in a LR magazine on this subject. I read a little into it for curiosity, but didn't pay it much mind, for obvious reasons. If I recall, the dash is cut out the same on both sides. The instrument pod is designed for easy removal and should actually fit where the airbag is, and vise-versa. I believe the major work would be the relocation of wiring and brake master cylinder and new steering box for RHD, and the sorts.
That was before the D2 times though.
But for oddity purposes, I would leave it. You might actually fool some poor soul into thinging they are behind a car with a passenger and no driver going down the highway.
 
D

Discodon

Guest
do you really know people that stupid?
Tell me where they are, I'm sure I could make some money selling tickets to watch them!
 

LuisC

Well-known member
Jun 25, 2004
494
0
Austin, Texas
Actually, yes I do know people that stupid.
If you want to watch them in herds, go to the airport, sit and watch. People do some of the stupidest things in the airport.
I have the misfortune of seeing it every day.
 

Hoot

Well-known member
Apr 19, 2004
234
0
52
Bloomfield twp, MI
yeah people are that stupid. or i guess i should say people are generally routinated by what they see on an everyday basis. I had a professor when i was in college in detroit that also worked as a human factors guy at Ford. Ford like all auto manufacturers, have a huge fleet of imported vehicles that they study and rip off of. as a high level employee he was able to borrow the cars for evaluation. He said his favorite thing to do was to get in one of the right hand drive vehicles with a buddy and then have the passenger on the sit with there hands lifted up and folded behind there head like they were taking a nap. theyd get on the freeway and drive around aggressivley and people driving around them would all be freaking out and rubbernecking to look at them and honkin their horns.

now that i read this it think it is a stupid story, but maybe worth a chuckle.
 
9

93Disco

Guest
LHD vehicles are not that out of place in the UK, they drive over from the continent all the time.
Leave it as it is.
 
D

dheadley

Guest
Thanks all

It's been interesting reading, I think I will leave it as I I was more curious than anything else anyway. Anyone in the UK point me in the direction of reasonable insurance? In answer to an earlier post it is a v8 should make for interesting gas bills.
 
S

shannon_m

Guest
QuoteZone

Hi guys, thought you might be interested in www.QuoteZone.co.uk - they compare car insurance quotes from lots of different websites all in one go, including some specialist insurers, probably worth a look imo :)