LHD parts into RHD

malazn mafia · 12-05-2014, 04:01 PM

Anyone toyed with the idea of installing all the parts from a USDM vehicle into the equivalent Australian vehicle? The vehicle in question is a BMW E90/E91 3 Series. A full M3 wreck from the US can be had for ridiculously cheap price < $10k, while a repmobile local 3 series could be had for low teens.

Could I put 2 and 2 together and create a pretty cool cruiser for not much money at all? An obvious problem would be LHD vs RHD, but being the same vehicle, there could be enough between the two cars to almost have a working RHD vehicle?

Road_Warrior · 12-05-2014, 04:36 PM

Can you import a wreck from overseas and still be able to get around the vehicle import restrictions here?

stevanford · 12-05-2014, 04:45 PM

AFAIK, you can't bring in a car here that was sold here brand new.

Motorbreath310 · 12-05-2014, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevanford

AFAIK, you can't bring in a car here that was sold here brand new.

Wouldn't that only apply to cars that you intend to register for road use?

Plenty of people bring in half cuts and 'track only' cars. Surely a wreck would be fine?

I'd ask on a reputable BMW forum regarding the conversion. As it's a complete car, I imagine you could swap over the entire wiring harness etc. The only problems I can imagine you'd encounter would be location of ancillaries as it may vary between LHD/RHD models. You'd have everything you need (diff, bigger brakes) to get the car all roadworthy and engineered. check the rules for your state, though.

Edit: E90 sedans are ugly. Get an E46 and put everything into that

malazn mafia · 12-05-2014, 06:50 PM

Australian M3

American M3

SensationFG8 · 12-05-2014, 06:58 PM

I would've thought the majority of the problems with LHD to RHD would be with any of the things that link back to stuff in the cabin rather than what's visible under the hood.

malazn mafia · 12-05-2014, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SensationFG8

I would've thought the majority of the problems with LHD to RHD would be with any of the things that link back to stuff in the cabin rather than what's visible under the hood.

Heater box, steering rack, pedal box, most of which I could just retain the original RHD items? I guess the V8 loom could be a problem if its not long enough to reach the Left or Right side of dash.

Davehoos · 12-05-2014, 07:24 PM

I had to cut a car into pieces to bring a vehicle in for parts. often automotive business get away with it as they have customs clearances to dismantle the vehicles and you see near complete cars in wreckers.

Race body often have to be exported of destroyed depending on how the import taxes was payed.

Is a ser3 body shell the same for a small engine V big engine. often well engineered cars have different thickness of steel depending on models.
There has been history of rebirthing occurring in OZ and a history of some getting into strife for misrepresentation.

Some euro cars are built to be assembled in countries in small numbers and share LHD/RHD bodies. cars often are the same car with only a few bits different. electrical bits can be a worry the heater normally mounted in the center/steering rack is simple-exhaust should be available.

malazn mafia · 12-05-2014, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davehoos

I had to cut a car into pieces to bring a vehicle in for parts. often automotive business get away with it as they have customs clearances to dismantle the vehicles and you see near complete cars in wreckers.

Race body often have to be exported of destroyed depending on how the import taxes was payed.

Is a ser3 body shell the same for a small engine V big engine. often well engineered cars have different thickness of steel depending on models.
There has been history of rebirthing occurring in OZ and a history of some getting into strife for misrepresentation.

Some euro cars are built to be assembled in countries in small numbers and share LHD/RHD bodies. cars often are the same car with only a few bits different. electrical bits can be a worry the heater normally mounted in the center/steering rack is simple-exhaust should be available.

Similar conversion was done to a 318i wagon in the UK. Chassis was same between m3 and 318i apparently.

snowcone · 13-05-2014, 05:43 PM

Something that a lot of people don't think of is that the wipers are on the opposite sides too, and these are near impossible to change over.
You could live with them the way they are but you won't have good vision in front of the driver.

Davehoos · 13-05-2014, 06:31 PM

You should be looking to only modifying a Australian complied body shell with factory optioned mechanicals. easy as--look at Asian parts imports like new Zealand.

some of the older BMW of the same age use older body shells with later external trim upgrades, Like falcon utes.

I had a lot of customers with 316-318, very common lease vehicles given to local workers to comute to work.1990-2010 ages.
lot of customers had European magazines showing Nissan SR20 and RD28 conversion Kits.
in europe cheep supplies of jap import catalyst engines and diesels for tax reasons and not very hard to get cars complied.

my experience is mostly with E30-E36 vintage. my boss and mates purchased lease vehicles .and lost interest with E46. The dealer was across the street.

I often repaired interstate/sydney cars for dealers and an engine repairer because its cheeper in country areas to work on these.