Converting to Right-Hand-Drive

Yeahas · 01-20-2008, 06:51 AM

Hi guys, I am moving back to australia in the near future and would like to noe how much does it cost to convert my 328 to RHD? It costs like 18000 aus dollar over there and i am hoping something less expensive than that...

LEDZEP · 01-20-2008, 07:24 AM

It would be far cheaper to sell your car and buy a new one over there.

SoYank · 01-20-2008, 07:25 AM

At the current rate of exchange, 18,000 AUD is $15,700. Do you think anyone in L.A. is going to do it properly for that? They'd have to know how and also know all of the Australian laws governing the conversion in order to comply. The last thing you'd want is to have someone convert it, charge you an L.A. price, and then have to have it redone back home.

Wouldn't it be cheaper in the long run to sell the 328 and buy another?

wrickem · 01-20-2008, 07:44 AM

sell it and get a new one when you get there.

Darkkilla · 01-20-2008, 09:08 AM

arent 328i's in australia like 60 grand or more

Yeahas · 01-20-2008, 01:57 PM

yup....for one thing 328 over there is like 60k, for another i love my car so much that i dont want to wave her g'bye when i am leaving...plus doing the conversion doesnt need to know the australian laws since a conversion is a conversion. there arent many different ways to do that but 1

lkn · 01-20-2008, 02:13 PM

converting your car to RHD so that you can use in Australia is going to be interesting. as another member posted, i wouldn't trust the shop doing the conversion in the US since you won't be able to bring the car back to the shop after you have already moved if anything happens to go wrong.

although BMW's tend to be a lot more expensive in Australia, you're best bet is to sell your car here and purchase another in Australia. shaving off a couple thousand isn't worth the trouble for keeping your car in the long run.

PaulBailey@ltbmw · 01-20-2008, 02:52 PM

Can't you just Sell the current 328i and but a new one ED with right hand drive? Not In Aussie. . . But here and have it shipped?

raleedy · 01-20-2008, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xPaulBaiLeyx

Can't you just Sell the current 328i and but a new one ED with right hand drive? Not In Aussie. . . But here and have it shipped?

No. You can't. But there's this.

demosthenes · 01-20-2008, 04:02 PM

I agree with the previous posters. I'd sell my car here and buy another there.

Even if you found someone here that said they could do it "right", how could you trust them? Can you imagine getting back to Australia and then seeing lots of problems? It could be a nightmare.

BoostedBMW · 01-20-2008, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LEDZEP

It would be far cheaper to sell your car and buy a new one over there.

I agree.

lux.sh · 01-20-2008, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yeahas

yup....for one thing 328 over there is like 60k, for another i love my car so much that i dont want to wave her g'bye when i am leaving...plus doing the conversion doesnt need to know the australian laws since a conversion is a conversion. there arent many different ways to do that but 1

i feel ya. 330i is nearly 70k in south korea.
plus, if you bring a foreign car in, you have to pay tax of 20%(of the retail price of the vehicle) or something.

Island Snow · 01-20-2008, 04:36 PM

Conversion tooooo complicated IMO

aspiring335 · 01-20-2008, 07:23 PM

I don't really believe the question is serious, but the other thing the OP should keep in mind is any taxes and duties that will be payable when the car is imported.

miktrebla09 · 01-20-2008, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lux.sh

i feel ya. 330i is nearly 70k in south korea.
plus, if you bring a foreign car in, you have to pay tax of 20%(of the retail price of the vehicle) or something.

It's upwards of 86K for a 335i (they come loaded with options) in Korea.

I'd really recommend buying a new car in Aus. First, they won't honor your bmwna warranty. Second, you don't know what reliability you'll be sacrifing by doing the RHD conversion.

miktrebla09 · 01-20-2008, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aspiring335

I don't really believe the question is serious, but the other thing the OP should keep in mind is any taxes and duties that will be payable when the car is imported.

Very very true. They'll most likely take the used retail KBB value and impose their import (et al) taxes on top of that.

We did not save any money by bringing our E55 to Korea (we took it up the butt in taxes). In fact, we're worse off as they're not honoring our mbusa warranty. I'm sure same is true if the OP imports his car to australia.

MPoWeRMAN · 01-20-2008, 09:31 PM

what about just shipping the car over there like it is, and driving it LHD? or is it illegal?

urnuts · 01-20-2008, 10:05 PM

is this a serious question?
I mean, think about it.

GAM3OVR85 · 01-20-2008, 10:19 PM

VGR00 · 01-20-2008, 10:42 PM

You will have a lot of issues importing that car. For starters, freight cost and tax will be over $10K, conversion for RHD $18K as you mentioned. A conversion will never be as clean as an origional car and when you finally want to sell your car, it will be worth peanuts cause no dealer will want it. Insurance companies are very reluctant to insure imports and when they do, they charge for the privilage. The laws here are suited to import cars over 15 years old that were not mainstream models. E30 M3 or 60's Mustangs are good examples. Good luck with it but the smarter thing would be better off selling it and buying one when you get here.

Yeahas · 01-21-2008, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aspiring335

I don't really believe the question is serious, but the other thing the OP should keep in mind is any taxes and duties that will be payable when the car is imported.

I am pretty serious and did some research on the shipping & taxes. Taxes is like 21% of the car value if the car is under ur name for 1 year. It's not alot comparing to the conversion but ya...i probably wont get it converted since there're too many troubles.

Anyway...Thx for the replies guys and happy birthday Martin Luther King Jr.! Lol

McLuVan · 01-21-2008, 01:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LEDZEP

It would be far cheaper to sell your car and buy a new one over there.

+1
and safer

01-20-2008, 06:51 AM	#1
Yeahas Second Lieutenant 8 Rep 219 Posts Drives: SG E90 328 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: los angeles iTrader: (1)	Converting to Right-Hand-Drive Hi guys, I am moving back to australia in the near future and would like to noe how much does it cost to convert my 328 to RHD? It costs like 18000 aus dollar over there and i am hoping something less expensive than that...
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01-20-2008, 07:24 AM	#2
LEDZEP Lieutenant General 418 Rep 12,276 Posts Drives: 2009 E70 & 2011 F25 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Area 51 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 X3 35i M Sport [7.62] 2009 X5 M Sport [0.00] 2007 328xi E90 [0.00] 2006 325xiT E91 [0.00]	It would be far cheaper to sell your car and buy a new one over there. __________________ I think it is bad luck to be superstitious
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01-20-2008, 07:25 AM	#3
SoYank Major General 571 Rep 7,519 Posts Drives: 2009 E90 335i MT Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Vinton, Virginia iTrader: (1) Garage List 2009 BMW E90 335i S ... [9.00]	At the current rate of exchange, 18,000 AUD is $15,700. Do you think anyone in L.A. is going to do it properly for that? They'd have to know how and also know all of the Australian laws governing the conversion in order to comply. The last thing you'd want is to have someone convert it, charge you an L.A. price, and then have to have it redone back home. Wouldn't it be cheaper in the long run to sell the 328 and buy another? __________________ **2009 E90 335i Montego Blue · Black Leather · Burl Walnut · 6MT · US Spec** SatNav • ZPP • ZCW • 6FL • TPMS • iDrive • PDC • HWS • Xenons • BMW Assist • Power Rear Sunshade • Logic 7 European Taillights • Rear Foglamp • OEM Alarm • PicoTray • DataToys XM-DVR • Multi-view Processor Quaife ATB LSD • Short Shift Knob • Hartge Anti-Roll Bars • AP Racing Front Brakes • 19" Style 269
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01-20-2008, 07:44 AM	#4
wrickem Big Beaver Smile 2101 Rep 3,791 Posts Drives: What he wants to Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: lambertville nj iTrader: (0)	sell it and get a new one when you get there. __________________ ______________________________________________ Current- '21 430 , '19 911, 07 M6 ,'17 Jeep Wrangler, "23 Bronco OBXluxsquatch
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01-20-2008, 09:08 AM	#5
Darkkilla First Lieutenant 39 Rep 388 Posts Drives: 2010 e82 135i Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: USA iTrader: (2)	arent 328i's in australia like 60 grand or more __________________ 2007 335i E90 sedan: sport package, montego blue, black interior /w aluminum trim, 6MT delv: 5/25/07 2010 E82 135i 6MT, Saph Black Ext. , Coral Red Int. , Sport pkg, Cold weather, Ipod/USB, Bluetooth assist. N54 FTW!
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01-20-2008, 01:57 PM	#6
Yeahas Second Lieutenant 8 Rep 219 Posts Drives: SG E90 328 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: los angeles iTrader: (1)	yup....for one thing 328 over there is like 60k, for another i love my car so much that i dont want to wave her g'bye when i am leaving...plus doing the conversion doesnt need to know the australian laws since a conversion is a conversion. there arent many different ways to do that but 1
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01-20-2008, 02:13 PM	#7
lkn Lieutenant Colonel 23 Rep 1,549 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Orange County iTrader: (4)	converting your car to RHD so that you can use in Australia is going to be interesting. as another member posted, i wouldn't trust the shop doing the conversion in the US since you won't be able to bring the car back to the shop after you have already moved if anything happens to go wrong. although BMW's tend to be a lot more expensive in Australia, you're best bet is to sell your car here and purchase another in Australia. shaving off a couple thousand isn't worth the trouble for keeping your car in the long run.
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01-20-2008, 02:52 PM	#8
PaulBailey@ltbmw General 663 Rep 26,878 Posts Drives: 2-325 330 2-335 2-Z4 2-135 X5d Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Huntington Beach, CA iTrader: (34) Garage List 2008 BMW 335i E90 [7.00] 2011 BMW 335i E92 [7.96]	Can't you just Sell the current 328i and but a new one ED with right hand drive? Not In Aussie. . . But here and have it shipped?
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01-20-2008, 04:02 PM	#10
demosthenes Major 48 Rep 1,162 Posts Drives: E90 328i 6MT Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: SF Bay Area iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 328i sedan [0.00]	I agree with the previous posters. I'd sell my car here and buy another there. Even if you found someone here that said they could do it "right", how could you trust them? Can you imagine getting back to Australia and then seeing lots of problems? It could be a nightmare.
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01-20-2008, 04:36 PM	#13
Island Snow Private First Class 16 Rep 131 Posts Drives: SKG Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	Conversion tooooo complicated IMO __________________ Mabuhay
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01-20-2008, 07:23 PM	#14
aspiring335 Lieutenant Colonel 95 Rep 1,614 Posts Drives: 2019 G05 40i Join Date: May 2006 Location: Toronto, Canada iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	I don't really believe the question is serious, but the other thing the OP should keep in mind is any taxes and duties that will be payable when the car is imported. __________________ 2019 G05 40i (premium excellence, m-sport, 2VR), Tesla Model S 100D, Nissan Leaf SL Volvo XC90 T8, Subaru Outback, E84 X1 28i, E91 328i xdrive, 6MT, VW Touareg TDI, E90 330i, E46 325iT, MINI Cooper S (all retired)
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01-20-2008, 09:31 PM	#17
MPoWeRMAN First Lieutenant 36 Rep 388 Posts Drives: 2007 E91 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Rancho Mirage, CA iTrader: (9)	what about just shipping the car over there like it is, and driving it LHD? or is it illegal?
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01-20-2008, 10:05 PM	#18
urnuts First Lieutenant 18 Rep 392 Posts Drives: '06 330i (the now "slow" bmw) Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Southern NH iTrader: (0)	I don't mean to sound like a jerk but.... is this a serious question? I mean, think about it.
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01-20-2008, 10:19 PM	#19
GAM3OVR85 Major General 315 Rep 8,050 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Montreal, QC iTrader: (18) Garage List 2008 BMW M3 [0.00] 2010 Sea-Doo RXT-X 260 [9.00] 2007 E92 328i [10.00]
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01-20-2008, 10:42 PM	#20
VGR00 Major 53 Rep 1,497 Posts Drives: 430i Gran Coupe Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Brisbane - Australia iTrader: (1)	You will have a lot of issues importing that car. For starters, freight cost and tax will be over $10K, conversion for RHD $18K as you mentioned. A conversion will never be as clean as an origional car and when you finally want to sell your car, it will be worth peanuts cause no dealer will want it. Insurance companies are very reluctant to insure imports and when they do, they charge for the privilage. The laws here are suited to import cars over 15 years old that were not mainstream models. E30 M3 or 60's Mustangs are good examples. Good luck with it but the smarter thing would be better off selling it and buying one when you get here.
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