 | Home > Maintenance & Modifications > Need Advice on LHD to RHD MOT Modifications |
 
|
|
|
| Birdy Member Since: 07 Oct 2011 Location: Côte d'Azur Posts: 872   
|
You presumably don’t have an EU Certificate of Conformity, so you’ll have to go down the Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) route. For the MOT, “tape” won’t do it, you WILL have to change the lights, fog light too, it has to be swapped with the reverse light. Is it a Station Wagon? I imported an 11-seater, it counted as a bus. The most complicated thing will be the speedometer if it’s KPH only. The Examiner won’t accept stickers etc., a new speedo head will be required, depending upon the model gearbox parts too need to be changed.
Although your Swiss insurance probably covers UK driving, it isn’t acceptable for actually registering the vehicle, you’ll need a UK insurance company. But run-of-the-mill companies won’t insure you because it’s not registered, you may have a vicious circle scenario or fork out for very expensive temporary cover. Once registered, LHD doesn’t make a lot of difference, I’m with Saga and they didn’t even ask whether or not the truck was LHD. Peter |
||
22nd Apr 2015 3:37pm |
|
| Martin Site Admin Member Since: 02 Apr 2007 Location: Hook Norton Posts: 6641  
|
Welcome to the site!
As above, tape is not permitted to mask the beam pattern for an MOT. In any case, with LED headlamps, masking off will not work due to the nature of the beam and the light source. To pass the MOT, you can fit a pair of halogen headlamps (RHD). For example, site sponsor LRI solutions does a pair for £21.30 inc VAT and delivery: http://www.lrisolutions.co.uk/index.php/ge...i-964.html You could also sell your LHD LED lights and buy a pair of RHD ones? As I understand it as the vehicle is coming from Europe, then an IVA is not needed, you need an MOT and can then register it with the DVLA? I imagine the process is similar to registering a LHD ex-military Land Rover. Try site sponsors A Plan in Thatcham for an insurance quote: http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic24198.html  1988 90 Td5 NAS soft top
2015 D90 XS SW |
||
|
22nd Apr 2015 4:37pm |
|
| bpman Member Since: 21 May 2008 Location: Oslo Posts: 8069 
|
Hi Caroline
I did the same with my 2010 defender As mentioned above you need to fit UK spec headlights and sort out your certificate of conformity Additionally ... Swap fog and reversing lights over - if they are the same shape then it's a simple wire swap under the Bonnet and swap the coloured lenses over If your speedo does not have mph, you need to either change the unit or the dial Talk to the dvla they are very helpful You also need to get an MOT Keep your LHD headlights for trips abroad I was able to get a local independent to confirm the changes had been made together with photos and I was assigned a UK number plate (no longer have a VD plate ) You also must return your plates to Switzerland and you will get a road tax refund |
||
|
22nd Apr 2015 4:48pm |
|
| John P Member Since: 26 Dec 2013 Location: West Sussex Posts: 333 
|
I have had a LHD car for 15 years here in the UK, and is only marked in KPH. It passes MOT every year without any issues. Either the MOT tester is blind, or it doesn't matter.
|
||
|
22nd Apr 2015 8:51pm |
|
| carolinesfer Member Since: 22 Apr 2015 Location: London Posts: 2
|
Thank you all for the advice! That's good to know that tape will not be sufficient for the headlamps and thank you for the link for new RHD headlamps, we'll definitely check those out. I think we will definitely keep the LED ones for trips to Europe since we plan on making overland trips to Iceland and Nordkapp. Does anyone know of a good wiring solution to make the headlamp swap quicker? We still have all the original 1988 wiring and were thinking of switching the wiring harness for the headlamps to a newer one.
Also glad to know the rear fog and reverse light swap is so simple, we still have the original lights, so they're definitely the same shape. And we'll have to swap the speedo to get a dual kph and mph face. I had called the DVLA already and they were helpful in terms of the process, but said they couldn't give us the information on what we had to change over to pass an MOT. But, you're correct that they said we don't need any special certificate of conformity or IVA. To answer the question about our Landy, its a 2 seater county station wagon since neither us nor the original owners added the extra 4 seats to the back of the 90. Can anyone recommed a London independent mechanic/garage who is good with Defenders? |
||
|
22nd Apr 2015 8:54pm |
|
| bpman Member Since: 21 May 2008 Location: Oslo Posts: 8069
|
Mine still has km rather than miles on the odometer
And not even considered changing to RHD -it's only used for European travel |
||
|
22nd Apr 2015 8:55pm |
|
| ppad Member Since: 16 Nov 2012 Location: now, UK S Coast Posts: 223 
|
Caroline,
I've been driving my UK RHD 90 around Switzerland for a couple of years on and off no trouble, so you'll have no problem in England! You will have a CoC for your car per Swiss regs, including 'abgas' , which was a real drama for me here. Else, it's as everyone said. All countries want proof of insurance, then a roadworthy cert (the Aus name for the MoT), then a rego. In UK I couldn't register without the first 2 because they are all computer linked. Shop around for insurance. One thing, 12 months down the track ... they may add a hundred quid or so to your policy on renewal on the basis you won't notice. 
Get a new quote from the same company, it can be a couple of hundred quid cheaper than the renewal Welcome to modern England... having one foot in each and another foot in Oz... England sure has changed since 1990 when I left  ! Sold the much modified 110 2.8, in Oz
Brought the 90 home from Switzerland ... |
||
|
22nd Apr 2015 10:19pm |
|
|
|
| All times are GMT |
< Previous Topic | Next Topic > |
Posting Rules
|
Site Copyright © 2006-2025 Futuranet Ltd & Martin Lewis
