Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 13

Thread: LHD Cars

  1. #1
    BMWHaus Contributor
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Posts
    635

    LHD Cars

    Now that Brexit has basically fecked up importation of cars from the UK what’s everyone’s thoughts about buying LHD?
    Would you buy and drive a LHD? I’m taking more so about pre 2000 cars here.
    Looking at Deane motors he seems to be bringing in a lot of LHD lately ie E28 M5 and a Ferrari
    Is that the way the market is going??

  2. #2
    BMWHaus Contributor
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Posts
    635
    For example E39 M5s are starting at around £25k in the Uk now. So with conversion rate vat duty vrt and nox your looking at about €45k cleared
    But this would be less than €30 home and hosed
    I found this offer on AutoScout24.

    https://www.autoscout24.com/offers/b...campaign=share

    Final price: € 18,500.-
    Mileage: 220,000 km
    First registration: 04/1999

  3. #3
    BMWHaus Contributor
    Join Date
    May 2020
    Posts
    489
    Or you could have this northern reg one without the vat and duty possibly cleared for 35k? facelift, less mileage & rhd

    https://www.donedeal.ie/vintagecars-...39-m5/29326614

    On the the whole LHD thing, I had a look into this shortly after brexit. I personally wouldn't drive a LHD unless there was a significant saving(at least 30%) or it only came in a LHD ie. E30 M3, E34 M5 touring.

    That M5 for 18.5k does look cheap, a bit too cheap? from my experience cars on the continent are far more expensive than the UK and almost comparable in price after adding vat and duty. Just using an e46 M3's as an example, on the continent they average about 30k for a half decent one with lowish mileage. In the UK you're looking at 18-19k for similar. Add vat & duty and your around the 30k mark.

    Then you have the language barrier, stuff could get lost in translation, Further to travel and it will always be worth less on this island. Come sale time it will be alot harder to shift. You could argue that you'd have a bigger market with it being a LHD, but I don't think Europeans would be looking to Ireland to buy cars unless it was something very special and alot cheaper than they can get in their own back garden.

    Anytime I was searching for something in Germany or the likes there was always a couple of rhd ones and they were always the cheapest.




    Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

  4. #4
    BMWHaus Guru
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Posts
    1,453
    I’d have zero interest in any LHD car which was also available as RHD. I’d actually have to give it some thought as to whether I’d be bothered with something that was LHD only - E30 M3 /Z1 etc.

  5. #5
    BMWHaus Guru
    Join Date
    Apr 2015
    Posts
    2,920
    When will we switch to driving on the right?
    Current: BMW 530e M-Sport - '17, BMW 630i Sport auto - '07, BMW 325i Coupe - '93, BMW Z4 2.5si Auto - '07, '90 BMW 316i Lux.

    Previous: BMW 328i Coupe - '96, BMW 530i SE auto - '07, BMW 530i Sport auto - '02, BMW 318i SE Touring - '07, BMW 330Ci Sport - '04, BMW 520d SE - '11, BMW 523i SE - '00, BMW 328i SE Touring - '00, BMW 523i SE - '97, BMW 323i SE - '98, 330Ci - '00, 325i Coupe - '93, 318Ci - '01, 316iSE - '98, 325iSE 2dr - '91, 320i Conv - '91, 325i Coupe - '92, 320i 2dr - '91.

  6. #6
    BMWHaus Guru
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Posts
    1,453
    Quote Originally Posted by dergside View Post
    When will we switch to driving on the right?
    Never .

  7. #7
    BMWHaus Contributor
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Posts
    635
    Ya I think I’m out. Drove a LHD E28 today. Not my cup of tea

  8. #8
    BMWHaus Guru
    Join Date
    Sep 2017
    Location
    Galway
    Posts
    1,208
    Ah, who wouldn't like a big old Yank muscle car for a sunny Sunday outing - a Stingray, Mustang, Camaro etc.


    A 1995 Corolla saloon efi in that manky grey/green colour they came in in LHD, eh, no !


    Up to about 10 years ago, I would have said a stern no to an automatic trasmission tbh - I've slowly warmed to them (some cars of course have to be manual only).....
    Current Daily: 2008 Lexus GS300 Sport F/L
    Current: E39 525i M Sport (Titan Silver)
    Previous: E34 520i SE (Orient Blue)

  9. #9
    BMWHaus Guru
    Join Date
    Apr 2015
    Posts
    2,920
    Quote Originally Posted by kdevitt View Post
    Never .
    What's keeping us in RHD?

    Historically it would have been because of the close links to the UK market, but they've made a very clear decision that will impact on the level of UK/Ireland trade significantly over the coming years. We're nailing our colours to the mast as far as links to Europe are concerned, so that's the future. Sweden made the switch in 1967, so why not here? Not a simple change or trivial, but with RHD we're a complete outlier in the EU.
    Current: BMW 530e M-Sport - '17, BMW 630i Sport auto - '07, BMW 325i Coupe - '93, BMW Z4 2.5si Auto - '07, '90 BMW 316i Lux.

    Previous: BMW 328i Coupe - '96, BMW 530i SE auto - '07, BMW 530i Sport auto - '02, BMW 318i SE Touring - '07, BMW 330Ci Sport - '04, BMW 520d SE - '11, BMW 523i SE - '00, BMW 328i SE Touring - '00, BMW 523i SE - '97, BMW 323i SE - '98, 330Ci - '00, 325i Coupe - '93, 318Ci - '01, 316iSE - '98, 325iSE 2dr - '91, 320i Conv - '91, 325i Coupe - '92, 320i 2dr - '91.

  10. #10
    BMWHaus Guru
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Posts
    1,453
    There are 208 border crossings for a start - but mores the point, whats the benefit of switching over? Ireland is a small market by any standards and there are plenty of markets outside of Ireland that are RHD, so unless all RHD markets changes over, then we won't.

    We're also a complete outlier in the EU in speaking English by the way.

Similar Threads

  1. 141 Reg Cars
    By BMW520D in forum General Car Chat
    Replies: 30
    Last Post: 12-01-14, 17:34
  2. Cars that look the same...
    By Chrispyfish in forum General Car Chat
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 25-07-13, 11:03
  3. BMW Art Cars
    By Chrispyfish in forum General Car Chat
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 19-07-13, 20:23

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •