US servicemen in UK driving Bimmers?

Exactly. No need for conversion. They're full US Spec cars.

Check the link below ( BMW Germany website)

Military Sales

Alex

robg said:

But- there is a special military sales program that deals w/ this exact situation. You actually get an even better price than doing european dleivery and you can keep the car in europe for as long as you need to. They're US spec cars.

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The biggest problems still remains that UK cars are right hand drive while U.S. spec cars are left hand drive. If you buy a car that's right hand drive just for the 3 years of driving in U.K., it still makes it hard to convert it here in the states. I've seen cars that are right hand drives here though, so I doubt it'll be a big problem but it's worth looking into.

Hack-

If he goes through the military sales program then he'd be buying US spec car-- which means left hand drive. So, he'd have to deal w/ that while in the UK. Buying a UK spec car would be nightmare on several fronts-- converting to US spec, paying the higher price, dealing w/ steering wheel on the wrong side, etc.

robg said:

Hack-

If he goes through the military sales program then he'd be buying US spec car-- which means left hand drive. So, he'd have to deal w/ that while in the UK. Buying a UK spec car would be nightmare on several fronts-- converting to US spec, paying the higher price, dealing w/ steering wheel on the wrong side, etc.

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I have driven a LHD car in a RHD country. In the Cayman Islands. It wan't that bad. Good thing drive throughs aren't popular oustide the US :lmao:

After lurking here for a couple weeks I thought I would jump in here since it is a topic I am very familiar with...

I am US Military currently stationed in the UK and I shipped my '99 323i.

Yes, I did have to convert my car. I cost around 300GBP or roughly $500. The cost covered installing the rear fogs, the Euro headlight switch, reprogramming some functions on the ECU and placing stickers on the headlight lenses to keep my headlights from blinding oncoming traffic.

Driving a left hand drive car here is not that bad, and you learn a few tricks to passing slow traffic on two-lane roads. (Of those the best one is be patient!)

The military sales is the way to go if it works for you. Had I known that I was coming here when I bought my car, I would have duct tapped my old Grand-Am together and make it last a little longer. I could have saved around $3-$4K off MSRP!

If you have any other questions, or you friend needs to know a good dealer to service his car when he gets in the UK, let me know. I found one that honered my BMWNA warrenty and gives loaners EVERY time if you ask!