LHD and MPH - a tricky combination?

[captain_stealth]

Congratulations on a most excellent forum. I have been lurking around here for a while and have learned so much already - but not the answer to this particular question...

I am looking to purchase a nice stealthy B7 RS4 in continental Europe (so far narrowed down to two potentials Germany) and import it to the UK. I want it to be LHD because most of my driving will be out of the country. UK import regulations say that the car must have headlight kick up to the right, or at least neutral (no problem there using VCDS), but it must also have a speedo showing MPH. Now this is a problem because the speedos of all the continental RS4s that I have driven only show KMH.

Does anybody know whether it is a straightforward job to change the face of the speedo to the UK version (which shows both MPH and KMH), or is it some horrendous business requiring the whole speedo to be changed?

[MB2]

On imported bikes people seem to get away with a Sticker at 30, 40, 50, 60 & 70 so maybe this is a possibility ?

[captain_stealth]

Thanks for your reply MB2.

Application for British National Type Approval actually says...

"That a speedometer has been fitted which is capable of indicating speed in both miles per hour and kilometres per hour, either simultaneously, or by operation of a switch. The speedometer must be marked up to the maximum speed of the vehicle, with graduations at 1, 2, 5, or 10mph, and with values at intervals not exceeding 20mph. For this change we can accept the following options 1) a new speedometer being fitted, 2) a professional overlay being applied (that is durable, accurate, with markings visible in both day and night driving conditions). We can not accept secondary devices or any other changes."

...Looks pretty stringent to me.

[PetrolDave]

I reckon a RHD cluster would fit a LHD car.

[duud40]

US cluster ?

[ArthurPE]

On imported bikes people seem to get away with a sticker at 30, 40, 50, 60 & 70 so maybe this is a possibility ?

yep, this is OK...you can actually replace the dial faceplate with a dual marked one
http://www.lockwoodinternational.co.uk/ ... s-c53.html

2) a professional overlay being applied (that is durable, accurate, with markings visible in both day and night driving conditions).

[Timster]

That's cool. They've got the exact one you need...
http://www.lockwoodinternational.co.uk/ ... -i768.html

[captain_stealth]

That's brilliant, Arthur! Many thanks.

£79.95 and what sounds like an easy fitting job is a far cry indeed from my imagined worst case scenario...

Thanks also for your replies, PetrolDave, duud40 and TimsterRS4.

Here we goooo.....