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      03-21-2011, 07:16 AM   #1
Denny Swift
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Right-Hand Controls

My brother-in-law is a car enthusiast, but does not have use of his left hand (via an accident). He is really excited about getting an X1, but is concerned that BMW has a left-side curise control. I was wondering (and can't tell from photos) if the right-hand drive cars have the controls reversed on the wheel or if the wheel is the same but just moved to the other side of the car.

If the cruise control is on the right side of a right-hand drive car, then I'd assume there would be a "relatively easy" way to have it moved there on a left-hand drive car. Where is the cruise placed on the cars that are driven on the wrong side of the road?

Thanks.
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      03-21-2011, 07:26 AM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnnyQuest View Post
My brother-in-law is a car enthusiast, but does not have use of his left hand (via an accident). He is really excited about getting an X1, but is concerned that BMW has a left-side curise control. I was wondering (and can't tell from photos) if the right-hand drive cars have the controls reversed on the wheel or if the wheel is the same but just moved to the other side of the car.

If the cruise control is on the right side of a right-hand drive car, then I'd assume there would be a "relatively easy" way to have it moved there on a left-hand drive car. Where is the cruise placed on the cars that are driven on the wrong side of the road?

Thanks.
Mine is on the left in my "right" hand drive X1
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      03-21-2011, 09:54 AM   #3
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Unfortunately for your brother in law, when they build european cars for the right hand drive market, the controls stay in the same place. Therefore my indicator and cruise control are both on the left and the wipers are on the right.
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      03-21-2011, 10:08 AM   #4
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Originally Posted by BMWDave View Post
Unfortunately for your brother in law, when they build european cars for the right hand drive market, the controls stay in the same place. Therefore my indicator and cruise control are both on the left and the wipers are on the right.
Exactly. A RHD car is not a "mirror" version of the LHD car. Levers remains the same, so does ignition and pedals. Which makes the switch to RHD all the more difficult.
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      03-21-2011, 11:08 AM   #5
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Originally Posted by BMWDave View Post
Unfortunately for your brother in law, when they build european cars for the right hand drive market, the controls stay in the same place. Therefore my indicator and cruise control are both on the left and the wipers are on the right.
Thanks. Yes, when I drove in Japan, I turned on the wipers to signal every turn and turned on the directionals only when it rained.
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      03-21-2011, 11:17 AM   #6
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Thanks. Yes, when I drove in Japan, I turned on the wipers to signal every turn and turned on the directionals only when it rained.
The really funny part is when you start in fifth gear and stall. Three times.
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      03-21-2011, 11:57 AM   #7
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The really funny part is when you start in fifth gear and stall. Three times.

The car I drove was a 5 speed. My brain had no problem with shifting or operating the pedals, only with the wipers and directionals. However, I think if I encountered a roundabout I would have just abandoned the car and walked!
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      03-21-2011, 12:33 PM   #8
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The car I drove was a 5 speed. My brain had no problem with shifting or operating the pedals, only with the wipers and directionals. However, I think if I encountered a roundabout I would have just abandoned the car and walked!
The roundabout (or traffic circle) is the next best thing!
I was always pretending to look left when entering one without stopping (I had of course carefully checked the incoming traffic from the right), making my French passengers jump hysterically in their seats or grab the dashboard !!
Hilarious !! What a racket !!!
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