Police car service schedule - BS?

[john2443]

Car for sale on Fleabay that says it was Government owned sasys For those in the know... all ‘Service’ vehicles, whether they be Government, Police, Ambulance, MOD or the like are serviced beyond belief. For example Police Vehicle have their Brake Fluid changed monthly and not just topped up.

Is anyone on here "in the know" - monthly brake fluid changes - meticulous servicing or Bull?

[url=
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2005-ROVER-75-V8-CONNOIS... 75 V8[/url] of doubtful provenance if you want to see the ad.

[DuraAce]

Monthly sounds a bit OTT, you never know I guess.

I work in the MOD and all the vehicles I have access to are just serviced as per manuafacturers schedule.

[TTmonkey]

john2443 said:

Car for sale on Fleabay that says it was Government owned sasys For those in the know... all ‘Service’ vehicles, whether they be Government, Police, Ambulance, MOD or the like are serviced beyond belief. For example Police Vehicle have their Brake Fluid changed monthly and not just topped up.

Is anyone on here "in the know" - monthly brake fluid changes - meticulous servicing or Bull?

[url=
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2005-ROVER-75-V8-CONNOIS... 75 V8[/url] of doubtful provenance if you want to see the ad.

hmmm, bit suspect of the claim. However, I know patrol cars have their pads and disks changed like every three months, so why not change the fluid at the same time....? If you are being careful, like.

Anyway, what does it matter how often the brake fluid is changed? its no better if its monthly, rather than yearly.

[Sump]

They're serviced as per manufacturer. Guys just chatting complete BS trying to turn what is a negative into a positive.

Good effort but just complete nonsensical bs.

[blueacid]

TTmonkey said:

hmmm, bit suspect of the claim. However, I know patrol cars have their pads and disks changed like every three months, so why not change the fluid at the same time....? If you are being careful, like.

Anyway, what does it matter how often the brake fluid is changed? its no better if its monthly, rather than yearly.

I wonder if there's a different schedule for patrol versus pursuit. There's a big difference in duty between travelling normally on patrol / going to visit somebody, versus GLF through winding streets, hot on the heels of a stolen car.

[BuzzBravado]

Friend in Police Scotland tells me the regular panda cars and vans he drives are beyond fked and well due replacement but they don't have the cash to do it, so the mechanics just keep them going as well as they can. Currently driving a Transit that pulls strongly to a side after it hit a traffic island, none of them particularly cares. He says going home in his 1.6 Astra is a joy compared to it, so thats saying something.

[SHutchinson]

With budgets stretched as far as they are in public services do you really think some spanner monkey is going to be doing monthly brake fluid changes on a Rover?

No, and neither does anyone else. But it's a very creative and fluffy advert.

[AndrewEH1]

BuzzBravado said:

Friend in Police Scotland tells me the regular panda cars and vans he drives are beyond fked and well due replacement but they don't have the cash to do it, so the mechanics just keep them going as well as they can. Currently driving a Transit that pulls strongly to a side after it hit a traffic island, none of them particularly cares. He says going home in his 1.6 Astra is a joy compared to it, so thats saying something.

From my experience as long as the cars are legal and mechanically soundish that's good enough. Police cars are completely abused I would never buy one.

[Limpet]

Serviced to manufacturer's schedule. This does mean some cars get serviced every 4-5 weeks though.

[BuzzBravado]

AndrewEH1 said:

BuzzBravado said:

Friend in Police Scotland tells me the regular panda cars and vans he drives are beyond fked and well due replacement but they don't have the cash to do it, so the mechanics just keep them going as well as they can. Currently driving a Transit that pulls strongly to a side after it hit a traffic island, none of them particularly cares. He says going home in his 1.6 Astra is a joy compared to it, so thats saying something.

From my experience as long as the cars are legal and mechanically soundish that's good enough. Police cars are completely abused I would never buy one.

There was a Corsa van type thing that the Dalkeith/Bonnyrigg lot used to play rock,paper, scissors over as it was that st to drive, being so fked.

[AndrewEH1]

BuzzBravado said:

There was a Corsa van type thing that the Dalkeith/Bonnyrigg lot used to play rock,paper, scissors over as it was that st to drive, being so fked.

Brilliant! Craigmillar luckily had a surplus of vehicles due to there being hardly any actually on shift...

[ChemicalChaos]

I remember reading in a well-respected motoring magazine that pursit vehicles are indeed serviced at half intervals, including having new tyres and brake components when only half worn

[DanielJames]

My mate works for Ford main dealer and they regularly get in Mondeos, they don't get any special treatment.

I'd like to know how the traffic cars are looked after though. South Yorks police had a few Evos at one point!

[DanielJames]

Also, who the hell tops up brake fluid? It will go down with pad wear yes, but not enough to require a top up. Then once new pads are inserted the fluid will go to normal. Never had it on any of my cars where the pad wear made the brake fluid light come on...

[Hooli]

DanielJames said:

Also, who the hell tops up brake fluid? It will go down with pad wear yes, but not enough to require a top up. Then once new pads are inserted the fluid will go to normal. Never had it on any of my cars where the pad wear made the brake fluid light come on...

Exactly, it's only topped up if it's leaked or had some spilt when lines or hoses get disconnected.

[Sheepshanks]

The whole history of that car sounds like bs.

Years ago I went to look at a Cortina (I said it was a long time ago) and it looked like a 1600L but had a 3 Litre V6 engine. Previous owner was Lancashire Police, but it was apparently the Chief Con's personal car.

[guindilias]

What would be the point in changing brake fluid monthly? It doesn't wear out, it absorbs moisture over TIME, not miles?

[andy118run]

Lost the will to live about half way through the ad, so didn't read it all but a couple of things struck me -
MOT until July 2015? Not sure I'd pay best part of 6 grand for a 10 year old Rover with just over 2 months ticket.

Secondly, it was passed to the 'Ulster Constabulary where it was Chauffeur driven for the Chief Inspector'. Do Chief Inspectors really get chauffeur driven cars!? Chief constable, possibly.

[rek]

Ive had a couple of ex police cars, the second being an Omega which was mechanically sound. It came with a service printout with Pads/Fluid change every time. It had a few holes drilled inside and some Bracketry in the boot that was a sod to remove...

Most all of the trim and plastic was either scratched/broken/missing, but that was fixed by a trip to a scrapyard.

[mikesalt]

I've had an ex BTP car for the past year, and it is cracking. However, it was supplied with the service schedule and it's nothing more than the manufacturer's schedule. In fact, it'll be better looked after under my care because I do half-schedule servicing.

To be fair though, the owner does seem to be an enthusiast, just a little over enthusiastic in his description. Probably not a bad buy actually.

Cheers,

Mick

Edited by mikesalt on Thursday 21st May 17:05