Police BMW engine issues
Discussion
wiliferus said:
You’re absolutely right, but when the service intervals were less 10 odd years ago we had more cars. We literally had spares to ensure if one broke or got smashed up we could still deliver a service.
In terms of Road worthiness, the cars are over serviced. Also, and I can only speak for my force, if the car goes in for anything, let say tyres, before it is sent back out it will effectively have a MoT to check all the important bits are good.
Also I should imagine it’s a nationwide thing, all officers are duty bound to fully check their cars before every shift. Generally, in terms of roadworthy aspects the cars are very good. Sadly the internals of an engine are somewhat out of reach.
Meh, let’s just say the Volvos are in workshops a lot with dashboard lights on…
So if the Volvos are off the road more surely that negates an additional service on a bmw, we are talking what could 20 minutes work, drain the oil, measure out 6.5 ll04 swap a filter. I get it that nobody should lose there life in a car but if the bmw is the perfect tool for the job and all it needs is an additional oil change to reduce the risk then surely that’s the way to go. In terms of Road worthiness, the cars are over serviced. Also, and I can only speak for my force, if the car goes in for anything, let say tyres, before it is sent back out it will effectively have a MoT to check all the important bits are good.
Also I should imagine it’s a nationwide thing, all officers are duty bound to fully check their cars before every shift. Generally, in terms of roadworthy aspects the cars are very good. Sadly the internals of an engine are somewhat out of reach.
Meh, let’s just say the Volvos are in workshops a lot with dashboard lights on…
It really should be the drivers dictating what they want and not accounts and people who have no clue.
It’s a shame, as the 530d’s were literally the best tool for the job. I feel like we have finally almost got back there with the latest batch of Audi A6 3.0TDis, although how long they will last is up for debate. So much( better than the Volvos so will get used 24/7!
One or two of the V90s are up to 80k now and are feeling ragged. Doesn’t bode well!
One or two of the V90s are up to 80k now and are feeling ragged. Doesn’t bode well!
We have a majority Volvo fleet and they are truely woeful....
Cops fighting for the keys for the tired 150k+ 530d's over a newish Volvo says it all really!
The newest arrivals have slightly better gearbox software but that's like saying Stalin was a slightly nicer bloke than Hitler
The sooner someone realises that you can't expect a normal family car to take 600+ miles of absolute trashing a day and still be reliable the better.
I wouldn't even own a Volvo myself now - unreliable, complicated and overpriced. I would rather buy a used BMW than a new Volvo....
Cops fighting for the keys for the tired 150k+ 530d's over a newish Volvo says it all really!
The newest arrivals have slightly better gearbox software but that's like saying Stalin was a slightly nicer bloke than Hitler
The sooner someone realises that you can't expect a normal family car to take 600+ miles of absolute trashing a day and still be reliable the better.
I wouldn't even own a Volvo myself now - unreliable, complicated and overpriced. I would rather buy a used BMW than a new Volvo....
Fully agree!
There’s a now sadly retired plain Firearms X5, and a marked Traffic X5 with virtually no kit. Both on nearly 200k. Utterly brilliant, responsive and the presence to move traffic and do good TPAC. Would take either out in a heartbeat over a new XC90.
Definitely wouldn’t buy a new Volvo. Used to quite fancy a Polestar, but no.
There’s a now sadly retired plain Firearms X5, and a marked Traffic X5 with virtually no kit. Both on nearly 200k. Utterly brilliant, responsive and the presence to move traffic and do good TPAC. Would take either out in a heartbeat over a new XC90.
Definitely wouldn’t buy a new Volvo. Used to quite fancy a Polestar, but no.
BossHogg said:
We're having problems with our Volvos too, mind you, they are 2 year old with 110k miles, so they've had a lifetime of use in just 2 years.
I was waiting for this. Leaving aside the BMW engine failure modes and consequences, I had been pondering whether the assessment of the BMW fleet was being done against an unobtainable standard and whether the availability for service and service life of the replacements would prove to be worse. If it does (as I anticipate) then the costs inherent in those replacements will ultimately be higher. It is entirely possible that history will show a lower overall cost, or at least no greater cost (and avoidance of the failures and their consequences) could have been achieved by working the BMW fleet less hard and having bigger fleets. Of course we'll never know because nobody will want to admit that the management of the BMW fleet could have been done differently. siremoon said:
BossHogg said:
We're having problems with our Volvos too, mind you, they are 2 year old with 110k miles, so they've had a lifetime of use in just 2 years.
I was waiting for this. Leaving aside the BMW engine failure modes and consequences, I had been pondering whether the assessment of the BMW fleet was being done against an unobtainable standard and whether the availability for service and service life of the replacements would prove to be worse. If it does (as I anticipate) then the costs inherent in those replacements will ultimately be higher. It is entirely possible that history will show a lower overall cost, or at least no greater cost (and avoidance of the failures and their consequences) could have been achieved by working the BMW fleet less hard and having bigger fleets. Of course we'll never know because nobody will want to admit that the management of the BMW fleet could have been done differently. Our expanding fleet of new T5's are going through discs and pads in less than 3000 miles!! And the XC90's seem to be off the road more than they're on it. They're much better than the old D5's but not a patch on the BMW's (3 series in our case).
Maybe if the management of the contract was better on both sides, we'd still be running BMW's. If this issue does get sorted out, I do wonder if BMW will re-enter the police market again?
I have a 2012 BMW x35d, with the N57 twin turbo. I just serviced it yesterday (110,000 miles) which will be it's 8th oil change. The car's been through the dealer twice for EGR recall work, and I recently replaced the four turbo control pressure converters / switches to fix a boost issue.
It's all pretty solid, and is still an excellent drive, with more than enough omph. Is there anything else I should be doing to prevent the engine grenading itself? I'd quite like to keep it for a few more years.
It's all pretty solid, and is still an excellent drive, with more than enough omph. Is there anything else I should be doing to prevent the engine grenading itself? I'd quite like to keep it for a few more years.
stewilko said:
I have a 2012 BMW x35d, with the N57 twin turbo. I just serviced it yesterday (110,000 miles) which will be it's 8th oil change. The car's been through the dealer twice for EGR recall work, and I recently replaced the four turbo control pressure converters / switches to fix a boost issue.
It's all pretty solid, and is still an excellent drive, with more than enough omph. Is there anything else I should be doing to prevent the engine grenading itself? I'd quite like to keep it for a few more years.
You won't put yours under the same stresses as the police do, long periods of time idling, and getting generally thrashed about. But the key seems to be regular servicing/ fluid changes.It's all pretty solid, and is still an excellent drive, with more than enough omph. Is there anything else I should be doing to prevent the engine grenading itself? I'd quite like to keep it for a few more years.
I honestly wouldn't worry too much, they're generally brilliant cars/ engines.
blueST said:
BlindedByTheLights said:
blueST said:
BlindedByTheLights said:
pocketspring said:
Does anyone know if HSE are involved with this? Employers duty of care etc?
HSE have said it’s out of their remit, not sure I agree with that though. The Office for Rail and Road Regulation could get involved on the vehicle front, they’ve recently prosecuted a company for not managing driving fatigue, but again no agency seems to want to claim responsibility with this issue. https://www.orr.gov.uk/search-news/contractor-reno...
stewilko said:
I have a 2012 BMW x35d, with the N57 twin turbo. I just serviced it yesterday (110,000 miles) which will be it's 8th oil change. The car's been through the dealer twice for EGR recall work, and I recently replaced the four turbo control pressure converters / switches to fix a boost issue.
It's all pretty solid, and is still an excellent drive, with more than enough omph. Is there anything else I should be doing to prevent the engine grenading itself? I'd quite like to keep it for a few more years.
My 2009 BMW 3.0 twin turbo suffered timing chain guide / timing chain failure 1 week out or warranty. BMW didn’t want to know.It's all pretty solid, and is still an excellent drive, with more than enough omph. Is there anything else I should be doing to prevent the engine grenading itself? I'd quite like to keep it for a few more years.
If the garage / your mechanic has a boroscope, perhaps get them to have a look at the plastic chain guides to check no bits have cracked and fallen off, waiting to jam the chain.
https://news.sky.com/story/vicky-pattison-left-sha...
No say on car or model. But judging by the pictures it’s a good guess.
No say on car or model. But judging by the pictures it’s a good guess.
seabod91 said:
https://news.sky.com/story/vicky-pattison-left-sha...
No say on car or model. But judging by the pictures it’s a good guess.
To be fair, if I knew I was going to Chigwell, I'd burst into flames as well. No say on car or model. But judging by the pictures it’s a good guess.
seabod91 said:
https://news.sky.com/story/vicky-pattison-left-sha...
No say on car or model. But judging by the pictures it’s a good guess.
Looks like a G series 5 series so doubt it has the same issues,No say on car or model. But judging by the pictures it’s a good guess.
stevemcs said:
seabod91 said:
https://news.sky.com/story/vicky-pattison-left-sha...
No say on car or model. But judging by the pictures it’s a good guess.
Looks like a G series 5 series so doubt it has the same issues,No say on car or model. But judging by the pictures it’s a good guess.
BlindedByTheLights said:
blueST said:
BlindedByTheLights said:
blueST said:
BlindedByTheLights said:
pocketspring said:
Does anyone know if HSE are involved with this? Employers duty of care etc?
HSE have said it’s out of their remit, not sure I agree with that though. The Office for Rail and Road Regulation could get involved on the vehicle front, they’ve recently prosecuted a company for not managing driving fatigue, but again no agency seems to want to claim responsibility with this issue. https://www.orr.gov.uk/search-news/contractor-reno...
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