Police BMW engine issues
Discussion
3.0D X5 is a brilliant ARV.
We have a V-Class coming. Expectations aren’t high.
Going back a few years, we could get 3 series cheaper than we could get an octavia. BMW has been very aggressive with their pricing. Guess which we still got for public perception…. Good old management.
I had heard the Volvo XC90, particularly hybrid models were ridiculously expensive compared to the X5’s.
Going back, one of my favourites was the Vauxhall Vectra, especially the later 2.2ltr. They just seemed to be made to be a police car. Handling not amazing, but predictable slow under steer.
Worst, a Honda Stream. Awful awful thing.
We have a V-Class coming. Expectations aren’t high.
Going back a few years, we could get 3 series cheaper than we could get an octavia. BMW has been very aggressive with their pricing. Guess which we still got for public perception…. Good old management.
I had heard the Volvo XC90, particularly hybrid models were ridiculously expensive compared to the X5’s.
Going back, one of my favourites was the Vauxhall Vectra, especially the later 2.2ltr. They just seemed to be made to be a police car. Handling not amazing, but predictable slow under steer.
Worst, a Honda Stream. Awful awful thing.
Edited by LM240 on Tuesday 21st September 09:44
dhibbert said:
As I understand it the issue with the N57 BMW's is related to the amount of time they are left idling (when on scene) with the engine at very low revs. As most will know, the oil pressure when idling can be very low and it seems particularly damaging to the N57 unit. The end result is main bearing failure which has resulted in seized engines.
Low oil pressure due to slow idle used to be a problem with American V8's but it was the top end that suffered, as you'd expect. Doesn't make a lot of sense that main bearings would fail, and it would surely be an easy fix to just increase idle a little - wouldn't be surprised if it's higher than standard anyway so the alternator runs faster to power all the kit.
focusxr5 said:
We're now using Vauxhall Vivaro's and Ford Rangers as ARV's and Peugeot 308's and our old fleet of Suberb estates and Golf GTI's as traffic cars.
Has the temporary ARV fleet been put through the shops and equipped with all the gun safes and associated kit....or are the lads just being extra careful? 
Southerner said:
Has the temporary ARV fleet been put through the shops and equipped with all the gun safes and associated kit....or are the lads just being extra careful?
Fortunately that was a small bit of commen sense eventually applied after much kicking off by the troops about the weapons being insecure. They then ripped all the safes out of the X5's and installed them in the new *ahem* fleetdasbimmerowner said:
These Volvo's forces are getting, do they still have the 112mph speed limit that Volvo have baked into all their new cars?
One would presume that in R&D if Volvo are setting all cars to that limit they're not going to testing them for extended runs at 130mph for example.
Not restricted. One would presume that in R&D if Volvo are setting all cars to that limit they're not going to testing them for extended runs at 130mph for example.
ConnectionError said:
And why are Mercedes, Jaguar or Land Rovers/ Range Rovers (cue the unreliable comments) for example not being considered as replacements?
"In my force our ARV's were a mix of S60 T5's, 2nd gen BMW X5 and 2010 LR Discovery's. The S60's were great, rapid but heavy on fuel and tyres, The X5's ran to nearly 300k miles with just the odd DPF clogged. The discovery's were scrapped at 90k because they were awful. Not sure I ever finished a blue light run in one without it either breaking down or throwing up a warning light. We then went to Volvo XC70's which were slow, cramped with all our kit on, and lethal in the wet at anything above normal road speeds.We now have 3rd gen X5's and they're by far the best car for the job. They're quick, take a lot of abuse and handle well. They also tick the box of required axle weight and space for all the kit an ARV needs to carry, even then the kit takes up the whole of the car from the front seats backover. Our fleet are now approaching 200k and are starting to suffer drivetrain faults and multiple sensor failures that put the car into limp mode but that's to be expected given the hammer they get."
"Every Land Rover we have had, has been scrapped or sold well before its time, they spend more time at the dealer than on the road"
There's a guy on YouTube who picked up an ex police 330d after disposed and his engine seized in weeks. I guess at least they solved the swirl flaps?
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thescottishsun.co...
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thescottishsun.co...
To be fair to BMW, over the many years we've been driving millions of hard miles in them, there has been few problems that they haven't sorted out, and in general the cars have been more reliable than any alternatives.
This seems different though? The relationship between police forces and BMW has soured, there's a bit of a blame game going on as to whose fault this engine issue is and bmw do seem to be digging their heels in and not admit any responsibility this time. Maybe they want a way out of the police market? It has probably cost them quite a lot of money over the last few years in warranty claims. We've had quite a few cars coming to the end of their working lives fitted with brand new engines under warranty, then almost immediately sold on at auction.
As with lots of things though, the police have now all gone into knee jerk reactions and without any forward planning, fleets have panicked and gone and bought anything available (us - 11 new rpu volvos on order), without really testing to see if they're fit for purpose. This happened in my force about ten years ago, they've made the same mistake again (new fleet manager!!), and will undoubtedly end up with the same issues as previously.
This seems different though? The relationship between police forces and BMW has soured, there's a bit of a blame game going on as to whose fault this engine issue is and bmw do seem to be digging their heels in and not admit any responsibility this time. Maybe they want a way out of the police market? It has probably cost them quite a lot of money over the last few years in warranty claims. We've had quite a few cars coming to the end of their working lives fitted with brand new engines under warranty, then almost immediately sold on at auction.
As with lots of things though, the police have now all gone into knee jerk reactions and without any forward planning, fleets have panicked and gone and bought anything available (us - 11 new rpu volvos on order), without really testing to see if they're fit for purpose. This happened in my force about ten years ago, they've made the same mistake again (new fleet manager!!), and will undoubtedly end up with the same issues as previously.
nordboy said:
To be fair to BMW, over the many years we've been driving millions of hard miles in them, there has been few problems that they haven't sorted out, and in general the cars have been more reliable than any alternatives.
This seems different though? The relationship between police forces and BMW has soured, there's a bit of a blame game going on as to whose fault this engine issue is and bmw do seem to be digging their heels in and not admit any responsibility this time. Maybe they want a way out of the police market? It has probably cost them quite a lot of money over the last few years in warranty claims. We've had quite a few cars coming to the end of their working lives fitted with brand new engines under warranty, then almost immediately sold on at auction.
As with lots of things though, the police have now all gone into knee jerk reactions and without any forward planning, fleets have panicked and gone and bought anything available (us - 11 new rpu volvos on order), without really testing to see if they're fit for purpose. This happened in my force about ten years ago, they've made the same mistake again (new fleet manager!!), and will undoubtedly end up with the same issues as previously.
Sounds a familiar tale. Fleet manager formerly of Cumbria?This seems different though? The relationship between police forces and BMW has soured, there's a bit of a blame game going on as to whose fault this engine issue is and bmw do seem to be digging their heels in and not admit any responsibility this time. Maybe they want a way out of the police market? It has probably cost them quite a lot of money over the last few years in warranty claims. We've had quite a few cars coming to the end of their working lives fitted with brand new engines under warranty, then almost immediately sold on at auction.
As with lots of things though, the police have now all gone into knee jerk reactions and without any forward planning, fleets have panicked and gone and bought anything available (us - 11 new rpu volvos on order), without really testing to see if they're fit for purpose. This happened in my force about ten years ago, they've made the same mistake again (new fleet manager!!), and will undoubtedly end up with the same issues as previously.
helix402 said:
focusxr5 said:
Something to do with iron filings in the engine blocking the oil vanes and causing overheating and subsequently engine fire.
As far as I'm aware, neither Mercedes nor JLR offer anything type approved for the overt Police market
I think it’s the N57 main bearing failure.As far as I'm aware, neither Mercedes nor JLR offer anything type approved for the overt Police market
aeropilot said:
Surely any Police N57 engine cars are going to be at the end of their life anyway, they'd be nearly 3 years old now, so, with the newer cars having the B57 engine it can't be this, unless these are B57 engines and have inherited the same issue?
RPU often run their cars a lot longer than 3 years hence they’ll be lots of N57s left. Afraid I don’t know if the B57 is reliable or not. I do know that I wouldn’t buy a BMW diesel after the M57. Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff