Police BMW engine issues

[P0PC0RN]

BossHogg said:

The figures stated looked promising, but we know they can be fudged, apparently over 300 miles on a full charge, but there was no mention of two chunky bobbies in body armour and all the kit.

Our driver training unit had a Tesla model 3 on trial and apparently the range plummeted with high speed/ response driving so it the idea was parked....

Sourcing suitable advanced cars for specialist units will become abit of an issue over the next few years. Very few manufacturers supply Police vehicles and while Forces can source vehicles outside of this the choice is becoming far more limited.

Looking at the Volvo UK configurator the only vehicle they current sell with the mild hybrid B6 engine (which all of our job cars are) is the XC90. My force doesn't have the wall kits for the plug in hybrids and the drop in performance once the electricity had been used up would become problematic....

I might be wrong but I think our cars are just low spec customer cars and not special orders (like they used to be) so it might mean that the V90's and V60's are off the list very soon as well!

This doesn't leave very many/any options outside of the premium German/ VAG group brands that I can think of...

Its a massive shame BMW threw their toys out - a mixed fleet of 540i, M340i + X5 would be the stuff of dreams

[Maxdecel]

One off build ? Job jobbed, though not much space for gear.

[sutoka]

Was coming home from my girlfriends house on Sunday morning must have been 6am and there was a BMW estate sitting in the middle of the road, hazards on being loaded onto a recovery truck, few rainbow like puddles on the road, station is about 100m away.

[Earthdweller]

Maxdecel said:

One off build ? Job jobbed, though not much space for gear.

It was a Ford demo/promo car that spent a little time with Essex Police

Not sure how much operational use ( if any ) it actually got, and yes it was a one-off

[Earthdweller]

P0PC0RN said:

Its a massive shame BMW threw their toys out - a mixed fleet of 540i, M340i + X5 would be the stuff of dreams

BMW was a huge game changer when they entered the Police market

Suddenly we had reliable cars that were fit for purpose and brilliant to drive, oh and did I mention reliable?

The E39 was fantastic as a Police car and the X5 when introduced could do the work of 3 Range Rovers!

Shame to see them go, they were a great set up a provided bespoke versions of their models for the emergency services market which is much better than having the compromise of retail spec cars

[Nickbrapp]

Seeing more and more VAG stuff in south wales. Mainly superb 280 spot lines, a new Octavia VRS and a couple of touregs, and some new A6 avants which I guess in 3.0 guise must be pretty good,


Force I do work work has started buying used cars, they have a recconissnce c43 amg coupe which is rather nice

[dmsims]

So when the issues became known why not switch to 340i/540i ?

[Earthdweller]

dmsims said:

So when the issues became known why not switch to 340i/540i ?

BMW had a teddy throwing moment and pulled out of the market

[JakeT]

Fleet managers and bean counters would have a fit at moving back to S60 T5 levels of consumption too.

[dmsims]

Ok thanks, are Fleet managers civvies ?

[aeropilot]

dmsims said:

Ok thanks, are Fleet managers civvies ?

Almost all, if not all of them are yes.

[Greendubber]

Earthdweller said:

dmsims said:

So when the issues became known why not switch to 340i/540i ?

BMW had a teddy throwing moment and pulled out of the market

We have some at the driving school, hire cars and they're absolutely awesome.

[dhutch]

P0PC0RN said:

I have had some really 'interesting' chases in the 5's and they are fine until the roads become really twisty and your chasing something like a Fiesta ST....

My establishment looked at EV's (someone looking for a promotion) and it was knocked back by everyone:

-range on a busy shift not good enough
-would have to triple the fleet to allow for cars being charged
-they are not suitable for TPAC
-surprisingly the Models offered to us (Tesla) were deemed as lacking in performance and the next models up were cost prohibitive (word on the street)


We have been told to expect VAG group vehicles - we are hoping/have asked for the A4/A6 3.0 tdi jobbies

I fully expect that we will get a few Octavia VRS's which will then be packed to the gunnels with our kit and then struggle for performance...

We will see

Why can't an EV be used for TPAC?
- higher initial purchase price?
- less experienced in risks/repair involved?
- have alterative cars to use instead

The range/recharge will continue to be an issue given the duty cycle, but otherwise I can see an EV working well.

[Stedman]

Greendubber said:

Earthdweller said:

dmsims said:

So when the issues became known why not switch to 340i/540i ?

BMW had a teddy throwing moment and pulled out of the market

We have some at the driving school, hire cars and they're absolutely awesome.

Can imagine they’re ace. Mentioned them to my father (retired rat) when they were first released, suggesting they’d surely fit the bill.

[Southerner]

Regarding EVs being used in tactical contact situations etc, I wonder if the risks involved might see a return by necessity of something like the Volvo ‘police chassis’ which they supposedly used to offer, with beefed up battery protection, or perhaps even another look at the US-style method of fitting nudge bars to try and minimise damage? Presumably, one day sooner or later, we’ll have to end up with EVs on RPU work.

[PurpleTurtle]

Volvo has today announced that they are going SUV only in the UK, which will limit choices even further

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/volvo-...

[Stedman]

That’s a shame, the V90 is a lovely car for punters.

[FiF]

Stedman said:

That’s a shame, the V90 is a lovely car for punters.

I think Volvo will regret that, lower profile, better aero, of all the things that will help EV range aero will become ever more important, not big heavy lumps with a large frontal area.

[aeropilot]

FiF said:

Stedman said:

That’s a shame, the V90 is a lovely car for punters.

I think Volvo will regret that, lower profile, better aero, of all the things that will help EV range aero will become ever more important, not big heavy lumps with a large frontal area.

If they were selling, Volvo wouldn't be dropping them though.

If over 70% of Volvo buyers are buying SUV's not saloons or estates, it must be getting to the point where its simply not cost effective to do all the testing and approval for RHD UK for too few buyers.

Ford are pretty much going the same route, as most buyers are buying SUV's.

[P0PC0RN]

dhutch said:

Why can't an EV be used for TPAC?
- higher initial purchase price?
- less experienced in risks/repair involved?
- have alterative cars to use instead

The range/recharge will continue to be an issue given the duty cycle, but otherwise I can see an EV working well.

They are a pain when badly damaged and often just refuse to move when even slightly damaged. The fire brigade hate them due to their ability to start burning and just keep burning.

Cars used to TPAC need to be able to soak up the damage and keep on going - that car might need to take multiple impacts and then still be in a state to stay with and prevent the scrote going contraflow (as is the done thing now).

I go to low speed bumps involving EV's regularly and they end up being dragged onto a flat bed because computer says no...

The biggest issue is the range and inability to quickly recharge in the middle of no-where. We often stop for fuel mid shout or on the odd occasions mid follow/ pursuit.

Im sure there is a future in EV's for RPU use, I just don't think we are ready yet....