No more BMW police cars

[bigegg]

The unusual high % of similar private cars could also have something to do with the availability of trained mechanics and spare parts.

I had an "internet friend" on another forum.
Plod speedy.
He absolutely loathed the BMWs.
They broke down so often they were having to borrow vehicles from other operational areas just to maintain presence.
He reckoned that out of the seven they had in fleet, there should have been 3 on the road and 4 "in reserve".
They had *one*, with 6 being repaired or "awaiting replacement"


Mind you: the vauxhall astra panda cars were worse: the joyriders used to ram them and write them off - every night.
He said "that stopped overnight when we switched to Volvo's"

 

[Matrixx]

no words needed .

 

[daleyd]

View attachment 381364
no words needed .

Novel idea, bore the crims into stopping ?

 

[Matrixx]

Novel idea, bore the crims into stopping ?

Its the 5.0L 420HP F hardly boring , same as the one I own.

 

[daleyd]

Its the 420HP F hardly boring , same and the one I own.

It was a cheap shot at a stereotype, too good to miss

 

[dobbslc]

View attachment 381364
no words needed .

A beauty.
Put this alongside and we're in business!

 

[Bobupndown]

Usually offer a discount to police employees but they still shift loads to officers and staff

Go into any Nick car park and you’ll mostly see the same makes and models as the work ones. I used to say it’s because they’ve no imagination But I suppose if you spend 12 hours sat in an X5 then you’ll either grow to love it or loathe it.

What better way to sell a car than the worlds longest test drive!

No police employee reductions for cars unfortunately.

 

[Nomad]

They are still dining out a reputation from 40 years ago where German meant solid/reliable. The same can be said about Jap stuff, most people have the impression you can buy a Japanese car, never service it and it will do 5 million miles with no issues.

People always talked about how bomb proof/reliable Beetles were, I've always liked them but most of them would drop a valve usually on cylinder 3 at some point yet people seem to think they will do 250K miles

Good points well made.

I had a BMW 325i & a 328i from the early 90's and they worked well for me ( apart from the saloon bodystyle / lack of load space but I knew that when I bought them), sold due to rust becoming a problem. I'd happily buy another but it would have to be a Touring / estate for the practicality.

When some cash came my way I "upgraded" to a 2007 BMW 325i . It's the only car that's left me stranded in 20+ years and it did it twice (starter motor with no warning, and main wiring loom fault at the fusebox - I got a factory recall notice about that a year later !). Every time the self diagnostics come up with a "No faults found" message at startup I took a photo to celebrate - I had the car 3 years and only got 3 photos I paid good money for it and sold it - still mot'd - for scrap as my conscience wouldn't let me sell it as a working used car. It was a lovely colour though.

 

[James1979]

No police employee reductions for cars unfortunately.

Sucks to be you!

We used to get fliers about all the time. Maybe it’s the force and what deal they’ve done? I think it was to do with finance - you got better terms on that not on the actual vehicle but there was a preferential deal in there somehow.

They do the same for NHS staff.

 

[James1979]

I had an "internet friend" on another forum.
Plod speedy.
He absolutely loathed the BMWs.
They broke down so often they were having to borrow vehicles from other operational areas just to maintain presence.
He reckoned that out of the seven they had in fleet, there should have been 3 on the road and 4 "in reserve".
They had *one*, with 6 being repaired or "awaiting replacement"


Mind you: the vauxhall astra panda cars were worse: the joyriders used to ram them and write them off - every night.
He said "that stopped overnight when we switched to Volvo's"

That’s about right. I think I counted one working out of 6 or 7 one night.

There was a standing order at one station not to turn any cars off during a shift. The batteries were all knackered and they wouldn’t start again. They needed to be jumped every time.

 

[dobbslc]

Mate just told me the police stations he's worked in they would leave them running all day in the carpark.
WTF We're not in Alaska!

 

[Robotstar5]

There was a standing order at one station not to turn any cars off during a shift. The batteries were all knackered and they wouldn’t start again. They needed to be jumped every time.

I wonder if there's a fight for the keys to the "bond" car at the start of shift one I spotted while visiting Mrs Robo in QEH Birmingham.

 

[James1979]

I wonder if there's a fight for the keys to the "bond" car at the start of shift one I spotted while visiting Mrs Robo in QEH Birmingham.

View attachment 381385

No but there was a cake fine for anyone turning it off!!

Mainly because that meant recovery. Which meant paperwork

 

[slim_boy_fat]

20 year old Lexus with 250,000 miles on it, here.

Itll probably outlive my kids..

Which model?

View attachment 381364
no words needed .

IS250? Are these as reliable as a marque as their reputation would have us believe? Been thinking one could be the replacement for the e60 if the time comes.

 

[bigegg]

Which model?


IS250? Are these as reliable as a marque as their reputation would have us believe? Been thinking one could be the replacement for the e60 if the time comes.

Mine is a is300 sportcross - the only estate car (as opposed to SUV) they've ever made.

And yes: they are *at least* as reliable as their reputation.
I say "at least" because most of the "reputation setters" seem to stop rating them after 10 or 15 years. Whereas the Lexus just keeps plodding on.

And don't believe the "boring" reputation.
A saw a stock LS400 achieve a better ¼ mile time than my ex-plod ARU 3.0 omega
And my IS300 is fantastic for the tiny little roads around the sales.
I don't know how it fairs against "boy racers" but I have to be careful setting off from the lights.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Mine is a is300 sportcross - the only estate car (as opposed to SUV) they've ever made.

And yes: they are *at least* as reliable as their reputation.
I say "at least" because most of the "reputation setters" seem to stop rating them after 10 or 15 years. Whereas the Lexus just keeps plodding on.

And don't believe the "boring" reputation.
A saw a stock LS400 achieve a better ¼ mile time than my ex-plod ARU 3.0 omega
And my IS300 is fantastic for the tiny little roads around the sales.
I don't know how it fairs against "boy racers" but I have to be careful setting off from the lights.

Thanks, I appreciate the info. I've been grazing the sales listings (as you do, 'just looking') and quite fancy the look of the early GS250s. I'm past the 'boy racer' stage and look more for 'wafting' comfort now - although a bit of 'spirited' progress occasionally is good. For all the miles I cover annually now, I'm sure running costs for fuel and maintenance wouldn't be any more than the beemer?

 

[Matrixx]

Which model?


IS250? Are these as reliable as a marque as their reputation would have us believe? Been thinking one could be the replacement for the e60 if the time comes.

The picture was of the ISF 5.0L V8, Hull had one for a while. 0-60 in 4.6s. I also had a GS450 0-60 in 5s and it's a hybrid, also had a GS300, and a LS430.

The only problem with them is your tools go rusty.

 

[stuvy]

Mine is a is300 sportcross - the only estate car (as opposed to SUV) they've ever made.

And yes: they are *at least* as reliable as their reputation.
I say "at least" because most of the "reputation setters" seem to stop rating them after 10 or 15 years. Whereas the Lexus just keeps plodding on.

And don't believe the "boring" reputation.
A saw a stock LS400 achieve a better ¼ mile time than my ex-plod ARU 3.0 omega
And my IS300 is fantastic for the tiny little roads around the sales.
I don't know how it fairs against "boy racers" but I have to be careful setting off from the lights.

Is yours the one with the arrow boot opening due to the rear lights?

 

[dobbslc]

Thanks, I appreciate the info. I've been grazing the sales listings (as you do, 'just looking') and quite fancy the look of the early GS250s. I'm past the 'boy racer' stage and look more for 'wafting' comfort now - although a bit of 'spirited' progress occasionally is good. For all the miles I cover annually now, I'm sure running costs for fuel and maintenance wouldn't be any more than the beemer?

Don't forget that Lexus and Toyota are offering a warranty on all of their cars if serviced by them if they are less than 10 years old and under 100k miles.
That's even if it's not had a full dealer service history.
I doubt BMW or Audi would dare to do that on their latest disposable ****e!

 

[bigegg]

Is yours the one with the arrow boot opening due to the rear lights?

Yes.
But not really noticeably