No more BMW police cars

[frank horton]

there's always the Chinese option for vehicles........

 

[Keithmac]

there's always the Chinese option for vehicles........

It's already been mentioned, Volvo (Geely) is Chinese..

 

[8ob]

Does anybody know what is actually failing?

Sitting too long at idle keeping plods feet warm, then the same feet smashing the throttle down with all the nerners going to get home at the end of shift.Nothing in an engine is getting the same lube at idle as an engine at a rev.
BMW have had issues with supplying plod with vehicles, there was an issue with the bikes years ago going into a serious wobble,one officer was killed because of it. It was all denied until a camered up pursuit car that was following a bike got footage of this wobble, turns out the problem was unique to plod because of the way the bike was loaded with kit.

Bob

 

[James1979]

Sitting too long at idle keeping plods feet warm, then the same feet smashing the throttle down with all the nerners going to get home at the end of shift.Nothing in an engine is getting the same lube at idle as an engine at a rev.
BMW have had issues with supplying plod with vehicles, there was an issue with the bikes years ago going into a serious wobble,one officer was killed because of it. It was all denied until a camered up pursuit car that was following a bike got footage of this wobble, turns out the problem was unique to plod because of the way the bike was loaded with kit.

Bob

I’ve actually ridden an operational police bike. Just to see. I’ve got a lot of miles under my belt including enduro stuff and that was one of the most difficult things I’ve ridden. When you see how well and accurately they ride them it’s more impressive knowing how ****e they are to handle.

They’re really badly balanced. All high up on the **** and heavy one side.

The Pans had issues with being over the plated weight if I recall.

I rode an FJR and although you sort of sit in it, it was hard work.

 

[Mick Annick]

I’ve actually ridden an operational police bike. Just to see. I’ve got a lot of miles under my belt including enduro stuff and that was one of the most difficult things I’ve ridden. When you see how well and accurately they ride them it’s more impressive knowing how ****e they are to handle.

They’re really badly balanced. All high up on the **** and heavy one side.

The Pans had issues with being over the plated weight if I recall.

I rode an FJR and although you sort of sit in it, it was hard work.

Watched some French motorcycle cops in Paris on Gaztube the other day, they were escorting an ambulance, one was riding no hands, standing up steering by leaning and waving to the traffic to get out of the way!

 

[Robotstar5]

They should support british and get some jags on the fleet, reliability be damned

I thought Jaguar were ending production of ICE engined cars and just building electric in the next year or so.

 

[James1979]

Watched some French motorcycle cops in Paris on Gaztube the other day, they were escorting an ambulance, one was riding no hands, standing up steering by leaning and waving to the traffic to get out of the way!

You’ll get in trouble

SEG in London do that. It’s really impressive. It’s actually easier than it looks. I’ve tried it once on a BMW GS after I saw them do it and it’s the boxer engine that makes it easy. Keep it at constant revs and it’s basically a gyroscope. Not tried it on a single or something. That would be hard I’d think.

People are quick to criticise the police but their motorcyclists are bloody good!

My FIL was always in trouble for dropping the bike on criminals during a chase! They ran away, he’d follow on the bike, get alongside and abandon ship one way and push the bike over the other way straight onto them

 

[Scalarocco]

I thought Jaguar were ending production of ICE engined cars and just building electric in the next year or so.

"I can chase you for 10 minutes, but then I'll need to find a services to charge up..." Yeah, the naughty boys are going to love that one!

 

[premmington]

You’ll get in trouble

SEG in London do that. It’s really impressive. It’s actually easier than it looks. I’ve tried it once on a BMW GS after I saw them do it and it’s the boxer engine that makes it easy. Keep it at constant revs and it’s basically a gyroscope. Not tried it on a single or something. That would be hard I’d think.

People are quick to criticise the police but their motorcyclists are bloody good!

My FIL was always in trouble for dropping the bike on criminals during a chase! They ran away, he’d follow on the bike, get alongside and abandon ship one way and push the bike over the other way straight onto them

You get to RTA in a recovery truck (or a car broken down in an awkward spot) and if there is Police bike in attendance - you are onto a winner.

Motorbike plod will be straight up to your cab window - asking what you need and where you wanna be? Then they just make it happen. Real credit to them.

Get a traffic car and it is hard work - they will fighting you all the while. Directing traffic to where you wanna winch from - getting you boxed in.

At a nasty RTA - Motorbike plod will get you well in front and clear - for rescue to go in behind you.

It is a joy to watch Motorbike plod - set spacing out and access to a bad RTA. They do save lives by doing this - they will have a recovery truck block slip roads to make an "escape route for an ambulance".

Bike plod will close roads - make instant calls about escorting rescue in the wrong way on duel carraigeways (to load over armco). In a way that normal traffic cars won't or can't.

 

[Nomad]

@8ob Police bikes were withdrawn from use by Northumbria many years when one of them suffered a high speed wobble and crashed.
There were several police bikes riding together, some of the other riders experienced wobbles at the same time, some also saw the crash.
From memory they were riding BMW K-series bikes and the rider was killed or very seriously injured (it was maybe 20 years ago and I can't find any details when I search).

Even an old 2006 article mentions the problem wasn't new. https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=88894
Police add a lot of heavy equipment to bike that might explain those problems, no idea why cars can't cope (Germany has Autobahns and 90mph on them feels very slow!)

I would like to see a report with the facts as I can't think what would cause the engine fires above 90mph.

 

[8ob]

@8ob Police bikes were withdrawn from use by Northumbria many years when one of them suffered a high speed wobble and crashed.
There were several police bikes riding together, some of the other riders experienced wobbles at the same time, some also saw the crash.
From memory they were riding BMW K-series bikes and the rider was killed or very seriously injured (it was maybe 20 years ago and I can't find any details when I search).

Even an old 2006 article mentions the problem wasn't new. https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=88894
Police add a lot of heavy equipment to bike that might explain those problems, no idea why cars can't cope (Germany has Autobahns and 90mph on them feels very slow!)

I would like to see a report with the facts as I can't think what would cause the engine fires above 90mph.

That incident or one of them happened at Guildford, the bike went into a wobble at high speed on the A3, sadly the poor rider died and the bike wiped out the barrier, that takes some doing on a bike.

Bob

 

[Brad93]

I cant think of a replacement for the 530 touring that they can use and still be able to carry all the stuff they need like cones etc

skoda vrs

 

[Robotstar5]

I’ve actually ridden an operational police bike. Just to see. I’ve got a lot of miles under my belt including enduro stuff and that was one of the most difficult things I’ve ridden. When you see how well and accurately they ride them it’s more impressive knowing how ****e they are to handle.

They’re really badly balanced. All high up on the **** and heavy one side.

The Pans had issues with being over the plated weight if I recall.

I rode an FJR and although you sort of sit in it, it was hard work.

Not just bikes, when Rover launched the 827 plod bought some and after a few months started getting problems with spot welds breaking on the rear suspension mounts, Rover sent some engineers to have a look and found they were well overloaded with all the kit they were carrying.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

This topic has been raised on the BMW forum to which I subscribe.

Consensus seems to be as @Scalarocco outlines, it's the particular 'user profile ' that's the problem - possibly hours at idle when attending RTAs in order to keep all the blue lights and hazards going etc..

 

[CompoSimmonite]

I’ve actually ridden an operational police bike. Just to see. I’ve got a lot of miles under my belt including enduro stuff and that was one of the most difficult things I’ve ridden. When you see how well and accurately they ride them it’s more impressive knowing how ****e they are to handle.

They’re really badly balanced. All high up on the **** and heavy one side.

The Pans had issues with being over the plated weight if I recall.

I rode an FJR and although you sort of sit in it, it was hard work.

In 1970's, before Panda cars became common, a mate had the use of a Jawa 250, with barn door fairing, for his rural "patch". He said that if you stuffed up kicking it over then sometimes it'd run in reverse which I assume could be interesting when you let out the clutch After he was promoted to sergeant biking gear was no longer needed and I still have his police issue gloves he gave to me

 

[Alan Reynolds]

My neighbour bought an Audi recently and it broke down on the motorway and had to be lifted. Less than 2000 miles on the clock and it needs a complete new engine.but there aren’t any available because they have a fault in them.
So his car will sit at the dealership until such time as a “fault free” engine can be obtained. Gathering dust, getting scratched and depreciating.
Meantime he’s having to pay for it.
I think it would come under the not fit for purpose Lemon umbrella and he should be able to get all his money back.
Anyway, don’t buy an Audi.
All my other neighbours with new cars have had big problems. Tesla, BMW, Audi,Volvo,Toyota, Nissan. Mostly the cars just refuse to go anywhere without notice.
My old tatty 55 plate Corsa that has been scorned by them, is suddenly not so shabby when they urgently need a lift. It starts first time, every time, has a heater and a radio. That’s more than I need. I do smile.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

Wonder if the next generation of police vehicles will be something like the electric Jaguar I-Pace ?

 

[Danez]

I thought Jaguar were ending production of ICE engined cars and just building electric in the next year or so.

hadn’t heard about that, will be gutting if true, I did hear that about lotus i think it was though

 

[Shox Dr]

There's two Police men come up on bikes to the Simmer Dim Rally on Shetland. he was saying the Police dont like bikes as it kills too many riders. They tend to only use them for VIP escorts.

From what I've read some forces are looking at Volvo V90 & XC90 and VW Toureg

Last time I spoke to them they had just been testing Volvos. Sent the lot back after they couldn't get 90miles out of a tank in Pursuit.

Volvo T5R. And 850R were up to the job 20 years ago!

I bought an ex police S60r. It had been fitted with 6 replacement turbos, and the one on it was cracked as well.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

My neighbour bought an Audi recently and it broke down on the motorway and had to be lifted. Less than 2000 miles on the clock and it needs a complete new engine.but there aren’t any available because they have a fault in them.

Friend bought a brand new E reg VW Golf Cabriolet - 1.8 carb model. From day one it had problems and was told that there was a problem with the 1.8 engine and his was affected so it'd be getting a new unit when one was available but in mean time safe to keep driving it. He wasn't happy and kept complaining so in the end left it at the dealership where he told service manager to drive around it it to see how bad it was over a weekend. On the Monday service manager rang to say a new engine would be fitted that week - seems he's used friends car to quickly pick up his Sunday paper and it took hours to get back home due to it keep stopping ! So even back in 1980's VW had a problem with engines. To be fair friend PX's the E reg for another brand new, G reg, Golf Clipper Cabriolet and that was trouble free as was our G reg Golf 1.8 Gl auto.