Issues with Police BMWs

[Fastcar155]

BMW are meant to be fast , reliable and safe cars : so what's going wrong

 

[DaveE320CDI]

Problem lies with the N57 engine 6cyl diesel used in the motorway fast reponse cars, fault with the EGR cooler and plastic inlet manifold melting then catching fire! BMW blaming the Police for leaving them running constantly and regulary hitting three figures, told Police to service them every 5K miles but Police say no too expensive and BMW refuse to warrant the damage. think they are changing to Volvos

 

[roviw1]

My lad is a firearms officer and their force have sent the BMW's back and are using their XC90's, they have another six XC90's coming in March

 

[Gazwould]

Lol , three figures , BMW & Mercs etc are German Autobahn barges .

 

[ChipChop]

Problem lies with the N57 engine 6cyl diesel used in the motorway fast reponse cars, fault with the EGR cooler and plastic inlet manifold melting then catching fire! BMW blaming the Police for leaving them running constantly and regulary hitting three figures, told Police to service them every 5K miles but Police say no too expensive and BMW refuse to warrant the damage. think they are changing to Volvos

I wonder how many euros the bean counters at BMW saved speccing a plastic inlet manifold?

Planned obsolescence seems to be the order of the day at the Bavarian Motor Works. And would sir like his timing chain at the front or the back of the engine?

 

[Jukie]

Problem lies with the N57 engine 6cyl diesel used in the motorway fast reponse cars, fault with the EGR cooler and plastic inlet manifold melting then catching fire! BMW blaming the Police for leaving them running constantly and regulary hitting three figures, told Police to service them every 5K miles but Police say no too expensive and BMW refuse to warrant the damage. think they are changing to Volvos

Probably (almost certainly?) cost my friend and colleague his life two years ago

 

[Gazwould]

 

[SpikyMikey]

Probably (almost certainly?) cost my friend and colleague his life two years ago

 

[bolidemichael]

Probably (almost certainly?) cost my friend and colleague his life two years ago

My friend drives a 5 series amongst others on the fleet and I wouldn't want him subjected to the same fate.

 

[Petrol Pete]

Not sure what changing the service intervals to 5K miles is going to achieve ? It's hardly going to make the intake manifold less flammable

And as for the EGR valve I would of thought that a car that spends most of its time on a motorway and often gets a good kickin' past 100 mph would have a nice clean intake system.

 

[DaveE320CDI]

The problem lies with the EGR valve cooler! it breaks allowing steam into the manifold and melts the plastic allowing gases to ignite causing the fires. Also the EGR valve fault is a regular recall on these engines nearly all have been replaced at some time.

 

[bolidemichael]

That's awful tolerances from a supposedly prestige manufacturer.

 

[Fastcar155]

BMW surely are aware how the UK Police forces operate these cars and the service requirements required to keep them in tip top condition.

Clearly BMW appear to have no sympathy for the families of the Police Officers who died in the line of duty by taking this stance.

 

[Tonygw]

My feelings are that BMW's are best avoided these days. It seems like the bean counters have crossed a line on their products these days. The cheapness applied to critical components is shocking.

All cars have their faults but BMW are going the way Rover did years ago... such a shame

 

[MrGreedy]

Would an ECU remap EGR delete solve this issue?

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

So the nuance here is that "joe Public" isn't going to be driving his car continuously and then doing 100 mph chases?"

It does seem an odd story about a diesel 3 litre which, along with the E class, is heavily used across Europe.

(I'm sure it's true, I just don't know whether it really is unique to the way that Rozzers operate)

 

[DaveE320CDI]

Would an ECU remap EGR delete solve this issue?

Yes it would! but of course the police would not go down that route, it would void BMW warranty as soon it was spotted while servicing.

 

[DaveE320CDI]

So the nuance here is that "joe Public" isn't going to be driving his car continuously and then doing 100 mph chases?"

It does seem an odd story about a diesel 3 litre which, along with the E class, is heavily used across Europe.

(I'm sure it's true, I just don't know whether it really is unique to the way that Rozzers operate)

There have been private fires also Mike, but not widely come to light the reasoning of the fault is BMWs analysis blaming the rozzers operating, and no fault of the cars

 

[tonysmb]

My recollection is that they've been using 530/535 type 3-litre diesels for years (15+?) and I hadn't heard of this sort of thing until recently, so no doubt things have been changed to 'improve emissions' . Clearly not 'fit for purpose' and yet another example how this push for ever-increasing efficiency has unintended consequences.

 

[m80]

Aren't MB doing the same shoulder sloping thing nowadays.

I wonder how much is in response to legislation causing them to redesign and that reducing profits.
How much of the VW emissions scandal was down to this, who's action to disguise the actual figures were emulated by other manufacturers also.
Then they look ahead at the EV revolution and see more of a challenge to profits.

They can't tell legislators to bog off as easily as they can the customer.