British Police Vehicles

[philippek]

Watching CNN this morning I couldn't help but notice how many BMWs are in Scotland Yard's fleet. I've seen a half dozen or so E39 sedans and tourings, and this morning an X5 (in what appeared to be LeMans Blue) being used by their bomb squad as their personnel transporter.

Are BMWs commonly used as cop cars over there or is it just for their senior personnel and special operations?

[kd2789mo]

http://www.mywebexpress.com/images/UK/UK7%2016.jpg
http://www.mywebexpress.com/images/UK/UK7%2019.jpg

[Patrick]

I have been to the UK a few times, and saw E39 police cars regularly on the roads.

The one that I saw up close was a 530d.


.

[Salvator]

http://www.mywebexpress.com/images/UK/UK7%2016.jpg
http://www.mywebexpress.com/images/UK/UK7%2019.jpgThat is a :bigpimp: paint job! Just needs a set of bleachers on the back... :lmao:

[Andrew*Debbie]

Are BMWs commonly used as cop cars over there or is it just for their senior personnel and special operations?


We were recently in London.

Most of the cars police cars I saw were Vauxhall sedans. I also saw some smaller economy cars. Maybe Ford Fiestas. I did see a small number of 5 series BMWs. I also saw some vans.

I'd guess the BMWs are reserved for special uses.
I'd also expect the police to have all sorts of unmarked cars.


Debbie got a chance to see far more than I did as she was about a block away from the first bus bomb, but I don't think she was paying much attention to make or model.

[99flhr]

I have been to the UK a few times, and saw E39 police cars regularly on the roads.

The one that I saw up close was a 530d.


.

Hope your "up close" view wasn`t from the back seat of the cruiser :rofl:

[Patrick]

Hope your "up close" view wasn`t from the back seat of the cruiser :rofl:

Uh, no. I was a passenger in a Ford. I cannot drive a RHD vehicle, unless it is in an empty parking lot the size several football fields. :eek:


.

[Scott ZHP]

That is a :bigpimp: paint job!
Yours for a phone call :D

[Salvator]

Yours for a phone call :DSchweet! Somehow, though, I think my local constabulatory would take issue with it... :eeps:

[MG67]

Two dutch Porsche's and a German...

[iove75]

Just because it's a BMW doesn't mean it's a luxury performance car. BMW manufactures vehicles for the domestic european market, and puts out a luxury performance package much like Ford/Lincoln, GM/Cadillar, etc. (and before I get flamed, NO! I do not believe BMWs are in the same league as Ford/GM...) I've seen a debadged BMW with cloth seats and manual windows which was wierd to me.

[Andrew*Debbie]

I've seen a debadged BMW with cloth seats and manual windows which was wierd to me.

Didn't want you to know he was driving a 520.


Take away the power windows, leather seats and BMW Assist and an e39 530i is still in a different league than a Crown Victoria PI or a Vauxhall.

[BMWenthusiast]

i wish they had BMW police cars here :(

[FenPhen]

i wish they had BMW police cars here :(I wish my car had a lightbar and siren. :(








:angel:

[iove75]

Didn't want you to know he was driving a 520.


If he was trying to pull me over in a 520, good luck trying to catch me. Just kidding! :rofl:

Take away the power windows, leather seats and BMW Assist and an e39 530i is still in a different league than a Crown Victoria PI or a Vauxhall.

And that's exactly what I said. My point is that a BMW in Europe is not necessarily the same BMW in the US. European spec BMW (that are non-luxury) may have different (read cheaper) suspensions, windshield, engines, etc.

Also, I do want to point out a Crown Vic PI has a stronger chasis and beefed up suspension well suited for police work and high speed chases, but not something I would want to drive every day. Now a 750LI police cruiser, that's the ticket! :thumbup:

[tierfreund]

If he was trying to pull me over in a 520, good luck trying to catch me. Just kidding! :rofl:



And that's exactly what I said. My point is that a BMW in Europe is not necessarily the same BMW in the US. European spec BMW (that are non-luxury) may have different (read cheaper) suspensions, windshield, engines, etc.

Also, I do want to point out a Crown Vic PI has a stronger chasis and beefed up suspension well suited for police work and high speed chases, but not something I would want to drive every day. Now a 750LI police cruiser, that's the ticket! :thumbup:

suspension - no
windshield - no
engine - yes, optional
brakes - depends on engine
equipment - yes, optional

but then sometimes, Euro spec is actually better than US spec. Remember the E36 M3. The US version was actually a beefed up 328 while Euro spec was a true M

[FenPhen]

My point is that a BMW in Europe is not necessarily the same BMW in the US. European spec BMW (that are non-luxury) may have different (read cheaper) suspensions, windshield, engines, etc.

Also, I do want to point out a Crown Vic PI has a stronger chasis and beefed up suspension well suited for police work and high speed chases, but not something I would want to drive every day. Now a 750LI police cruiser, that's the ticket! :thumbup:The engine has the option of being smaller, and sure you can strip out all the luxury in the interior, but the rest of the car is still a BMW chassis and suspension. A BMW doesn't need to be beefed up for high-speed pursuit; it's designed for life on the autobahn and stability at high speeds. Even then, the size of the engine depends on the department. Berlin seems to use a lot of E39 540iT vehicles (based on the wheels anyway).

Also, in every picture of a BMW police vehicle I've seen, BMW interceptors don't come with the external equipment typical of American police cruisers: specifically serious bumper hardware. I don't think international police forces are as aggressive with using their vehicles to physically contact another vehicle (PIT maneuver, etc.), but who knows if BMW doesn't strengthen the chassis for police work? They are certainly capable of making Security versions of the 3 and 7, so it's not like they lack the capability.

[wingspan]

Well, Andy or LT will I suspect be along in a bit to provide the correct answer, but I too was struck by seeing the blue X5 in the video from London.

Dunno if I'd say bimmers were preferred vehicles in most police dutes I've seen (5 years living there, 5 years communiting to Hampshire/W Sussex area from Orlando.)

Typically in the South anyway for light traffic duties one sees Ford Focus or similar, Vauxhall Corsa.

For Motorway or A road duties one sees Volvos, BMWs, Vauxhalls, larger Fords and the occasional MGZ. Not unusual at all to see an estate (station wagon) being used for patrol duties, as they would carry a lot more of the clag that the police have to carry around (IIRC there was a good article in CAR a while back of an evaluation of new estates for and by Police work and there was a summary of the gear they had to carry.

Andy? LT?

[Andrew*Debbie]

I too was struck by seeing the blue X5 in the video from London.
...
Andy? LT?

I'll wager that X5 belongs to Special Branch.


Google shed some light on the e39s:

http://www.carpages.co.uk/bmw/bmw_metropolitan_police_gain_new_recruits_18_06_01 .asp

Not much help on the X5 though.

[Andrew*Debbie]

Also, I do want to point out a Crown Vic PI has a stronger chasis and beefed up suspension well suited for police work and high speed chases, but not something I would want to drive every day.


I've driven a 2003 Crown Vic. Ford has improved the handling. Best I can is it wasn't terrible. A 530 would be a better choice for pursuit. About the only thing the Ford would be better at is pushing cars.

[iove75]

suspension - no
windshield - no
engine - yes, optional
brakes - depends on engine
equipment - yes, optional

but then sometimes, Euro spec is actually better than US spec. Remember the E36 M3. The US version was actually a beefed up 328 while Euro spec was a true M


Actually, BMW plant manager told me that glass and windshield is a different spec and doesn't meet DOT requirements. SAme story with the bumper. That's why my import scheme wouldn't be legal! :mad:

[stelesque]

I'm originally from England so can confidently say that the various police forces have a great variety of different vehicles which are used in particular circumstances - more than for a certain rank of staff.

The motorway police tend to drive vehicles like the 5 series, Vauxhall Omega (which was Cadillac Catera over here) and even Range Rovers and X5s. I think some areas even have used WRXs in the past... Motorways in England have a speed limit of 70MPH but typically the standard is about 80MPH so you need a fairly pushy engine to catch up with someone. The Range Rovers are used for attending accidents as they have the room to carry cones and all the other paraphenalia.

In the citys the police use little cars like Ford Fiestas (the Fiat Panda was an enduring icon for police transportation years ago) and are backed up by the larger vehicles or vans.

As someone else mentioned, the UK police forces really don't use their vehicles in the same manner as US police cruisers are utilized, so they aren't looking for the same criteria. Makes it a lot harder to avoid those unmarked cars on the highway when they could be in any make or model.... :rolleyes:

Hope that made sense, please note that my examples may be dated - it's been 5 years since I moved to the US and the UK Police Constabularys became a distant threat... :D

[andy_thomas]

Well, Andy or LT will I suspect be along in a bit to provide the correct answer, but I too was struck by seeing the blue X5 in the video from London.

Hello all :)

Yup, the Metropolitan Police and various SO (Special Operations) divisions of the Met use lots of E39 530ds, 4-doors and tourings. Royal Protection and Parks Police use Imola Red 530d 4-doors. They've been in service for a couple of years now, and sport legendary depths of ingrained brake dust. They are not the same as the 530ds sold to the general public, mainly in the area of trim (they are fairly basic, whereas the 530d, being an upscale kind of 5er, comes standard with lots of kit). They do have uprated suspension, though: SA100 - increased payload, and SA226 - sports suspension.

That X5 looked to be a vehicle belonging to one of the lesser-known, newer SOs which deals with terrorism. There are lots of rumours around that this is a Met/SAS thing.

It is a myth that BMWs are built more cheaply for the European markets than the US markets. I think this comes from the models which are chosen for sale in the US, which invariably have bigger engines and more luxury bits. IIRC the E39 diesels were chosen because they are strong, competitively reliable and handle much better at high speeds than anything else (go figure).

Plenty of other forces use BMWs, including Hampshire (X3, 330dT) and South Manchester, which I think uses unmarked 330is to lure boy racers. Works very well, too!

[andy_thomas]

Actually, BMW plant manager told me that glass and windshield is a different spec and doesn't meet DOT requirements. SAme story with the bumper. That's why my import scheme wouldn't be legal! :mad:
I see what you mean. There are some differences entirely to do with meeting requirements of various markets, and the US cars have (for example) different airbags and interior structural layouts. Traditionally there have been differences in the bumpers too, but the differences are disappearing.

It's extremely unlikely DOT glass would be different/more expensive to E-code glass, since there is no difference in construction or use. I suspect your plant manager may have been skiiing "off-piste" - there is no difference in the part numbers for the windscreens for the small handful of typical modern BMWs I just looked up.

[tierfreund]

Actually, BMW plant manager told me that glass and windshield is a different spec and doesn't meet DOT requirements. SAme story with the bumper. That's why my import scheme wouldn't be legal! :mad:

Didn´t know that. Thanks for the correction

[david173]

E39's are standard issue Area cars now in London's metropolitan police, in marked form, in addition to the smaller vehicles used. They are also popular in the Traffic Police (530d's) all over the U.K. both in marked and unmarked form, and they are now also using new E60's. UK Traffic Police/Motorway Patrols also use marked and unmarked high powered Mercedes C-Class, Range Rovers, Jaguar's and Volvo V70's.

[SteveinBelAir]

My mother lives in Cumbria. Her neighbor is a cop and patrols the M6. For years the Cumbrian Police have used V70 T5s. Took a ride in one once and was impressed enough to buy one. Now I've had 5 Volvos.

I have seen the light though :)

[ObD]

Remember the E36 M3. The US version was actually a beefed up 328 while Euro spec was a true M

: popcorn: :rofl:


I'm glad you said that ... though you might be called a heretic by some around here. ;)

[//: Freddy B_]

man oh man..go to google and search BMW Police...and hit images. all kinds of good stuff!

[3s-a-charm]

In Aspen, Colorado, they use SAAB Police Cars... I took a photo once but it's waaaaay back in my archives.