BMW police car engine problem does not affect consumers

An engine issue affecting BMW police cars in the UK is not something civilian owners need to be concerned about, the German manufacturer has confirmed.

The statement comes after police forces across the country were told not to engage in high-speed pursuits in patrol cars fitted with BMW N57 engines, which have been used in a wide variety of the brand’s models.

BMW hasn’t revealed the exact nature of the problem, but claims that it’s only an issue for the police due to the way in which forces operate their vehicles and should therefore not be of concern to most consumers.

In its statement, BMW UK said: “The safety of our customers and their vehicles is of utmost importance to BMW. We have been working with the police for some time on a technical matter linked to a small number of special high-performance vehicles.

“This issue is associated with the particular way in which the police operate these high-performance vehicles. This unique usage profile puts extra strain on some components and therefore BMW has specified a special servicing programme for these vehicles.

“There is no need for action on any civilian vehicles. This has been a dynamic and developing situation and we continue to work closely with the police.”

The police are now widely aware of the issue and are taking action in conjunction with BMW. Deputy chief constable Terry Woods is the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s lead on police driving. He commented: “We are aware there may be an issue with some older vehicles in our fleet and we are taking urgent steps to ensure this is addressed, including offering guidance to forces.

“Chiefs are working with the National Association of Police Fleet Managers to examine any risks. Our priority at this time is to ensure the safety and the long-term integrity of the equipment our officers use.”

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