Police fleets still using ‘faulty’ BMWs three years after PC’s death

Despite a PC being killed in a crash on the M6 following an engine failure in his BMW patrol car, 32 of England's 39 police forces are still using vehicles with the same engine.

PC Nick Dumphreys, died while responding to an emergency call on the motorway in Cumbria on January 26, 2020.

An inquest into his death, held in December 2022, heard that his BMW patrol car had a fault which had previously affected other police vehicles.

PC Dumphreys, who had worked for Cumbria Police since 2003, was driving a BMW when its N57 engine suffered “catastrophic failure” causing an oil leak prior to the crash. 

The inquest heard there had been similar incidents involving police cars with the same type of engine in the years prior to his death.

Faults had been identified with the N57 diesel engine associated to the high mileage and long periods of engine idling followed by sharp acceleration which were confined to police vehicles.

BMW stopped supplying police cars to forces across the UK following the inquest. 

A freedom of information (FOI) request sent by the BBC, which revealed that the vast majority of police forces in England were still operating vehicles with the faulty engine, however, was not able to determine exactly how many vehicles were being used.

Only four forces gave specific numbers, with them admitting 63 vehicles were still in service.

Another four forces - one being Cumbria - said they had stopped using them.

The N57 diesel engine features in a number of BMW police vehicles, including the 330d, 530d and X5.

BMW has said the problem with the N57 engine was down to the "particular way" police use the vehicles and that there was "no need for action on any civilian vehicles".

Following the inquest of PC Dumphreys, National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) lead on police driving, Deputy Chief Constable Terry Woods, explained it had introduced an “end-of-life programme” for the affected BMWs.

“Vehicles that have been assessed as at risk and unsuitable for police use have been removed from service and their engine made unusable prior to disposal,” he said at the time. 

“Any remaining usable BMWs with the engine type identified are subject to rigorous monitoring.

“Our priority is to ensure the safety and the long-term integrity of the equipment our officers use.”