BMW specialist sales to police ended after PC death

BMW has stopped supplying police cars to forces across the UK after an inquest heard how a PC was killed in a crash on the M6 following an engine failure in his patrol car.

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, 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.

Carlisle coroner Robert Cohen said that PC Dumphreys, an advanced driver, could not have prevented the accident and recorded a verdict of accidental death.

BMW UK were instructed to advise police using N57 models to upgrade the oil used and to shorten oil change intervals to 10,000 miles.

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, Chief Constable Michelle Skeer of Cumbria Constabulary described Dumphreys as a “committed roads policing officer who loved his job” and was both "popular with and respected by, his colleagues".

“Nick Dumphreys left home to help protect the people of Cumbria. He died responding to an emergency incident,” she said.

“Our thoughts since that day have been with Nick's family, particularly his wife Kat and their children.

“His loss left a hole which will never fully heal.”

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 told the Daily Mail. 

“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.”

The widow of a PC Humphreys welcomed the car maker's decision to stop supplying the vehicle to UK police forces.  

Kathryn Dumphreys, said "finally the correct decision" had been made but added she thought the cars should have been removed from service a long time ago.  

“It is glaringly obvious that these cars were not and in my view are still not fit or safe for UK policing purposes.”

A spokesperson for BMW UK said: “With high demand for our cars continuing to outstrip supply, we will be prioritising sales to our retail and corporate customers in the future and moving away from some areas of our authorities and specialist business.”