Ex Emergency Services Cars

[chefshoes]

so
seems former emergency services cars don't have an MOT!

no wonder mine was knackered and if one you bought was fine you were lucky!

the info came from an active copper too.. he's equally perplexed but told me to avoid ex cop cars! except unmarked ones which are maintained

[Simmy]

when i bought an ex traffic 850 t5 it came with a full maintenance record from hampshire police but no indication of mot s

[chefshoes]

mad innit

[S60D5-185]

Originally Posted by chefshoes

mad innit

No, not at all, they are classed as Crown Vehicles

They see far more regular maintenance than an average car so therefore the MOT is not required.

[Tannaton]

There are a few people on here with ex-authority vehicles, and generally they're very happy. From memory, most of the issues tend to arise from clumsy de-commissioning and the dashboards being modified for extra radios, switches and computer terminals.

They're not skimped on at all, they're maintained in-house and by local dealers. A bodyshop local to me used to have a contract with Humberside Police and they maintained a stock of V70 bumpers, bonnets, lights wings etc. painted in white so they could get cars back on the road a.s.a.p.

Other issues are non standard parts, Volvo has a services vehicle division and most of them are supplied with bigger brakes, batteries, alternators and extra wiring for conversion. But go to the dealer with your VIN number and you'll always get the right part.

I believe the Humberside traffic cars used to have a safety check every 6 weeks that was equivalent to a MOT.

[olliecampbell]

I've got an ex-fire brigade BMW 5 series.

Clumsy is definitely the word, otherwise in good nick.

[Whippy]

Maintenance is generally very good, however I have witnessed patrol cars being cleaned using a hose and what looked like a yard broom which wouldn't do the finish much good.

[baggy798]

Often ragged straight from cold..😬

[S60D5-185]

Originally Posted by baggy798

Often ragged straight from cold..😬

Sometimes they have to be if a job comes in straight away.

[green van man]

Emergency vehicles are either doing 30mph or 130mph. Maintenance is only as good as the person doing it.
I worked for a utility company. Vehicles inspected every 6 or 13 weeks dependant on weight, annual oil change, with whatever was in the drum in the corner. 1 drum served all vehicles.
Cars kept 3 years, small vans 5 bigger vans 7 specialist vehicles, hiab, cherry pickers etc 10.
Some drivers checked oil levels, others did not, all signed daily defect sheets.
More than one engine sized through lack of oil and covered up by draining another engine so used oil in seized engine at correct level, new oil put into the drained engine. Some sound drivers, others utter idiots. There were some I would not ride with.

It’s the risk you take with any second hand vehicle, but fleet vehicles are more prone to having been abused than privately owned ones.
I mean, how does one learn clutch less gear changes, both up and down the box. There was a standing competition in most depots, get it rolling in 1st then up to top and back to 1st without the clutch. Who knows how many synchro cones and gear teeth were chipped, or how many miles were knocked of gearbox life.


Regards Paul.