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[Sixstring]

There appears to be quite a few ex-cop cars on the forum, and they appear to be in the main, a good buy because of the servicing and bodywork care the police give them. What I would like to know is:
Do the police "mod" them in any way performance wise, and if so, what do they do to them?
Are the alternators any bigger in capacity, and is it a good changeover for a 3.0 elite V6?
Are the brakes any bigger?
Is the suspension any different?
On the MV6, some have a LSD, is that a good thing to fit on an elite 3.0 estate?

cheers All!!!

Mike.

[tunnie]

its somewhat a myth that the police service their cars well, often its done in a rush and to a budget, and some forces do some brutal work to fix them.

Spec wise, the have a different ratio diff, to aid 0-60 but at expense of top end, stronger springs to cop with gear in the back, and bigger alternator to power all the gear.

Thats about it!

[Sixstring]

its somewhat a myth that the police service their cars well, often its done in a rush and to a budget, and some forces do some brutal work to fix them.

Spec wise, the have a different ratio diff, to aid 0-60 but at expense of top end, stronger springs to cop with gear in the back, and bigger alternator to power all the gear.

Thats about it!

Right!! better talk to SimonOmegawassisname and see if he has one!!

Cheers, Tunnie

[2woody]

its somewhat a myth that the police service their cars well, often its done in a rush and to a budget, and some forces do some brutal work to fix them.

Spec wise, the have a different ratio diff, to aid 0-60 but at expense of top end, stronger springs to cop with gear in the back, and bigger alternator to power all the gear.

Thats about it!

I'll go with that.

I've had four ex-plod cars now, and the quality of work has varied from "shocking" to "downright unsafe". How about live 55-Amp power cables just coiled up and pushed under the carpet ?

[henryd]

I used to do a lot of work on ex plod cars and the standard of there add on wiring was "questionable" to say the least

[tunnie]

its somewhat a myth that the police service their cars well, often its done in a rush and to a budget, and some forces do some brutal work to fix them.

Spec wise, the have a different ratio diff, to aid 0-60 but at expense of top end, stronger springs to cop with gear in the back, and bigger alternator to power all the gear.

Thats about it!

I'll go with that.

I've had four ex-plod cars now, and the quality of work has varied from "shocking" to "downright unsafe". How about live 55-Amp power cables just coiled up and pushed under the carpet ?

Sounds like a tunnie style bodge to me 

[Sixstring]

PMSL.......I just got rid of a Ford Explorer ex-cop car, and rewired most of the dash to work myself, and they left loads of uninsulated cables under the rear seat, as well as bullet cases and handcuff keys, and even someones glasses!!!

LOVE the met....................

[Broomies Mate]

Mike, is your Alternator still not performing correctly?  If so, I have one here (120Amp) you can try if you want.

When it was on the car, it was charging at 14.4v on idle with all electrical items switched on.

Cheers. 

[Ploppy]

It depends which force area the car came from.

Some forces really look after there cars ...others just rag them.

I was lucky... saw mine from new at work....  who drove it ...  and was always deep cleaned at least one day during each week... thats why I just had to buy it when it was sent on its way.

Most police fleet managers will give you the print out of the police vehicles service history ... should you be the owner .

Hope that helps a little...

Ploppy
 8-) 8-)

[edwardmickey]

These cars are uaually thrashed to death if they're patrol cars.  They're always serviced on time - exactly as per manufacturer's guidelines.  But, as everywhere, there are good mechanics and not so good!
The specification of the ex-plod are very low, not comparible with the elite spec....

[hotel21]

Specification generally is 'poverty' spec with manual rear wind windows and minimal internal goodies that you would get on other than a GLS spec.  Fabic seat trim.  Calibrated speedo (IRS Nottingham)

Uprated alternator and battery to cope with increased load.

Heavier duty exhaust downpipes fitted (check the TC book for replacement cost to OE spec!!)

Sometimes with LSD rear.

Sometimes with different gearbox/diff gearing for increased off the mark response, at loss of top end.

More wiring installed from the factory to cope with roofbars and other internal mods.

MV6 suspension, brakes and running gear.

Engine mapping very seldom changed from standard MV6.

Steel wheels, most times, rather than alloys to be more robust.

Fitting/removal of radio, lights and other gubbins can vary from rough to quite fine, depending on Tech tasked with the in/out job.

Holes on the roof where wiring to lightbars, tracker, spotlight, camera's etc went.

Generally serviced/oil changed every 3-4 thou miles (that could be weekly/every 10 days or so, depending on use!)

Eng Techs could easily have cut corners/steel/plastic to allow quicker turnaround when in the w/shop.  They are on bonus, after all!

Goodyear tyres at each corner when in service.

Cars likely to have been driven most times within the speed limits, interspersed with times of outright lunacy, sometimes with a gentle hand/foot at the controls, sometimes not.  Sometimes, that lunacy starts at delivery mileage plus a handfull of yards....

Housing estates, kerbs, fields and motorways can offer a similar challenge, dependant on the pilot....

All said, can be a good buy as long as you are aware of what you are buying.

Would I purchase one?  Probably not, TBH!   

[feeutfo]

 Bargain!      
Search Results       
Search results 2matches found for Exhausts + Exhaust front pipes
Omega       Part Number       Retail Price       Normal Trade       Trade Club
Exhaust front pipes
3.2 (police) RH                                       13125592       £749.00       £674.55       £600.05
 
3.2 (police) LH                                       13125593       £749.00       £674.55       £600.05

[Andy B]

Bargain!      
Search Results       
Search results 2matches found for Exhausts + Exhaust front pipes
Omega       Part Number       Retail Price       Normal Trade       Trade Club
Exhaust front pipes
3.2 (police) RH                                       13125592       £749.00       £674.55       £600.05
 
3.2 (police) LH                                       13125593       £749.00       £674.55       £600.05
 

One of each please Chris ..... just incase I ever buy one!   

[2woody]

I like them because :-

a. they're cheap
b. they don't have toys ( can't see the point of any driver aids - i want to drive, not have it done for me )
c. cos it's nice to be able to get another car away from the Police

[Sixstring]

thankyou for all your kind responses, I am considering buying an ex-cop 3.2 estate on a facelift in BLUE......big miles (171k) but appears in good nick, and not buggered around with. Told it was a ARV, rather than motorway, no holes in the roof, radio/cd still in, just had radio fitted in glove box, and steel "safe" in the rear area and cloth seats.
For the age/mileage, £1800 on a 02 plate seems ok-ish, the only thing putting me off is its manual, and being an ARV means balls-out speed everywhere from cold, all the time, etc. could of had a really hard life there!
The bloke selling is cagey about faults, just said he knows nowt about cars, seems ok .

don't want to get rid of my nice sorted comfortable auto 1999 elite estate and buy a much newer DOG that needs loads of work.