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[alunonhisown]

I think I have found the Omega I want, it is ex Plod, 3.2 on a 51 plate. I would like to upgrade to Leather, are seats available. is it a big job? How much will it cost? will it cost less than £300 to get cambelts changed?
Please Offer advice
Cheers
Diane

[zirk]

Yes, No, budget for about 150 to 250 quid and Yes.

Seats are changable, you will need to get Mini Face or Facelift ones, price will depend if youre after Sports type or Normal.

Reletively easy job (diss battery for an hour first) and dont drop the seats.

Contact members on here for Cambelt, Tensioners (and Water Pump while your there) should be under £300.

Chris 

[nordic]

Having worked for two police forces I would advise caution about the purchase of any ex-police vehicle.

Motor Patrol vehicles are very well cared for. 'Traffic cars' as they are called. They are regularly serviced but do take a hammering.

Any - and I mean 'Any' faults reported with a 'Traffic car' are usually dealt with immediately as the cars are expected to enter pursuits at 155mph.

Some older 'traffic cars' are not auctioned off and used as 'bandit cars' for training purposes. These cars are chased down in training excerses and 'boxed in'. Body damage usually sees them 'written off'.

My forces rejected the omega as too costly to repair and maintain. They also found it difficult to locate the comms kit under the bonnet alongside light packs etc.

Volvo 'Traffic Cars' are now being replaced by BMW's in many forces as BMW UK has offered great discounts.

525 estates and X5 (armed response vehicles).

NEVER! NEVER! Buy an ex-panda car like an Astra! These are thrashed and treat like S**t.

Remember: Police vehicles are exempt from having to undertake an MOT!

You will find police forces undertake their own servicing but they can cut corners. The oil filter on a 3.0 V6 has been known to have never been replaced!

Just take care! There is no such thing as a 'careful police owner'!

Andy

[alunonhisown]

Andy,
       Thanks for the info, having read what you say, I will stay AWAY from this partucular one I seen, and will wait till there is one on OOF for sale
Again many thanks
Diane

[ferrari jason]

Thought id have to jump in and add my 2 cents worth i own a ex plod 3.2 manual the previous owner is a member of this forum. Ive had the car for 14 months or so now and nothing major has gone wrong with it ive fitted leather rear blind etc the only problems you wil find is the state of the interior e.g holes etc plus a large amount of surplus wiring .If you have any doubts you could always get a independent inspection on the vehicle . Personally i would not hesitate about buying another ex pod car

[Shackeng]

Three years ago my son had to buy a car under 'distress' having had his totalled on the M4, we bought a car the same day, a 30,000m Mondeo TDci 155PS. On checking its history found it was ex-police. Somewhat concerned, but this car has been fantastic, with no major problems in the next 30,000 miles!

[Del Boy]

I had a 3.0 ex plod Omega, it ran for 5 years without a single issue 

Have had loads loads more ex plod motors too, they have been more reliable than anything else.

[Elite Pete]

Hi Diane,

If buying an ex police car I would start by getting the dash and centre console sorted first, these normally have lots of holes in the where all the extra police equipment has been. You will pay a little bit more for facelift leather seats than you will for mini facelift leather but both will. I don't know if JamesV6CDX still has his offer on but he was doing a cambelt kit change for about £175 which is very cheap