The new BMW 5 Series line-up was detailed last week, and a diesel won’t be offered in Australia anymore. That’s left at least one police department looking elsewhere.
Victoria Police currently uses 530d Touring wagons for its Highway Patrol unit, and has also used sedans.
Neither of these has a direct replacement locally in Australia within the 2024 5 Series range.
“Victoria Police currently perform policing duties in the BMW 530d wagon and will consider the BMW X3 wagon in the future,” said a spokesperson for Victoria Police to CarExpert.
“We do not currently use the [530d] sedan.”
The 2024 5 Series sedan range will offer a single combustion powertrain locally: a 153kW/330Nm 2.0-litre petrol four-cylinder in the base 520i.
Above it will sit the electric 250kW/430Nm i5 eDrive40 and 442kW/820Nm i5 M60 xDrive. High-output petrol options, plus the single four-cylinder 520d diesel, won’t be offered here.
The Touring has yet to be revealed, though the outgoing model was removed from sale for private buyers as part of a 2021 mid-life update. Facelifted examples, however, were subsequently imported for police use.
Victoria Police could move to the X3 xDrive30d, the closest comparable option to the outgoing 530d.
The 530d has a turbocharged 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel engine that produces 195kW of power and 620Nm of torque.
Although it’s heavier by 62kg, the BMW X3 xDrive30d has the same turbocharged 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel engine with a slightly different tune which produces 195kW of power and 630Nm of torque.
New South Wales Police currently uses the BMW 530d as well, and has yet to confirm what will replace them.
“Traffic and Highway Patrol Command continuously review operational needs and assets used by officers in their daily duties, including vehicles used in the command’s operational strategies,” a spokesperson from NSW Police told CarExpert
“Vehicle testing and suitability assessment checks are conducted in partnership with our Fleet Services Command to ensure that all NSW Police Force vehicles selected for any duties meet the operational requirements and safety needs of officers, through extensive and targeted tests by qualified officers.“
NSW Police has a range of vehicles within its Highway Patrol and General Duty fleet including the BMW 5 Series, a BMW iX (community engagement only), V8-powered Chrysler 300 SRTs, as well as a range of Volkswagens including the Passat and Tiguan.
It’s also unclear what vehicles will be chosen for highway patrol fleets in other states as the Kia Stinger exits production.
Stingers can be found on police fleets in Queensland, Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Tasmania.
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