[Elmiller]

I am considering a Mclaren to use at the track and want to learn more about your experience with the pre/post track inspections to keep the warranty. I am leaning towards a 720s (love styling and power) but also considering the 600LT which is know is more track focused. I would plan to buy the extended warranty but I am annoyed by the fact that you have to do pre/post inspections (feel like I am asking them for permission to use my car). I would probably do 6-8 track days a year and concerned with the waste of time and cost involved to do the inspections. Thanks in advance

 

[invisiblewave]

Yeah, it's a major pain in the ass. Mine is going for the pre tomorrow, my dealer charges $800. It's not just the cost either, it's the inconvenience. I'm due for a service, so the post will be done at the same time but I doubt I'll be able to negotiate any sort of deal.

Having said that, there are some upsides. The first one I had found worn control arm bushings and a leaking rear main seal, both of which were fixed under the warranty.

I suspect this will be the last year, or next to last year, that I keep the warranty, and the track inspection requirement is the major reason I'm likely to drop it.

 

[invisiblewave]

If you're buying a car specifically for the track, you'll need deep pockets if it's a McLaren. Tires, brake pads, warranty inspections, insurance, it's not a cheap proposition. If you're planning to do that many, you might also want to look at more cost effective brake options, especially if you're driving high speed circuits.

 

[Elmiller]

Thanks - that's what I thought...major pain for the inspections and expensive to track. I also read about the very high costs for stock brakes so would likely swap with an aftermarket option. Would this may be a problem with the mclaren warranty even for unrelated components? (eg "your control arms failed because you used aftermarket brakes..")

 

[invisiblewave]

Thanks - that's what I thought...major pain for the inspections and expensive to track. I also read about the very high costs for stock brakes so would likely swap with an aftermarket option. Would this may be a problem with the mclaren warranty even for unrelated components? (eg "your control arms failed because you used aftermarket brakes..")

Yes, if you change brake components, it will likely invalidate any parts of the warranty related to brakes (which probably isn't much, so I wouldn't necessarily worry about it). The problem, of course, is that if you own a McLaren, why the fuck would you want to drive anything else, especially on track?? 😂 The group I track with don't seem to understand why I have zero interest in driving a MX5 or BRZ on track..... One option with the brakes, depending on which model you buy, is to use the GM rotors and swap the hats over, but I don't think you can do that with the 600 or 720. 720 will be more expensive to maintain than a Sport series car, a 570S isn't a bad track option if cost is a consideration.

 

[sblvro]

What if you just drive it on the tracks and bring it for service when the time comes? I think the pre and post track inspection will flag your car that it’s been to the track?

 

[mzivtins]

Steel brakes are better for the track in many ways and the 12c came with steel brakes as standard. If you are going for a track car then ignore the warranty

If you go for a dedicated track car, forget warranty, you can buy a 570s gt4 car for the same money or less than a 720s roadcar, and that gt4 car will be so much faster and is built to eat the track... just no road driving

 

[Rocket]

A couple of points:

You do not require an inspection by a McLaren dealership as any reputable garage can inspect against McLarens track day checklist. I have them as pdf’s but don’t seem to be able to post them here.

McLaren can not enforce who does the inspection so long as it is done correctly. In UK usually £150 -£250 for both pre and post.

2nd point is brakes which do not as reported on this site many times, like hard use.

Personally I do not like the Steel options as adds extra rotating weight, for me the Surface Transform CCB is better especially if aligned with Endless Pads, also extra set of track wheels and tyres is a good long term investment

 

[invisiblewave]

A couple of points:

You do not require an inspection by a McLaren dealership as any reputable garage can inspect against McLarens track day checklist. I have them as pdf’s but don’t seem to be able to post them here.

McLaren can not enforce who does the inspection so long as it is done correctly. In UK usually £150 -£250 for both pre and post.

2nd point is brakes which do not as reported on this site many times, like hard use.

Personally I do not like the Steel options as adds extra rotating weight, for me the Surface Transform CCB is better especially if aligned with Endless Pads, also extra set of track wheels and tyres is a good long term investment

The independent inspection is fine in theory, but if they decline a warranty claim you then have to resort to legal action.

Interestingly, McLaren themselves use CCBs on their track demo cars. The critical thing seems to be to not let them overheat and break down the silicon carbide surface. They don't even bother to do cool down laps unless the brakes are smoking.

 

[Elmiller]

-I looked at the 570GT4 (there's a nice one on BaT at the moment) but want to be able to drive to the track.

-Have others had their car inspected by an independent dealer (great idea Rocket!) but had issues with Mclaren warranty?

 

[Trevor90]

so if they do an inspection (dealer) and car checks out, and something breaks on on the track.. Mclaren will cover it?

 

[invisiblewave]

so if they do an inspection (dealer) and car checks out, and something breaks on on the track.. Mclaren will cover it?

Yes.

 

[ZombiePhysicist]

I am considering a Mclaren to use at the track and want to learn more about your experience with the pre/post track inspections to keep the warranty. I am leaning towards a 720s (love styling and power) but also considering the 600LT which is know is more track focused. I would plan to buy the extended warranty but I am annoyed by the fact that you have to do pre/post inspections (feel like I am asking them for permission to use my car). I would probably do 6-8 track days a year and concerned with the waste of time and cost involved to do the inspections. Thanks in advance

if I recall, McLaren only covers track days during the original warranty and does not cover them under extended warranty, unless it is an official McLaren event. Such, if you plan on tracking the car at non-official, non McLaren events, just your normal track day, and you’re on an extended warranty, you will have no warranty coverage if anything goes wrong. that’s my memory of the status, unless something has changed more recently.

 

[invisiblewave]

if I recall, McLaren only covers track days during the original warranty and does not cover them under extended warranty, unless it is an official McLaren event. Such, if you plan on tracking the car at non-official, non McLaren events, just your normal track day, and you’re on an extended warranty, you will have no warranty coverage if anything goes wrong. that’s my memory of the status, unless something has changed more recently.

I don't believe this is the case.

 

[ZombiePhysicist]

I don't believe this is the case.

It was the case back in 2016 for the extended warranty. If it changed, would be good to know:

Track Day Pre/Post track checklists and warranty

So someone was asking about this. So I figured I'd make a dedicated thread on topic. The short of it is: (1) McLaren's original factory 3 year warranty covers track days (not racing) so long as you do pre and post track checklists. (2) These checklists may be done at any dealer *OR* at...

www.mclarenlife.com

this post has the warranty terms, see 2nd image 6e general exclusions:

Warranty question

Mclaren or miller warranty ? its not the same McLaren through Miller Just to further complicate things, the further distinction would be whether it was the one year extension of the factory warranty or was it the extension available through buying a 'McLaren Qualified" (CPO) car? -Jamie.

www.mclarenlife.com

“General exclusions…6 This contract does not cover:…e) Vehicles used for motorsport, competition and track events irrespective of whether or not so such use is timed or involves high speed (except events organized and managed officially by McLaren Automotive Inc.)”

I believe only the original warranty and CPO may still cover track use, but not sure off hand. Extended warranty does not, sadly.

Also reputable shops can do pre/post checklists. You need to approve the shop with dealer first. Monticello is a know track that is honored. The trick is to have the checklist sent by the 3rd party shop via fax or email with date/time stamp before and after your session.

 

[invisiblewave]

It was the case back in 2016 for the extended warranty. If it changed, would be good to know:

Track Day Pre/Post track checklists and warranty

So someone was asking about this. So I figured I'd make a dedicated thread on topic. The short of it is: (1) McLaren's original factory 3 year warranty covers track days (not racing) so long as you do pre and post track checklists. (2) These checklists may be done at any dealer *OR* at...

www.mclarenlife.com

this post has the warranty terms, see 2nd image 6e general exclusions:

Warranty question

Mclaren or miller warranty ? its not the same McLaren through Miller Just to further complicate things, the further distinction would be whether it was the one year extension of the factory warranty or was it the extension available through buying a 'McLaren Qualified" (CPO) car? -Jamie.

www.mclarenlife.com

View attachment 229330
“General exclusions…6 This contract does not cover:…e) Vehicles used for motorsport, competition and track events irrespective of whether or not so such use is timed to involves high speed (except events organized and managed officially by McLaren Automotive Inc.)”

The wording has changed. It doesn't mention official events now.

 

[ZombiePhysicist]

The wording has changed. It doesn't mention official events now.

View attachment 229331

Nice! What a great change! This is the extended warranty and not the CPO, correct?

 

[invisiblewave]

Nice! What a great change! This is the extended warranty and not the CPO, correct?

Yes. It mentions Warrantech at the end. I'll double check tomorrow when I drop mine off at Premier. It's been this way since at least 2019.

 

[invisiblewave]

Nice! What a great change! This is the extended warranty and not the CPO, correct?

Afaik, CPO and the extended warranty are the same thing. You're extending the CPO coverage.

 

[ZombiePhysicist]

Afaik, CPO and the extended warranty are the same thing. You're extending the CPO coverage.

Can’t speak now but they used to have slightly different coverage back in the day.