Painful though that process is of putting everything right, it's worth it in the end! Mine was a CPO car from a main dealer, and it's still taken me a year to sort everything out.

 

Agreed, I knew and was ready to do some maintenance, I just didn't know how much was needed right out of the gate! One issue in particular, stopped me from driving it(I could feel something was very wrong) just days after receiving it and bringing it straight to my mclaren dealer(upper damper mount), fix the air brake(no big deal), oil change and more. I was traveling that week, so it wasn't too painful, while the car alteast became drive able again. Can't wait to see how it drives with the new accumulators and everything else Sean is doing next month when he comes out here(Denver area).

I was given a straight up BS PPI doc, I should have known better, but that was a first, a new low! Oh well, after about 15K+ I will put into the car after just purchasing it(purchased May and by end of July it should be all sorted), I know I will have it running like new... I hope atleast.

After spending some time on this forum and hearing all the stories, I have come to the conclusion, that a large amount of mclaren owners(not forum members who actually care about their cars), just can't afford to keep up the needed maintenance, and/or don't care and dump the car at a dealer and then the dealer doesn't do much to get the care right either. At some point someone like me is going to buy one of these cars and put in the time and $$ to get it right, course correct.

Anyway, I was tired of the fatty bloated sports cars(though I still do have my Porsche Taycan Sport Turismo GTS, trying to get rid of it, EV just not my thing), and wanted to be as close to 3,000lbs or lower, I was also tired of numb/artificial steering besides from my Gt3, and had heard how direct the hydraulic steering of mclaren's were and how rigid the carbon tubs are. And I must say, my car did not disappoint, I was surprised how instantly comfortable I was in it, loved the big open view out the front, the intimacy of it, the steering is the best I have ever felt by quite a bit. I really appreciate the dual nature of the car when I put the top down, or the back window down or up. I was on the highway the other day, top up, put it in auto and the car was literally quieter than my 911 gts I just got out of.

Car pulls hard and shockingly smooth.


Super impressed so far and I haven't even gotten the car sorted!

 

I think you're exactly right about the maintenance.

 

@Car enthusiast Great user name BTW. A 10-year forum member. Is this your first McLaren?

I loved your comment about being instantly comfortable. That stood out to me as well when I took March delivery of my 2016 650S. I instantly felt in "command" of the vehicle. I didn't have that uncomforable feeling of not knowing where the edges or wheels were... like (surprisingly) in a Mercedes AMG GT S (or R or BS), where I felt like I was sitting on the floor trying to eat off a table.

What's the last four digits of your VIN? I'm 6262.

 

Thank you, I chose a generic name because I generally love any great car, doesn't have to be from one specific brand. I like to think of myself as pretty objective.

Yes first Mclaren, I really loved the look of the 12C(which I drove not long after it came out), the 650s and the 675LT, there is something so classic/almost retro about them that I love. No offense to other mclaren owners, but I don't care for any of the newer alien'ish looking models, respect how amazing they perform but their looks are just too over the top for me.

Full disclosure, I have been a Porsche track rat for about 12+ years, admittedly am a bit of poseur as of late, due to too much work and not having the time to track on weekends. But I have done a lot of tracking over the years, my favorite was always my GT3. So I look at cars in may ways through the lens of how comfortable I would feel on the track with them at speed.

Big visibility is key for me feeling confident coming down a straight at 140mph+, slamming on the brakes to get down to 75 for an intense corner ect ect. I can not feel confident with cars that have small windshields, poor side visibility, long hoods(front engine cars), cars where their seats are way too high, where you feel like you are sitting ON the car, rather in the car. The feel of the steering is key for me, and I need the wheel close and high to a low sitting position. My 650 does all those things. And of course the brakes, though I did need to get used to how hard to push the brake peddle the first few drives, but now all good.

5690

 

Hi, welcome to the 650S Spider club! I say that with a bit of a grin because I've owned mine for just four days.

Like you, my impressions are overwhelmingly positive and I share all of your observations. I felt so "connected" with the car right away, and it's also so very comfortable. It's really a driver's machine.

Mine is on a 12-month CPO from McLaren which takes a lot of the worry out of buying a ten-year old supercar for $150k. The only thing that I really don't care for are the stock paddle shifters, so I'm going to prioritize replacing them with the extended carbon fiber shifters. Other than that it's outstanding across the board with almost no changes needed or desired.

Thanks for sharing the great photos. Mine is carbon black with McLaren orange calipers, our cars look like twins.

 

Hi there, and thank you for the warm welcome! Yes, another carbon black 650, beautiful twin!

Very nice on finding a CPO car, I will be interested in hearing how much it helps over the next 12 months from you.

I do agree, the paddles are too short, will need to fix that soon.

 

I should also add, which has been nice, the car seems to bring happiness to others, lots of smiles, questions(and not the tired old, what do you do for work), hell even the cop lady doing my vin verification was a little giddy! I have yet to experience any negativity, though recognize its only been a few weeks.

Having said that, full disclosure, I don't give much of shit to what others think, good or bad but its still nicer than some of the at time negative drama that went along when I was simply test driving a 458 some years ago. I will always get the car I want regardless of others and their issues, but so far I have been pleasantly surprised by the positivity toward the car.

 

My good friend Dino, who also frequents these forums and will probably also weigh in, has said that in his McLaren ownership experience he's gotten nothing but smiles and thumbs-ups whereas with Ferraris it's sometimes the middle finger.

I don't own a Ferrari so I can't comment on that, but as far as the McLaren goes, everyone loves it. The car makes people happy. I was driving the car literally home from the dealer and a semi blasted the air horn. Being I'm in Jersey I immediately thought the worse but then I looked up and he had a wild grin on his face and yelled, "Yeah, McLaren!" with a big thumbs up. Watch for the constant phones being held up taking videos. I don't really mind being a spectacle, I like the car just as much as they do.

 

There's an aftermarket solution for the paddles that doesn't involve removing the steering wheel.

 

Go on good sir...

 

I purchased my 2015 650s in 2019, and wouldn't conclude the transaction unless the car would still be covered under warranty. I looked for a year before I made the purchase. I recall reading that the steering was the most "tactile" the magazine had ever used. I find it telepathic. The Texas Lamborghini dealer represented the car well, but had to wrestle with the McLaren dealer to get the car ready for warranty.

I have a complete clear wrap, the worst wrap I've ever seen, but not going to change it. I love all aspects of the car, especially the steering feel and visibility.

I'll always do whatever it takes to keep the car right. Congratulations on your 650s. Mine is a Coupe with storm gray paint. Your car is beautiful. I hope your McLaren experience is as enjoyable as you had hoped.

 

I was on the fence on the warranty, though I don't think despite my car being a 2016, I could actually get a warranty atleast when I purchased it due to the lack or service on many items for years. My local Mclaren dealer quoted me 10K for a year of warranty, that is IF my car could be warrantied. I knew even that 10K warranty was not going to cover much of what the car needed done and would rather take that money and put it straight into the car fixing, so went that route. I have had other cars that were CPO'd falsely thinking they would protect me, they did not!

Post a picture of your car, would love to see it, really like storm grey. Mine too has a wrap, not what I would have chosen and somewhat sloppy sounds like yours. It appears to be a 3M vinyl stealth black wrap, over my carbon black paint. All good. And like you, I don't think atleast for now, I will change it.

Thank you for the kind words, looking forward to the mclaren journey

 

Welcome!!!! McMedics will take good care of you.

 

Looking forward to it, the forum speak very highly of them and Sean has been truly helpful already as we nail down his trip out here next month.

 

Here are two photos of my storm gray, 2015 650S. Storm gray, when seen under sunlight, or about 5,500 kelvin, is dark green with some gold specks that one can see when they are close. However, when under an overcast sky, 6,000k kelvin. the color is as seen below with the Arborvitae trees, a gray.

The interior and exterior are really close to exactly as it was when it was delivered. I purchased it sight unseen. There is one really minor scratch on it that the wrap has hidden. Like a lot of folks, I purchased this at near the bottom of their deflation. The sticker was ~$320k, and I paid $.48/$1.00. Carbon fiber everywhere. I got more that I thought I was going to get.

Thank you, very much for asking.

 

Here are two photos of my storm gray, 2015 650S. Storm gray, when seen under sunlight, or about 5,500 kelvin, is dark green with some gold specks that one can see when they are close. However, when under an overcast sky, 6,000k kelvin. the color is as seen below with the Arborvitae trees, a gray.

The interior and exterior are really close to exactly as it was when it was delivered. I purchased it sight unseen. There is one really minor scratch on it that the wrap has hidden. Like a lot of folks, I purchased this at near the bottom of their deflation. The sticker was ~$320k, and I paid $.48/$1.00. Carbon fiber everywhere. I got more that I thought I was going to get.

Thank you, very much for asking.

A very precise reply on the color, I like it!

Yes, your car looks stunning, sounds like you were very fortunate to get such a fine example, and sight unseen! I was not so fortunate. What year did you pick your car up?

I have to admit I like the look/lines of the coupe a bit better than my spider and while I am not a convertible guy, Mclaren does their convertibles so much better than manufactures as we all know, and I knew I would actually use it and I have already... a lot!

I also really wanted the back window that goes up and down even when the roof is up, it gives a third personality to the car that I really enjoy. So, I lost just a little in the look but gained more, atleast in my case with the spider.

Hell, I wanted the alcantara interior, instead of the red leather I have, but there are not a lot of cars to choose from in the country and I knew the red interior was not a deal breaker! It actually has brought back memories when i was a kid(child of the 80s) going into the scummy exotic dealers in Ft lauderdal FL and looking at the Countach's and Ferrari's, often with the tacky but beautiful 80's/cocaine decadence red leather Simply put, it brings back fond memories

 

A very unique color....congrats and enjoy!

 

I sincerely appreciate the kind words. The car came out of the Dallas Lamborghini Dealership and to qualify the car for the "factory" warranty, The Lambo dealer was fighting with the Dallas McLaren dealer. I wanted a coupe as I am not, what-so-ever a "look at me" person, and I liked the engine view, so the color was a good fit. I wanted leather and I wanted a few carbon fiber interior details, such as the steering wheel, but I didn't expect the engine bay to be this nice. I clay bar the carbon fiber.

The Lambo dealer and sales' person were all stand-up people, but it took me 12 months to find this car, but it was worth the wait.

Who will ever forget FLA in the 80's? Not the FDA. Take care-

PS. My 3.8L was re-built with after-market parts throughout, including a Dodson clutch, fuel pump, turbos & M-Engineering's 3 levels on tune. However, the exterior and interior appear stock. The exhaust has 2 x 4" mandrel bent exhaust pipes. A tad loud.

 

I believe the most important thing I have learned about McLarens, is to check the oil level every time I drive. It takes time, but these engines have a small oil reservoir for a drysumped motor. My 1986 944turbo has 9.5 liters. By the time one sees an oil problem error message, it's usually too late. I hate the time it requires to check oil, and the readout of bars is not exactly the same as the handbook for thr 650S makes it out to be, but checking oil on every drive is cheap insurance. Consider checking before and after you drive. Add oil sparingly.

 

This is overkill. If your engine needs to be checked this frequently, it has a leak somewhere. I check mine every couple of weeks, or after every session at the track.

 

So heres the thing... Vs Porsche? How is it?

 

Very different as one can imagine. I think they are the best two brands to pair with each other, like a fine wine and cheese

While I have been driving my 650 daily, even running some errands, starbucks ect, its of course much more of an event, while the Pcars can fly much more under the radar. So depends how one is feeling that that, good to have the choice. My 650 is vastly faster than any Porsche I have owned, with a slight exception being a 991.1 Turbo, but the 650 still pulls much harder mid/top range than the turbo. And of course the 650s is way more fun, Much lighter, and you really feel the fat on the turbo in the corners and braking. I think my turbo was like 3600-3700 lbs, too much for me on backroads or track. For a cross country GT, or year round, including winter car(I had winter tires on mine) I can't think of a better daily car then the turbo.

My Gt3, was very much my track weapon and I don't think there is a better track day car than the GT3's when it comes to day in and day out hammering on the car, 20-30+ track days a season. Besides the track though, I found the powder lacking, I live at elevation 8000ft+ so all NA lose a major amount of HP. Maybe at sea level it wouldn't have felt so under powered. But again, on the track, fast, incredible brakes, cornered amazingly, great steering, sounded awesome, they nailed it.


I've had many other Porsche's and had a NA 911 GTS I got rid of before getting the 650, great car but not in the same stratosphere as the 650.


I still have my Taycan GTS Sports turismo, but I will likely get out of it and maybe get another 911 or get a 675 to pair with the 650

I wanted to like lotus, and I still think I need to give them a fair shot with the Evora, the elise and exige while brilliant too small for me.

I test drove a Emira a couple months ago, wanting to love it but I was incredibly disappointed, the seating position was horrible, WAY too high off the chassis, could not be adjusted, the engine was pathetic IMO, I drove the better of the two the 4 cylinder amg, the DCT was so slow I couldn't believe it, like a noticeable pause on down shifts, the car felt cheap inside, despite the emira supposedly being their best interior. Sound was not good either and the car was not light somehow despite being a lotus!

 

The checking of oil for each drive, was not anything I came to on my own. Two McLaren engine builders recommended this, as did Thorney. I didn't check oil this frequently, until I heard this. If you don't need to, great.

My experience with Porsche has mainly been my 1986 944turbo. I could not leave well enough alone. My current engine puts out 589hp on an engine dyno, before the motor was drysumped and boost turned up .05 bar. 517lb/ft. The pull of the 944 "felt" stronger than the stock 650S, when the 650S was stock. But, these cars are ~30 years apart, and a driver feels that in virtually everything they do. Three peddles, a lighter car; 2,960 vs. 3,240, with 1/2 tank eack. A lot more physical involvement with the Porsche. I like challenge each presents. Still trying to make each gear change an improvement over the previous one. The 650S is decades more refined.

 

Fantastic photos and what a backdrop! Must be nice to drive those roads, I would have to concentrate extra hard not to run off the road with those vistas...HaHa! Welcome to the brand and yes, very different from the P-Cars for sure. Enjoy it in good health!

 

Thank you and yes for sure! Some people choose areas for the kids/schools, I choose them for the driving roads! But also, the schools are very good in my area..

 

One of my favorite gas into noise drives is Conifer, Pine Junction, Deckers, Woodland Park. Then west 24 to hwy 9, north to 285 at Fairplay, west to Conifer. Rarely busy, mix of tights and some long straights. Stop in Deckers for a bit, and Como to see the antique narrow gauge RR turntable. Lunch and some photo stops makes a full day. Congrats on the car.

 

Very nice, thank you for sharing, I will have to run your route! So I take it your local/denver area?

 

Colorado has great roads all over the state. I'm almost due for a trip to get out of the heat to enjoy some of them.

 

But good luck with finding 93!😂

 

Colorado has great roads all over the state. I'm almost due for a trip to get out of the heat to enjoy some of them.

Let me know if you head my way, would be great to meet up.

But good luck with finding 93!😂

That is true! By no means an expert, but my understanding is the elevation/lower O2 plays a big role in not needing as high octane, but there also seems like some usual drama/historical from CA, where we don't have the infrastructure. Shame really, the only really high octane I can get is at the track and I am not sure I will be tracking this car, still on the fence!

 

That is true! By no means an expert, but my understanding is the elevation/lower O2 plays a big role in not needing as high octane, but there also seems like some usual drama/historical from CA, where we don't have the infrastructure. Shame really, the only really high octane I can get is at the track and I am not sure I will be tracking this car, still on the fence!

You should take it on track at least once!
I was a bit shocked when I picked my car up. My plan was to go from Denver to Colorado Springs through the mountains rather than interstate, so we turned off to the right (I forget which road) and headed west, then the road turned into a fucking dirt track!!! 😂 I did a u-turn, and then stopped for petrol right before the interstate at a pokey little gas station where I had to use the lift to get onto the forecourt. Then we started looking for the 93 and it was nowhere to be found! There was a guy filling up an original Shelby Cobra, so we got chatting to him, and he told us the next 93 would be after the state line going south.

 

Love seeing how hands-on you're being with the 650S—it really makes the difference. You’re spot on about PPIs too, sadly. A lot of us who work with these regularly see the same pattern. For anyone else in your shoes, there are tools now that help uncover issues beyond what most shops check. We work with a lot of McLaren techs and owners who use custom diagnostic software to catch things early—like the damper accumulator issues or intermittent clutch sensor faults. Worth looking into before you throw another €10K into guesswork.

 

Yes, there has certainly been a learning curve but one I have been whiling to do so, due to the car being so exceptional.

I have checked out your website and had heard others mention your diagcode favorably. Hopefully in time I will pick one up, looks quite useful.

 

If the neglect includes a faulty transmission the whole deal goes up in smoke. $40,000 for a new transmission just doesn’t work unless you buy the car for much, much less than market value.

 

Fortunately nothing like that or too that degree!

Already had one round of work done on it, along with a lot of inspection, allowing me to schedule the next round next week with Mcmedics coming out replacing the accumulators, engine air filter install, coolant service, headlight cleaning, coolant clamps, bake fluid replacement, transmission service, clutch service, installing scrape guard, installing new radar detector and I am likely missing some things.

I have been driving the car daily and its been running well, can't wait to experience in particular its improved ride with the new accumulators.

 

Congratulations on your purchase! Pretty sound advice here for prospective buyers. Keep us updated on how your second round of work goes, looks like you'll have a well sorted card on your hands!

 

Sean with Mcmedics is working on it as we speak, yesterday, today and tomorrow he will be finished.., in 100 F heat sadly, he's currently recovering from some "mild" heat stroke but will be back at it tomorrow!

Very excited to see how the car improves, with the new accumulators and so much more he is doing!

 

Will give a full update soon, busy driving the hell out of my car. Drastic improvement for sure with the new accumulators and more!


Thank you Sean/mcmedics and the nice fellow mclaren owners who let use their lift

 

All,

So here is a list of what Sean with McMedics did on my car a couple weeks ago.

• Engine air filter installation
• Coolant service
• Coolant clamps
• Brake fluid replacement
• Transmission service
• Four Accumulators
• Clutch service
• Scrape guard install
• New Key fob, my car only came with one

And this doesn't include what I had done at my local Mclaren dealer prior to Sean

• Airbrake adjusted so it works, stops throwing fault
• Oil change and oil filter
• Replace rear shock mount which was worn and loose
• Windshield trim(it was flopping around) fixed

The car was a beast prior(apparently it has a tune and over 700hp, would explain why I felt it pulled so much harder than my old but very fast 911 turbo!) to the above but now is drastically riding better and steering which would suddenly jerk to one side if the tire got in a road grove has gone away. The tune also explains why the car sounds so damn good and I why I didn't understand people complaining it wasn't loud enough!

Next round, and I'm open to everyone's suggestions, on meaningful changes, be it for improved reliability in problematic areas like I had Sean do the coolant clamps ect,:

• Engine mounts
• Maybe replace all the worn rubber seals around the windows, which are very weathered. Sean says its quite the project so not sure if this will happen next round but it will at some point.
• Install the radar I bought but did not buy the needed wires, so Sean couldn't install

What do you all think would be some updates which further improves the cars reliability and performance, mainly preventive/reliability I am most interested in.

 

All, I notice almost a screeching/squealing/rubbing sound, like how the brakes sound when not warmed when I make a close if not at full lock turn at around 30-40mph hairpin turn. Any ideas?