Dealer vs independent running costs

[TBCTBC]

I am looking at purchasing a Mac and wondered if anyone was able to supply the rough indie pricing for the following:

- Minor service
- Major service
- Annual warranty
- Aircon service
- Transmission and gearbox fluid change
- Arms and bushes replacement (per corner)
- Approx. corrosion repair per panel
- Door hinge replacement (pair)

I'm based in the south so if you have your car serviced at the indies down here with good reputations, that would be great.

If there are any other differences between indie and dealer servicing, that would be helpful too.

PS I know I could call some indies but they seem very busy, and if the info is already on here..... And a DM would be fine if you'd rather not post here. Thanks.

[simon_j]

TBCTBC said:

I am looking at purchasing a Mac and wondered if anyone was able to supply the rough indie pricing for the following:

- Minor service
- Major service
- Annual warranty
- Aircon service
- Transmission and gearbox fluid change
- Arms and bushes replacement (per corner)
- Approx. corrosion repair per panel
- Door hinge replacement (pair)

I'm based in the south so if you have your car serviced at the indies down here with good reputations, that would be great.

If there are any other differences between indie and dealer servicing, that would be helpful too.

PS I know I could call some indies but they seem very busy, and if the info is already on here..... And a DM would be fine if you'd rather not post here. Thanks.

Main dealer prices (roughly speaking) and assuming sports series :-

Minor £800 - £1200
Major £3100 for 6th year service including charcoal canisters
Warranty assuming a 5+ year old car is £3880 for the full extended warranty or £2499 for a Powertrain Warranty
Aircon - always been free for me not required very often
Transmission and gearbox fluid change - part of service
Arms and bushes - never had it done
Corrosion - never had it done but from memory about £1000 per panel from an independent
Door hinges - never had it done on any car I’ve had

[TBCTBC]

Thanks. Yes a sports series car.

I m actually after indie pricing (I have main dealer pricing) but appreciate the confirmation the dealer figures were accurate

[cgt2]

V Engineering. Very reasonable pricing and the best in the business. End of. Book early though!

[650S]

I go to Thorney and could not be happier.

What I'd add OP is this, the running cost question you ask depends heavily on what you start with.

A 570S for example, from a good independent where the PPI is done properly, and the points noted are attended to pre collection, should not be high maintenance going forward. At the other end of the scale, if you got a bad car as a gift, it could be crippling to run.

[samoht]

V-Engineering:
Service inc brake fluid change - £1145 last week
Aircon - not sure what you mean by aircon service. I had an A/C leak fixed in '24, was ~£750
Gearbox oil and filter change - just been quoted £594

V don't suggest a warranty.
I'm fairly sure V will replace the bushes in your existing arms, don't know the price tho. The car will need alignment redoing afterwards which will add some cost.
No experience of the other items (yet!)

[TTB]

Where abouts in the south are you as that will be a big factor?

[TBCTBC]

Thanks all. South Hampshire so would be looking at V or Thorney.

When I had my R8, Ricky at REP looked after it so I’m prepared to travel.

[TTB]

Both have a fantastic reputation but I know are also very very busy so ensure any bookings are well in advance

[samoht]

TBCTBC said:

Thanks all. South Hampshire so would be looking at V or Thorney.

When I had my R8, Ricky at REP looked after it so I m prepared to travel.

Personally, I really value the fact that Paul & Steve at V are ex-McLaren, in the same way that Ricky is ex-Audi.
It's super-reassuring to have that factory expertise.

[MMarkM]

I'm Southampton. Used V for a couple of years but now very busy and apperently not taking on new clients. I've used Garage 3R for the last few occasions and they are really good. If you do buy a mac join the local WhattsApp group, you'll see the vast majority of people there are using 3R in Ferndown, no complaints whatsoever

[Chrisatronic]

Thorney have their service prices on the website, as do some others. So far I've found McGuildford quite reasonable service wise, the independents are better at doing stuff that they can use non OE parts though eg springs / bushes etc.

[TBCTBC]

Chrisatronic said:

Thorney have their service prices on the website, as do some others. So far I've found McGuildford quite reasonable service wise, the independents are better at doing stuff that they can use non OE parts though eg springs / bushes etc.

Thanks, wasn't aware of that. Much appreciated.

[andysv]

Nearer than Thorney for you, I’ve always used RennWorks in Stevenage for a 570 I owned and my 720.

[Babw]

Booked my 650 with V engineering for a service in March for a service in July.

Contacted them yesterday to add an MOT to the service and their next booking is October.

They’re a really good bunch to deal with so not surprised they’re so in demand.

[ajm_ph]

I think I paid about £850 for the service last year at V for my 650S. Not sure on sports series but that is probably similar. This year it needs a transmission oil change, which was £395+VAT. As noted above they are very, very busy. I had to book this years service in March for a date in June, and they are currently booking for Oct.

I am pretty sure both are cheaper than main dealer, but that is not the primary reason I go there. Since I bought it I have had three issues with the car which were of note:

• A failed screen in the climate panel in the door. McLaren will replace the entire control panel and they cost at least £3000 depending on which one you have. An independent will source a replacement screen from an electronics supplier and replace it at a costs of a few hundred.

• A broken clock spring. McLaren will replace the entire MRM (the module housing the steering wheel base, all the stalks, and the associated electronics). They go for about £4000 and McLaren told me they were on back-order for months. None of those things were broken though, so an independent can replace just the clock spring, which again cost just a few hundred.

• A cracked front suspension spring. McLaren will (you guessed it) replace the entire spring and damper assembly for about £2500. Thorney sell the springs on their own for £299 for a pair, which can be replaced without needing to touch the damper.

McLaren will do everything the most expensive way possible. I don't care what their routine servicing prices are, I have no intention of ever setting foot in a McLaren dealer service centre.

[TBCTBC]

Thanks all.

On the surface of it the servicing/warranty isn't that much different, until you get above 10 years when the Mac warranty goes up another level more (£3,880 to £4,250), where as I couldn't see any mention of a change on the Thorney website?

In general, it seems the main difference between dealer and indie is "replace vs repair", and in the case of Thorney, more of their own, cheaper solutions to common issues.

[davek_964]

It is not just Thorney that have their own repair solutions. V do too for many things.

[TTB]

davek_964 said:

It is not just Thorney that have their own repair solutions. V do too for many things.

Likewise Jack Webb.
They have worked with Nitron for a full shock set up as versus the constant leaking mclaren shocks

[Chrisatronic]

Looks like McLaren finally supplying springs without shocks, which is nice. I think thats true for bushes without arms now aswell.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DY9I_dhjGr1/