McLaren Servicing - What a shambles....
Discussion
flemke said:
Funny you say that about dealer stamps. At least in the UK, I have learned through experience never to have my car touched by an OPC. One has no control over which specific technician will work on one's car, and some of them are incompetent.
i think no one would argue that you probably get better service at a respected independent, rather than a main dealer, pretty much applies for any brand, whilst main dealer experience as you say, depends largely on who you get on the day... theres no denying that you pay for it come resale/trade in time not having a book full of main dealer stamps 
fine, if you can afford to take the hit.Spiritual_Beggar said:
I'm considering 12c's now they're around my price range. Given it's a slightly older car.....would it be completely unthinkalble to just use an independant for servicing? Obviously, without the warranty major issues could get expensive, but when the small niggling issues are 'relavatiely' cheap to sort out, would it not be worth considering? And the money saved not taking the warranty could be used to sort any major issues if (more likely when?) they arise.
its highly likely the reason they are in your price range is because of the issues detailed in this thread, its clearly not a reflection on the cars ability (or desirably). If owning a McLaren is frankly a PITA due to reliability then less people will want to do so, resulting in lower demand and hence falling prices IMOLOL even Alonso has given up
flemke said:
Funny you say that about dealer stamps. At least in the UK, I have learned through experience never to have my car touched by an OPC. One has no control over which specific technician will work on one's car, and some of them are incompetent.
At last. Most of my MD experiences the car comes back worse than it went in and that's if they have done everything that they should have which it has happened they have not.Nano2nd said:
Spiritual_Beggar said:
I'm considering 12c's now they're around my price range. Given it's a slightly older car.....would it be completely unthinkalble to just use an independant for servicing? Obviously, without the warranty major issues could get expensive, but when the small niggling issues are 'relavatiely' cheap to sort out, would it not be worth considering? And the money saved not taking the warranty could be used to sort any major issues if (more likely when?) they arise.
its highly likely the reason they are in your price range is because of the issues detailed in this thread, its clearly not a reflection on the cars ability (or desirably). If owning a McLaren is frankly a PITA due to reliability then less people will want to do so, resulting in lower demand and hence falling prices IMOLOL even Alonso has given up
The price reflects the demand I guess. A 12C is a rocket ship and a major bargain under £100k
Spiritual_Beggar said:
isaldiri said:
The issue with going fully outside the dealerships is selling the car on after might well be a problem (and believe me it is already a not inconsiderable problem) without the official servicing stamps. The pool of buyers that will consider independent servicing is going to very very small imo - just look at practically any other marque, even for say Porsche with a very strong indy network, OPC service history still is awfully (and tbh incorrectly) important even for something like a 997 gt3 nevermind a 991.
If you're close to Thorney or Backdraft or similar, using them for everything else than the required annual service but getting the dealerships to get those might be a better idea than doing everything via an indy I think.
Makes sense. I own a GT4 at the moment so know full well about the OPC stamps' importance...unfortunately.If you're close to Thorney or Backdraft or similar, using them for everything else than the required annual service but getting the dealerships to get those might be a better idea than doing everything via an indy I think.
To be honest, that's what I was thinking....using an independant for sorting out the small issues (as long as the cost wasn't extreme), but still using he dealer network for servicing.
It's hard to gauge how 'unreliable' these older cars are though. As with the whole IMS bearing issue Porsche had, you only really hear about the problems....no one really says anything when there aren't any issues...so the bad press always seems more prevalent. But is that really a valid portrayal?
I’d like to say, I had a small issue last week with my 570Gt, phoned Mcbrum and asked if I could pop in today for them to have a look. Was told no problem, I arrived at 10.30 and was on my way by 11.30, issue sorted and a free health check done. Couldn’t be more pleased with the service 😁😁😁
Targarama said:
McLarens are extremely reliable. The issue discussed on this thread is that the dealers are completely swamped, and some are below par with long delays when making a booking, a different issue.
eh? the OP started the thread because he couldn't get his _broken_ McLaren booked in for a repair, mainly due to the McLaren dealers are not accepted any more cars for repairs (his words not mine) - if they are "extremely reliable", why is there a back log of cars waiting for repair? no to mention the other owners that have chipped in stating there are parts supply issues, are these part service items then? doesn't sounds like it.Nano2nd said:
eh? the OP started the thread because he couldn't get his _broken_ McLaren booked in for a repair, mainly due to the McLaren dealers are not accepted any more cars for repairs (his words not mine) - if they are "extremely reliable", why is there a back log of cars waiting for repair? no to mention the other owners that have chipped in stating there are parts supply issues, are these part service items then? doesn't sounds like it.
There wouldn't be a back log if production hadn't ramped up significantly in the last couple of years with the introduction of the Sport series. The dealer network for servicing and repairs simply hasn't kept pace with the production increase. If Lambo, Ferrari or Ford for that matter upped their production rate by the same % as McLaren have done then I am sure their service networks would also be creaking... even with many indies to help. Martin-G said:
Nano2nd said:
eh? the OP started the thread because he couldn't get his _broken_ McLaren booked in for a repair, mainly due to the McLaren dealers are not accepted any more cars for repairs (his words not mine) - if they are "extremely reliable", why is there a back log of cars waiting for repair? no to mention the other owners that have chipped in stating there are parts supply issues, are these part service items then? doesn't sounds like it.
There wouldn't be a back log if production hadn't ramped up significantly in the last couple of years with the introduction of the Sport series. The dealer network for servicing and repairs simply hasn't kept pace with the production increase. If Lambo, Ferrari or Ford for that matter upped their production rate by the same % as McLaren have done then I am sure their service networks would also be creaking... even with many indies to help. davek_964 said:
That's a slightly odd argument. Yes, if any other car manufacturer had massively ramped up production in a short space of time without making sure the infrastructure could cope, they would have the same problem. That doesn't make it less of a problem for owners, or make it a particularly sensible strategy for McLaren.
Why is that a "slightly odd argument"? The thread has several aspects, people claiming the pressure on the dealership is due to the cars being horrendously unreliable, people claiming the pressure on the dealerships is due to a jump in sales as the cars are so awesome, people claiming the pressure is because McLaren won't support an 'Independent' network, and people claiming it's because McLaren have failed to invest in their service network.
The reality is that it's a combination of all those to a greater or lesser degree.
I also think the issue is geographic, Northern owners having far fewer issues than those around London. I now have the choice of Manchester (who were excellent), Leeds (new and closer), and Glasgow. All of whom have a decent (but not perfect) reputation for turning cars around quickly and professionally.
Personally, I've had no reliability issues or dealer difficulties in the last 18 months and 6,000 mile ownership but I'm not so blinkered to think McLaren don't have some real improvements to make.
I'm quite intrigued by so many people on here obsessed with main dealers and getting nice replacement cars when their cars go in for a service.
Personally I buy the car not the fact I can see a grease ball in a suit once a year and sit with an expensive cup of tea in a shiny building.
I guess that's why I normally use indies when I can instead of main stealers.
McLaren servicing may be dreadful (although I've not had a problem yet), Ferrari has been awful for the last 20 years and I have still bought their cars. Porsche are slightly better. I don't really care that much.
McLaren desperately need more indies to service cars which I think will happen in time.
Personally I buy the car not the fact I can see a grease ball in a suit once a year and sit with an expensive cup of tea in a shiny building.
I guess that's why I normally use indies when I can instead of main stealers.
McLaren servicing may be dreadful (although I've not had a problem yet), Ferrari has been awful for the last 20 years and I have still bought their cars. Porsche are slightly better. I don't really care that much.
McLaren desperately need more indies to service cars which I think will happen in time.
Marathon Guy said:
I'm quite intrigued by so many people on here obsessed with main dealers and getting nice replacement cars when their cars go in for a service.
Personally I buy the car not the fact I can see a grease ball in a suit once a year and sit with an expensive cup of tea in a shiny building.
I guess that's why I normally use indies when I can instead of main stealers.
McLaren servicing may be dreadful (although I've not had a problem yet), Ferrari has been awful for the last 20 years and I have still bought their cars. Porsche are slightly better. I don't really care that much.
McLaren desperately need more indies to service cars which I think will happen in time.
'Personally I buy the car not the fact I can see a grease ball in a suit once a year and sit with an expensive cup of tea in a shiny building'Personally I buy the car not the fact I can see a grease ball in a suit once a year and sit with an expensive cup of tea in a shiny building.
I guess that's why I normally use indies when I can instead of main stealers.
McLaren servicing may be dreadful (although I've not had a problem yet), Ferrari has been awful for the last 20 years and I have still bought their cars. Porsche are slightly better. I don't really care that much.
McLaren desperately need more indies to service cars which I think will happen in time.
That is very shallow of you - however, I bet you still call the 'grease ball in a suit' (who works in the shiny building) when you have a problem, and expect him to sort it for you?
mcl570 said:
Marathon Guy said:
I'm quite intrigued by so many people on here obsessed with main dealers and getting nice replacement cars when their cars go in for a service.
Personally I buy the car not the fact I can see a grease ball in a suit once a year and sit with an expensive cup of tea in a shiny building.
I guess that's why I normally use indies when I can instead of main stealers.
McLaren servicing may be dreadful (although I've not had a problem yet), Ferrari has been awful for the last 20 years and I have still bought their cars. Porsche are slightly better. I don't really care that much.
McLaren desperately need more indies to service cars which I think will happen in time.
'Personally I buy the car not the fact I can see a grease ball in a suit once a year and sit with an expensive cup of tea in a shiny building'Personally I buy the car not the fact I can see a grease ball in a suit once a year and sit with an expensive cup of tea in a shiny building.
I guess that's why I normally use indies when I can instead of main stealers.
McLaren servicing may be dreadful (although I've not had a problem yet), Ferrari has been awful for the last 20 years and I have still bought their cars. Porsche are slightly better. I don't really care that much.
McLaren desperately need more indies to service cars which I think will happen in time.
That is very shallow of you - however, I bet you still call the 'grease ball in a suit' (who works in the shiny building) when you have a problem, and expect him to sort it for you?
ferdi p said:
mcl570 said:
Marathon Guy said:
I'm quite intrigued by so many people on here obsessed with main dealers and getting nice replacement cars when their cars go in for a service.
Personally I buy the car not the fact I can see a grease ball in a suit once a year and sit with an expensive cup of tea in a shiny building.
I guess that's why I normally use indies when I can instead of main stealers.
McLaren servicing may be dreadful (although I've not had a problem yet), Ferrari has been awful for the last 20 years and I have still bought their cars. Porsche are slightly better. I don't really care that much.
McLaren desperately need more indies to service cars which I think will happen in time.
'Personally I buy the car not the fact I can see a grease ball in a suit once a year and sit with an expensive cup of tea in a shiny building'Personally I buy the car not the fact I can see a grease ball in a suit once a year and sit with an expensive cup of tea in a shiny building.
I guess that's why I normally use indies when I can instead of main stealers.
McLaren servicing may be dreadful (although I've not had a problem yet), Ferrari has been awful for the last 20 years and I have still bought their cars. Porsche are slightly better. I don't really care that much.
McLaren desperately need more indies to service cars which I think will happen in time.
That is very shallow of you - however, I bet you still call the 'grease ball in a suit' (who works in the shiny building) when you have a problem, and expect him to sort it for you?
garyhun said:
ferdi p said:
garyhun said:
I'm wondering if a certain banned member had an alternative login set-up in readiness for a future ban
I get ya thinking but surely he'd never slag slag off a car dealer! 
j3gme said:
garyhun said:
ferdi p said:
garyhun said:
I'm wondering if a certain banned member had an alternative login set-up in readiness for a future ban
I get ya thinking but surely he'd never slag slag off a car dealer! Gassing Station | McLaren | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff