720s - red swoosh vs silver swoosh?
Discussion
I've read that apparently in June 2018 (?) Mclaren updated the 720s that included some important software updates. This can be denoted by the swoosh / tick on the rear badge being silver instead of red.
Is it possible to buy an older car (with red swoosh) and simply get the software updated? If not is the difference that significant?
Is it possible to buy an older car (with red swoosh) and simply get the software updated? If not is the difference that significant?
It’s only a minor change, all cars still get all the up dates and safety recalls, the earlier cars get the hot start function, which the later cars don’t get due to the nanny state USA.
The compensation on the later cars is cracks from the exhaust on the up shift, earlier cars do not, along with crack & pops on the down shift same as the earlier cars.
The rule of thumb is cars after chassis number 1500 were better built with tighter quality control on the production line at the factory, same applies on all these cars buy on condition and history.
Make sure the car has had the fuel tank mod done, which is removing a piece of foam that sits between the under tray and the bottom of the tank that can cause corrosion when it gets saturated with water from rain, standing water etc.
Most important recall is on the Turbo oil pipes thar can rub on the body work and fracture leaking hot oil and potentially causing damage to the turbos.
They are amazing cars, just make sure you get a good one that’s been loved & looked after.
The compensation on the later cars is cracks from the exhaust on the up shift, earlier cars do not, along with crack & pops on the down shift same as the earlier cars.
The rule of thumb is cars after chassis number 1500 were better built with tighter quality control on the production line at the factory, same applies on all these cars buy on condition and history.
Make sure the car has had the fuel tank mod done, which is removing a piece of foam that sits between the under tray and the bottom of the tank that can cause corrosion when it gets saturated with water from rain, standing water etc.
Most important recall is on the Turbo oil pipes thar can rub on the body work and fracture leaking hot oil and potentially causing damage to the turbos.
They are amazing cars, just make sure you get a good one that’s been loved & looked after.
AstonExige said:
I've read that apparently in June 2018 (?) Mclaren updated the 720s that included some important software updates. This can be denoted by the swoosh / tick on the rear badge being silver instead of red.
Unless you (or anyone) can provide details of these "important updates" I don't think it is true. I had some new updates (on my May 18 red swoosh) car at the first service in May/June '19. My Advanced Driver Interface is on level 4.9 which I am told is latest...... TBH if you're buying thinking that there is a cut off for a differently built extra reliable car I think that is wishful thinking, the best cars seem to be the ones which have been driven a lot and have had any glitches seen to. Mine has been excellent, just the 2 cracked screens and bits of realignment when new but nothing serious, has been an awesome car. Edited by TB993tt on Monday 31st August 19:17
I’ve had both. Between them, I have covered 17K miles over 18 months.
There was a software revision change sometime in Mid-2018. It appears the MY2019 cars is when it was introduced, as denoted by the letter “K” as the tenth digit of the VIN. Earlier models cannot be updated to the latest revision. Latest version removed Hot Start (pointless anyway), but introduced nose lift single press button, rather than having to use stalk. There’s also a new display layout for tyre temperatures. There’s a lot more pops, bangs and farts on upshift and downshift in sport and track mode.
The latest revision addresses most of the electronic gremlins commonly reported in earlier models such as poor DAB reception, key not found, windows not retracting correctly and various other gongs and warning beeps due to over-sensitive sensor parameters. There are updates to various other modules, which isn’t reflected in the MIS display.
The latest revision is currently
There was a software revision change sometime in Mid-2018. It appears the MY2019 cars is when it was introduced, as denoted by the letter “K” as the tenth digit of the VIN. Earlier models cannot be updated to the latest revision. Latest version removed Hot Start (pointless anyway), but introduced nose lift single press button, rather than having to use stalk. There’s also a new display layout for tyre temperatures. There’s a lot more pops, bangs and farts on upshift and downshift in sport and track mode.
The latest revision addresses most of the electronic gremlins commonly reported in earlier models such as poor DAB reception, key not found, windows not retracting correctly and various other gongs and warning beeps due to over-sensitive sensor parameters. There are updates to various other modules, which isn’t reflected in the MIS display.
The latest revision is currently
Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 31st August 19:39
AstonExige said:
tyrrell said:
It’s only a minor change, all cars still get all the up dates and safety recalls, the earlier cars get the hot start function, which the later cars don’t get due to the nanny state USA.
Thanks for all the info. What is the “hot start” you refer too? Very childish and not something I would do or condone.
All been said above but a bit of a myth about the Red v Silver Swoosh debate on quality issues as plenty of Red swoosh which seem fine and vice versa.
Having said that the 2019 MY 2020 cars seem a little better although of course that may Change
IMO Best to buy the best spec car you can in a colour you can live with and one that has done a few miles and had any gremlins ironed out.
Having said that the 2019 MY 2020 cars seem a little better although of course that may Change
IMO Best to buy the best spec car you can in a colour you can live with and one that has done a few miles and had any gremlins ironed out.
AstonExige said:
I've read that apparently in June 2018 (?) Mclaren updated the 720s that included some important software updates. This can be denoted by the swoosh / tick on the rear badge being silver instead of red.
Is it possible to buy an older car (with red swoosh) and simply get the software updated? If not is the difference that significant?
It was a bit before June 2018. But no, you can't update the red tick cars with the newer software. Is it possible to buy an older car (with red swoosh) and simply get the software updated? If not is the difference that significant?
LotusJas said:
AstonExige said:
I've read that apparently in June 2018 (?) Mclaren updated the 720s that included some important software updates. This can be denoted by the swoosh / tick on the rear badge being silver instead of red.
Is it possible to buy an older car (with red swoosh) and simply get the software updated? If not is the difference that significant?
It was a bit before June 2018. But no, you can't update the red tick cars with the newer software. Is it possible to buy an older car (with red swoosh) and simply get the software updated? If not is the difference that significant?
What exactly are these important updates that the red swish cars can't have, what exactly do the updates cure ? can we have some details and source etc ?
TB993tt said:
So you're confirming to the OP that there are "some important software updates" which red swish cars can't have.
What exactly are these important updates that the red swish cars can't have, what exactly do the updates cure ? can we have some details and source etc ?
If you look at the McLaren website and download the owners manual for the relevant MY(there are 3 revisions), it may answer your question.What exactly are these important updates that the red swish cars can't have, what exactly do the updates cure ? can we have some details and source etc ?
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