Corrosion - 12C - how worried should I be?

[goatherder2001]

Hi everyone, been hoping to add a Mclaren 12c spider to the collection. Found a really well specced one and sent to Thorney for inspection. All good with the inspection except they found a couple of tiny areas of corrosion around one of the front wings and inside of the frunk lid.

It won't be covered by Mclaren warranty. My question is, how big a deal is this if it's tiny and barely visible? Can it be remedied relatively easily and repainted or should I expect other patches to form elsewhere over time? Just not come across this issue before. Asides from this, it's a great car, v well specced and in top condition so I'm loathe to give up on it...

[RSbandit]

How old is the car? There's a 10 yr anti corrosion warranty separate to any manufacturer warranty...I've had panels replaced on my 2016 570s over the summer.

[mal99x]

Hi. I’ve had my 2012 12c wings/frunk and PPF replaced earlier this year under the bodywork warranty . There may be a stipulation about it being inspected annually by authorised dealers to keep the warranty valid - someone on here will know!

The body shop it went to said they are repairable like any other panel just MCL have policy of replace not repair

Mal

[goatherder2001]

RSbandit said:

How old is the car? There's a 10 yr anti corrosion warranty separate to any manufacturer warranty...I've had panels replaced on my 2016 570s over the summer.

Thanks. It's a 2012. Apparently it's 5 years for corrosion and 10 years for perforation. they changed the terms a few years ago and whilst they might have honoured corrosion within 10 years apparently they are no longer doing this due to being in financial difficulty. So I guess I either buy the car and try and get them to help out and if they don't I have to get it repaired myself. I just have no idea how much that kind of thing would cost to repair??

[goatherder2001]

mal99x said:

Hi. I’ve had my 2012 12c wings/frunk and PPF replaced earlier this year under the bodywork warranty . There may be a stipulation about it being inspected annually by authorised dealers to keep the warranty valid - someone on here will know!

The body shop it went to said they are repairable like any other panel just MCL have policy of replace not repair

Mal

It's got a full maclaren service history. One of the previous owners even spent £22k putting carbon ceramics on it at Manchester mclaren so it's had some attention, just not from me personally!

[Bispal]

goatherder2001 said:

Hi everyone, been hoping to add a Mclaren 12c spider to the collection. Found a really well specced one and sent to Thorney for inspection. All good with the inspection except they found a couple of tiny areas of corrosion around one of the front wings and inside of the frunk lid.

It won't be covered by Mclaren warranty. My question is, how big a deal is this if it's tiny and barely visible? Can it be remedied relatively easily and repainted or should I expect other patches to form elsewhere over time? Just not come across this issue before. Asides from this, it's a great car, v well specced and in top condition so I'm loathe to give up on it...

From McLaren Warranty book.

Paintwork 3 years
cosmetic corrosion (as you described) 5 years
perforated corrosion 10 years

They were replacing wings and bonnets out of good will up to 10 years but this now seems to have stopped and most owners are being told its a repair.

It's like any other car it can be rubbed down and painted, the issue is getting the paint codes but where there is a will there usually is a way, McLaren warranty now usually repairs instead of replaces. Its nothing to worry about, treat as any other car.

[Crazy4557]

If you decide to go for it, join the Owners Club and there are people who will tell you where to get the paint from or who is good at sorting. It's not difficult and certainly would not put me off buying it.
My 2020 car is currently in the shop having a wing replaced and another wing repaired. The corrosion on the NS wing being replaced was discovered just before they changed to the new repair rather than replace regime and the other wing corrosion was discovered after the new rule so gets repaired...go figure

[Abacus21]

what colour. i have a few codes

[Fast Eddie]

Can you not tell the seller you want it fixed before you buy, much as you might with any other defect?

[12pack]

goatherder2001 said:

Hi everyone, been hoping to add a Mclaren 12c spider to the collection. Found a really well specced one and sent to Thorney for inspection. All good with the inspection except they found a couple of tiny areas of corrosion around one of the front wings and inside of the frunk lid.

It won't be covered by Mclaren warranty. My question is, how big a deal is this if it's tiny and barely visible? Can it be remedied relatively easily and repainted or should I expect other patches to form elsewhere over time? Just not come across this issue before. Asides from this, it's a great car, v well specced and in top condition so I'm loathe to give up on it...

If you can’t get it rectified under warranty or by the seller take heart in that is not really corrosion, as in rust, that eventually causes panel to fall apart. It’s oxidation of the layer under the paint, which is ultimately cosmetic, and not so hard to fix.

[goatherder2001]

Fast Eddie said:

Can you not tell the seller you want it fixed before you buy, much as you might with any other defect?

Yep, just want to make sure it will be done properly

[goatherder2001]

12pack said:

goatherder2001 said:

Hi everyone, been hoping to add a Mclaren 12c spider to the collection. Found a really well specced one and sent to Thorney for inspection. All good with the inspection except they found a couple of tiny areas of corrosion around one of the front wings and inside of the frunk lid.

It won't be covered by Mclaren warranty. My question is, how big a deal is this if it's tiny and barely visible? Can it be remedied relatively easily and repainted or should I expect other patches to form elsewhere over time? Just not come across this issue before. Asides from this, it's a great car, v well specced and in top condition so I'm loathe to give up on it...

If you can’t get it rectified under warranty or by the seller take heart in that is not really corrosion, as in rust, that eventually causes panel to fall apart. It’s oxidation of the layer under the paint, which is ultimately cosmetic, and not so hard to fix.

Thanks. That's helpful to know

[goatherder2001]

Abacus21 said:

what colour. i have a few codes

Thanks. It's pearl white?

[speedick]

For what it's worth, the Frunk corrosion is most likley because the gulley under the front edge of the bonnet fills with water when the car is washed ..... and it can take days to evaporate. Same with the doors if the nose of the car is slightly low.

Give the bonnet structure a few good squirts of ACF50 or similar along the front edge, and be sure to dry the front gulley after you have washed the car if its to stand in the cold for a while. Open the doors to drain them as well.

Finally, I wouldnt let the issues you mention put you off the car. They are easily and relatively (by supercar standards) cheaply fixed Being white helps (think yourself lucky it's not one of the early volcano orange ones with fading paint)