McLaren main battery - good, bad and ugly ?
Discussion
My understanding (which may well be wrong) is :
The batteries themselves are not on back order - but the current generation of batteries needs adapters to connect to the harness, and they are (or were - I was last told about this a year or so ago).
I think you have always been able to connect a traditional lead acid battery, but would lose battery monitoring functionality - which meant for example that if the battery dies, the windows will not drop and you won't be able to open the door without the glass smashing.
However, I <thought> there were adaptors of some kind which meant that wasn't true anymore and you could use lead acid and not lose functionality.
The batteries themselves are not on back order - but the current generation of batteries needs adapters to connect to the harness, and they are (or were - I was last told about this a year or so ago).
I think you have always been able to connect a traditional lead acid battery, but would lose battery monitoring functionality - which meant for example that if the battery dies, the windows will not drop and you won't be able to open the door without the glass smashing.
However, I <thought> there were adaptors of some kind which meant that wasn't true anymore and you could use lead acid and not lose functionality.
Generically Lithium batteries have a computer inside them (BMS) that uses power, after about the 60 days the BMS has used all the power in the battery and will go into a 'deep sleep' very low power usage mode. In deep sleep mode the BMS wakes up periodically so connecting to a constant voltage charger may well recover the battery, if when it wakes it sees power it should instigate a charge cycle.
After an additional period of time the voltage will drop further and the lithium cells are unrevivably damaged, the chemical process fails and unlike a lead acid battery can't be coaxed back to life.
I'm a boat engineer and that's how they works in my industry.
Mclaren won't make the cells, they may make the BMS, and probably do make the software which enables the whole thing to work as a system. Changing the battery to get you home is probably OK; changing a major component of the electrical system without understanding the rest of the system, especially how the alternator regulates charging could lead to all sorts of expensive issues.
I think that's my point, a battery isn't a battery any more, its a collection of components used as part of a wider system.
Hope this helps.
After an additional period of time the voltage will drop further and the lithium cells are unrevivably damaged, the chemical process fails and unlike a lead acid battery can't be coaxed back to life.
I'm a boat engineer and that's how they works in my industry.
Mclaren won't make the cells, they may make the BMS, and probably do make the software which enables the whole thing to work as a system. Changing the battery to get you home is probably OK; changing a major component of the electrical system without understanding the rest of the system, especially how the alternator regulates charging could lead to all sorts of expensive issues.
I think that's my point, a battery isn't a battery any more, its a collection of components used as part of a wider system.
Hope this helps.
Info from Thorney Motorsport here on simply replacing with a lead acid.
Or you can get an electronic external BMS module from the US that lets you swap in a lead acid battery and emulate BMS functions.
Or you can get an electronic external BMS module from the US that lets you swap in a lead acid battery and emulate BMS functions.
LOL with the exception of the new carbon factory near Sheffield Mclaren make nothing!! even the software gets stolen from Bosch then tweaked in house, most of the batteries fitted on the production line are near flat anyway, so I would suspect many are sub optimal right from the start, many only survive due to many cars not used and kept on trickle chargers, use daily then OK, like every other battery subject to any neglect and they do not last, and yes as stated they car does monitor voltage and does have a separate connector to it, older cars were fitted with boggo lead acid, and later with li iron, very light and very expensive. Fit a lead acid and use the rest saved for that Euro tour in your Mc, or better still a decent track day with driver training.
Op, what is your issue with the current battery? I’ve had mine go totally flat, once while away for a long period when the trickle charger died, and once with at the dealership for 3 months while waiting for a part during Covid. Both times came fully back to life after a deep re-charge. Seems to be holding fine for at the least the 2-3 weeks I sometimes have between uses while not on charge on the garage lift.
12pack said:
Op, what is your issue with the current battery? I’ve had mine go totally flat, once while away for a long period when the trickle charger died, and once with at the dealership for 3 months while waiting for a part during Covid. Both times came fully back to life after a deep re-charge. Seems to be holding fine for at the least the 2-3 weeks I sometimes have between uses while not on charge on the garage lift.
Hi I have a few niggles with windows etc but the main problem I currently have is the alarm which keeps going off. McDealer 1 couldn't sort so it is going to McDealer 2 in the new year.
I am concerned they will blame the battery, change it for new and then find that it isn't in fact that, and I will be £2-3k out of pocket for no progress, so keen to understand options before I reach that juncture.
semisane said:
Hi I have a few niggles with windows etc but the main problem I currently have is the alarm which keeps going off.
McDealer 1 couldn't sort so it is going to McDealer 2 in the new year.
I am concerned they will blame the battery, change it for new and then find that it isn't in fact that, and I will be £2-3k out of pocket for no progress, so keen to understand options before I reach that juncture.
I’m no expert, but apart from the alarm, are there indications this has to do with the battery? Most obviously - what does the state of charge indicator say? Do the windows drop or does the tracker send out a low battery alarm?McDealer 1 couldn't sort so it is going to McDealer 2 in the new year.
I am concerned they will blame the battery, change it for new and then find that it isn't in fact that, and I will be £2-3k out of pocket for no progress, so keen to understand options before I reach that juncture.
12pack said:
I’m no expert, but apart from the alarm, are there indications this has to do with the battery? Most obviously - what does the state of charge indicator say? Do the windows drop or does the tracker send out a low battery alarm?
I have intermittent issues with the sat nav and occasionally windows (which I believe is due to the anti-trap being too sensitive on rough roads), but that is about it. Battery condition is normally between 37-42, car used most days.No tracker
No other [intermittent] lights on the dash, which I understand are sometimes caused by low battery.
My 720 windows have minds of their own.
McLaren Assist told me last week my dead car’s alternator wasn’t producing any output so off on the flatbed.
McHat charged the completely flat battery and pronounced all fine and dandy. Sure enough, still on 45 days despite windows bouncing about a bit. Delighted not to have had to track down any expensive replacements.
McLaren Assist told me last week my dead car’s alternator wasn’t producing any output so off on the flatbed.
McHat charged the completely flat battery and pronounced all fine and dandy. Sure enough, still on 45 days despite windows bouncing about a bit. Delighted not to have had to track down any expensive replacements.
davek_964 said:
Your description of the window behaviour sounds entirely normal. Both of my cars have done that (try to put the window up while driving, it reaches the top and then goes back down half way). It's just one of those (annoying) things
Off topic but Fwiw, have never had that issue on my car. Surely, can be resolved?12pack said:
davek_964 said:
Your description of the window behaviour sounds entirely normal. Both of my cars have done that (try to put the window up while driving, it reaches the top and then goes back down half way). It's just one of those (annoying) things
Off topic but Fwiw, have never had that issue on my car. Surely, can be resolved?Gassing Station | McLaren | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff