Pure McLaren Silverstone track time

[MMarkM]

I know this was touched on previously but I'm not sure with a definitive answer. I'm booked on for the track time for day on 5th September and received the below email yesterday. Does this actually mean a pre track inspection is mandatory?

Pre-track safety inspection

We strongly recommend that your retailer completes a pre-track safety check on your vehicle. The Pure McLaren engineering team will also conduct a light pre-track inspection on site, which will last approximately 20 minutes. Please note that work needing to be carried out on your vehicle on site may impact your time on track and will mirror the cost of the retailer-based pre-track inspection. For the safety of all those on track, any vehicle not meeting the required standard may not be permitted to go on track.

If you live in the vicinity of Silverstone Circuit, or plan to stay locally, please feel free to drop your McLaren off with the team the night before your day on track. The team will complete your safety inspection overnight, and your McLaren will be ready waiting for you in the paddock upon arrival. If you would like to confirm an early drop off, please advise us of the approximate time you plan to arrive

[TBCTBC]

My understanding was that to maintain the Mclaren warranty, a pre and post inspection was needed if tracking the car.

[isaldiri]

MMarkM said:

I know this was touched on previously but I'm not sure with a definitive answer. I'm booked on for the track time for day on 5th September and received the below email yesterday. Does this actually mean a pre track inspection is mandatory?

Pre-track safety inspection

We strongly recommend that your retailer completes a pre-track safety check on your vehicle. The Pure McLaren engineering team will also conduct a light pre-track inspection on site, which will last approximately 20 minutes. Please note that work needing to be carried out on your vehicle on site may impact your time on track and will mirror the cost of the retailer-based pre-track inspection. For the safety of all those on track, any vehicle not meeting the required standard may not be permitted to go on track.

If you live in the vicinity of Silverstone Circuit, or plan to stay locally, please feel free to drop your McLaren off with the team the night before your day on track. The team will complete your safety inspection overnight, and your McLaren will be ready waiting for you in the paddock upon arrival. If you would like to confirm an early drop off, please advise us of the approximate time you plan to arrive

Not sure how it works nowadays as it's been years since I sold my car but it always used to be that if previously on any Mclaren trackday, the inspections were rolled up into the day itself without extra charge with no need to do them before or after. Would be a bit disappointing if that has changed tbh.

[davek_964]

TBCTBC said:

My understanding was that to maintain the Mclaren warranty, a pre and post inspection was needed if tracking the car.

Yep.

It was discussed on the owners group - the "check" they do at the track is not the official inspection, and hence if you have McLaren warranty - and don't want to void it - you need to official pre-post inspection.
It makes it somewhat ridiculous when you add the cost of both of those to the day - self warranty helps here!

[JPCGT]

Yes - I'm doing McLaren Pure Silverstone TD on 5 September and have booked a pre-track day inspection with McLaren Ascot, given my LT is still under manufacturers warranty. When I spoke with McLaren Ascot, they offered what I thought to be a sensible and pragmatic approach to determining when a pre-track day inspection would be required/recommended.

[Streetbeat]

I dont really see that anything more than a 20 minute inspection is required, lets say 30 mins to round it up to a half hours labour charge, check the brakes/fluids/tyres, job done and same on post track, would seem far more sensible than their current over kill time.

[tobytwo]

New Forest quoted £500 for a pre post inspection when I mentioned I’d be going to Silverstone with my 720. I accepted the pre inspection as it would also act as post inspection for the 2 other track days I’ve done so far.

I’m happy to pull the pads out and measure them pre and post event, but that’s my limit. What I’ve learnt is only losing 0.5mm of pad depth over two track days means I’m probably not driving anywhere near what the car is capable of and I need more training.

[mOrtt]

tobytwo said:

New Forest quoted £500 for a pre post inspection when I mentioned I’d be going to Silverstone with my 720. I accepted the pre inspection as it would also act as post inspection for the 2 other track days I’ve done so far.

I’m happy to pull the pads out and measure them pre and post event, but that’s my limit. What I’ve learnt is only losing 0.5mm of pad depth over two track days means I’m probably not driving anywhere near what the car is capable of and I need more training.

0.5mm! Are you getting out of first gear? You must be doing something right to get that low pad usage, I wish me/my 600LT was that efficient on the brakes on track.

[MMarkM]

I think that's ridiculous, void a warranty because the car gets driven how it's meant to be?! I guess another question would be, how would they know? Do the event staff make a note of attendance and share with McLaren?

[JPCGT]

MMarkM said:

I think that's ridiculous, void a warranty because the car gets driven how it's meant to be?! I guess another question would be, how would they know? Do the event staff make a note of attendance and share with McLaren?

My understanding from speaking to a McLaren main dealer is that they would be aware of your car going on track, if you were to attend a McLaren Pure Track Day. But they wouldn't necessarily be aware, if you attended a non-McLaren track day.

However, I would personally wonder if they would interrogate the ECU for signs of track use, were they to query a warranty claim after attending a non-McLaren track day.

Edited by JPCGT on Saturday 20th July 12:38

[Streetbeat]

JPCGT said:

However, I would personally wonder if they would interrogate the ECU for signs of track use, were they to query a warranty claim after attending a non-McLaren track day.

Edited by JPCGT on Saturday 20th July 12:38

How will the ecu know youve been on track, it doesnt record data.

The only chance they could positively confirm is via the tracker (if active) but that data isnt available to them.

[Rocketreid]

The most obvious sign of track use is on the tyres, however if you swap them out then no trace.

Other tell tale signs are the Brakes and tyre debris pick up, this gets into all the nooks and crannies.

The issue McLaren and the warranty companies have are related to component failure caused by excessive track use, or using on track when in a condition that may exacerbate a failure

Proving track use is not straightforward for them, but if there is clear evidence, photos etc you may be screwed

[gazm]

I had my warranty voided because i did a track day. i had the pre check done by the garage did not tell me about the post check (why would i pay for one and not the other was my argument) thankfully the garage agreed to cover the cost of the work that was required.

if you have a warranty get it done!

[Frankychops]

or just don't bother? save the cost of the Mclaren warranty, having it checked over pre and post, theres £5k per year?

[tobytwo]

I plan to own the car for five years and self warranty so my man maths went a bit like this.

Each year there’s £5k warranty plus £2k for inspections (4 track days). That’s £35k in the repairs pot which these days with V, Thorney and others repairing rather than replacing the big expensive oily bits seems reasonable. Just had the accumulators upgraded at V for significantly less than the official leaky units.

When I did my research and looked past all the noise most owners report the cars are reliable and easy to own once they have some miles and years to iron out the original niggles.

Not sure what a 10 year old 35k+ mile 720 is going to be worth but to be honest I don’t care, it’ll be worth a less than I paid but the memories will be priceless.

As for the brake pad wear, I’m gonna work real hard to make a better accounting of myself, as a boat engineer I have a high degree of mechanical sympathy.

[tobytwo]

mOrtt said:

tobytwo said:

New Forest quoted £500 for a pre post inspection when I mentioned I’d be going to Silverstone with my 720. I accepted the pre inspection as it would also act as post inspection for the 2 other track days I’ve done so far.

I’m happy to pull the pads out and measure them pre and post event, but that’s my limit. What I’ve learnt is only losing 0.5mm of pad depth over two track days means I’m probably not driving anywhere near what the car is capable of and I need more training.

0.5mm! Are you getting out of first gear? You must be doing something right to get that low pad usage, I wish me/my 600LT was that efficient on the brakes on track.

I do but I fitted SC7 in the winter and in the cold and wet they are brilliant but on hot track, not so much, lots of under steer. Another set of rims with Trofeo’s are next on the to do list.
My previous car was an R8 and on track everyone left me alone but the 720 has a target on the back and anyone that sees it drives at 10/10 to overtake them 1/2 a lap later pulls in to cool off, it’s noticeablly different. With some coaching I’ll do a better job of defending McLarens honour next year.

[MMarkM]

McLaren New Forest just confirmed because it's an extended warranty then any track use will void the warranty regardless of any pre and post inspection.

This is pretty poor. Anyone know if this is correct?

[Purso]

As far as I am aware this is pretty standard across the industry.

[Streetbeat]

MMarkM said:

McLaren New Forest just confirmed because it's an extended warranty then any track use will void the warranty regardless of any pre and post inspection.

This is pretty poor. Anyone know if this is correct?

I dont believe thats the case, look through your terms and conditions.

[mOrtt]

The "2023 McLaren Extended Warranty Policy Booklet" documentation contradicts the "E0747 McLaren Extended warranty MICL IPID" documentation.

Clear as mud as usual with McLaren

v. Track and Competition Use
The McLaren Warranty will cover the use of McLaren vehicles during track use in
the following circumstances:
a. If the track event is of a non-competitive nature, and the vehicle has been fully inspected by an Approved Service Representative immediately before and immediately after the track event.

versus

Are there any restrictions on cover?

This warranty does not cover:
- Track days – any failure incurred or caused as a result of or following a track day (unless the event is officially organised by McLaren Automotive Ltd).