540/570 running costs?
Discussion
So, looking at these at the moment. I've done some top level man maths but am not sure of running costs. I think:
Small service £600 and major one £1200 but not sure how often this is needed. Are there any BIG services I have to consider or replacement parts that are expensive outside of the servicing?
Road tax looks like a punchy £700
No idea on insurance yet but at 55 and living in a fairly decent area it hopefully won’t be too bad.
Beyond that is there anything I have missed?
Small service £600 and major one £1200 but not sure how often this is needed. Are there any BIG services I have to consider or replacement parts that are expensive outside of the servicing?
Road tax looks like a punchy £700
No idea on insurance yet but at 55 and living in a fairly decent area it hopefully won’t be too bad.
Beyond that is there anything I have missed?
I think servicing costs will vary based on whether you use McLaren or Indy's. Based on your username, V Engineering aren't so far from you (it's who I use now).
I <think> there is a big service cost when something on the 570 is needed (charcoal filter?) - but I'm sure owners can confirm.
Insurance obviously varies massively for individuals - but my 650 insurance started at about £800 I think around 2019, gradually climbed each year until it reached about £1,200 - and then dropped to almost half that this year. Despite them paying total loss on my previous 650 in 2022. And I'm similar age to you in a similar area.
That's with mine kept outside, no tracker and a relatively high 8k miles a year.
For what it's worth - I expected McLaren servicing to be a different level to Porsche / Ferrari / Aston I'd owned before. But I was pleasantly surprised - even when I still used McLaren. Now I use V, I'd almost call mine cheap to run.
I <think> there is a big service cost when something on the 570 is needed (charcoal filter?) - but I'm sure owners can confirm.
Insurance obviously varies massively for individuals - but my 650 insurance started at about £800 I think around 2019, gradually climbed each year until it reached about £1,200 - and then dropped to almost half that this year. Despite them paying total loss on my previous 650 in 2022. And I'm similar age to you in a similar area.
That's with mine kept outside, no tracker and a relatively high 8k miles a year.
For what it's worth - I expected McLaren servicing to be a different level to Porsche / Ferrari / Aston I'd owned before. But I was pleasantly surprised - even when I still used McLaren. Now I use V, I'd almost call mine cheap to run.
Services are annual, major and minor alternating years.
I think on the service schedule the charcoal filters are at the 6 year mark which need the fuel tank out (~£600), the clutch oil needs doing at 20k miles (~£450), obviously it's possible to hit these two marks simultaneously so adding £1k to the above major service cost on that occasion.
V Engineering check what's needed rather than blindly replacing parts and are quite a lot cheaper as a result.
The obvious expensive replacement parts are the brake discs and pads, on all cars but much more so with the ceramics. But equally many people manage to avoid needing these.
Road tax depends on age. Cars first reg before 1st April 2017 will be full whack Band M £735 as you say. Most Sports Series are newer and will be the basic £190 plus £410 a year supplement until six years old. So can be quite cheap once past the six year mark.
I was pleasantly surprised with insurance being sub £1k for my first year, has risen slightly now but not too bad. I wouldn't insure me for that little!
I think on the service schedule the charcoal filters are at the 6 year mark which need the fuel tank out (~£600), the clutch oil needs doing at 20k miles (~£450), obviously it's possible to hit these two marks simultaneously so adding £1k to the above major service cost on that occasion.
V Engineering check what's needed rather than blindly replacing parts and are quite a lot cheaper as a result.
The obvious expensive replacement parts are the brake discs and pads, on all cars but much more so with the ceramics. But equally many people manage to avoid needing these.
Road tax depends on age. Cars first reg before 1st April 2017 will be full whack Band M £735 as you say. Most Sports Series are newer and will be the basic £190 plus £410 a year supplement until six years old. So can be quite cheap once past the six year mark.
I was pleasantly surprised with insurance being sub £1k for my first year, has risen slightly now but not too bad. I wouldn't insure me for that little!
Frimley111R said:
So, looking at these at the moment. I've done some top level man maths but am not sure of running costs. I think:
Small service £600 and major one £1200 but not sure how often this is needed. Are there any BIG services I have to consider or replacement parts that are expensive outside of the servicing?
Road tax looks like a punchy £700
No idea on insurance yet but at 55 and living in a fairly decent area it hopefully won’t be too bad.
Beyond that is there anything I have missed?
The only big service I can think of is the 6th one which requires the fuel tank to be dropped. McLaren dealers charge about £2,000+. It’s probably not necessary if you use an independent and don’t have a McLaren warranty. Insurance is about £1,000 for me but that’s for three cars.Small service £600 and major one £1200 but not sure how often this is needed. Are there any BIG services I have to consider or replacement parts that are expensive outside of the servicing?
Road tax looks like a punchy £700
No idea on insurance yet but at 55 and living in a fairly decent area it hopefully won’t be too bad.
Beyond that is there anything I have missed?
Doesn’t Road Tax also reduce after the 5th year?
Just_read_the _instructions said:
V will tell you they haven't replaced a charcoal canister yet, Paul said they have one under his desk.... bought some time ago.
Steve told me not to top off the fuel when filling up, and you should be ok.
6th year service 495.
£495 ( plus vat) must be without changing air filters, pollen filter and brake fluid as per Mclaren service schedule ?? Steve told me not to top off the fuel when filling up, and you should be ok.
6th year service 495.
Davyt said:
Just_read_the _instructions said:
V will tell you they haven't replaced a charcoal canister yet, Paul said they have one under his desk.... bought some time ago.
Steve told me not to top off the fuel when filling up, and you should be ok.
6th year service 495.
£495 ( plus vat) must be without changing air filters, pollen filter and brake fluid as per Mclaren service schedule ?? Steve told me not to top off the fuel when filling up, and you should be ok.
6th year service 495.
I asked about brake fluid, the results of it being tested were shown to me, and it was almost new, so little moisture it wasn't worth the mention.
Air filters change, but no pollen filter.
I've spent a lifetime in asset management and their remit does not send any warning signals to me; happy to be told I'm wrong, but schedule or time based maintenance isn't the only way to maintain hardware.
Just_read_the _instructions said:
As per Samoht above; V operate on a condition based principle for some aspects.
I asked about brake fluid, the results of it being tested were shown to me, and it was almost new, so little moisture it wasn't worth the mention.
Air filters change, but no pollen filter.
I've spent a lifetime in asset management and their remit does not send any warning signals to me; happy to be told I'm wrong, but schedule or time based maintenance isn't the only way to maintain hardware.
At least the air filters changed which is good as they are a cheap throw away service item,,,I asked about brake fluid, the results of it being tested were shown to me, and it was almost new, so little moisture it wasn't worth the mention.
Air filters change, but no pollen filter.
I've spent a lifetime in asset management and their remit does not send any warning signals to me; happy to be told I'm wrong, but schedule or time based maintenance isn't the only way to maintain hardware.
I’ve spent a lifetime in asset maintenance and there’s nothing wrong with time based or scheduled maintenance, you just need the data/ history to set these periods,, it’s called preventative maintenance and when done correctly can save you ££££ in down time and repair costs,,
Matty3 said:
Owned my 570s Spider from new - wouldn't consider running one without an official McLaren warranty - tho' not cheap, has saved me money to date. Others will no doubt disagree tho'. 
Continuous service history is an absolute must in my book.
Agree. I think you need to make a basic decision before buying- pay more for peace of mind and buy a full mclaren warranty/service history vehicle or select a car with Thorney inspection/history. Continuous service history is an absolute must in my book.
If you are near to V engineering that's not so bad, and perhaps get them to do an inspection/report on a car if they offer that?
One thing I can confirm is that the 2nd hand mclaren market is full of cars outside mclaren warranty being sold by "prestige" car dealers where the aftermarket warranty is simply no good and not fit for purpose.
There a guy on the FB group who bought a 570s for £94k on the agreement it would be later inspected by Thorney and faults rectified at the dealers cost. There was a cracked exhaust manifold, cracked spring, and other bits n bobs that came to£8k at Thorney by estimate. The warranty didn't cover it and the car was refused under SOG Act. Be very careful, the car was beautiful and dripping in carbon with fmsh upto 17k then aftermarket.
Opposite opinion on warranty here. Put a bit aside if you are worried. As these cars get older less and less will be covered by a warranty anyway. Get an inspection at one of the decent indies instead. Or buy through them.
Tax, insurance, fuel economy, normal servicing are really not that expensive.
Tax, insurance, fuel economy, normal servicing are really not that expensive.
targarama said:
Opposite opinion on warranty here. Put a bit aside if you are worried. As these cars get older less and less will be covered by a warranty anyway. Get an inspection at one of the decent indies instead. Or buy through them.
Tax, insurance, fuel economy, normal servicing are really not that expensive.
Agreed if you were paying say 60-70k for a car but decent ones still £90+k. Once they drop further in price there will also be more bought by people who can't/don't service them at Mclaren or a good specialist. Tax, insurance, fuel economy, normal servicing are really not that expensive.
Also if parts were actually available and local specialists were close by I'd have kept my 570s a few more years perhaps, as it was I was lucky to be an hrs drive of Leeds, otherwise I was stuffed for servicing or a specialist.
Purchased mine recently. Of a friend who has owned it 6 years so I know the car well. Its of to V for a service. A number of friends have used them and only say good things. I'm not going purchase a warranty, never have with any brand including Porsche and Ferrari.
Good Luck OP, you wont regret it.
Good Luck OP, you wont regret it.
Davyt said:
Believe there’s a 15% discount till year end on McLaren extended warranty, if your cars under 5 it’s not much more than the cost of a replacement damper,, I know someone who’s just had a gearbox replaced under extended warranty so I for one wouldn’t want to be faced with that bill….
If you didn't have a warranty, I doubt you would be faced with that bill - because an Indy would repair rather than replace.It's horses for courses. I had a warranty for the first two years of my first McLaren - and wouldn't have bought it without that. I claimed a few things, although I doubt it was near the cost.
I didn't have it for the third year, and haven't on my current car - because I didn't have warranties on other similar cars, and the McLaren's seem no worse than them.
If I had paid for warranty on my current car, I don't think I would have got a penny back in the last 12 months.
davek_964 said:
If you didn't have a warranty, I doubt you would be faced with that bill - because an Indy would repair rather than replace.
It's horses for courses. I had a warranty for the first two years of my first McLaren - and wouldn't have bought it without that. I claimed a few things, although I doubt it was near the cost.
I didn't have it for the third year, and haven't on my current car - because I didn't have warranties on other similar cars, and the McLaren's seem no worse than them.
If I had paid for warranty on my current car, I don't think I would have got a penny back in the last 12 months.
Yes cheaper at an Indie who will repair, still around £10K I’m told and then Vat I would imagine,It's horses for courses. I had a warranty for the first two years of my first McLaren - and wouldn't have bought it without that. I claimed a few things, although I doubt it was near the cost.
I didn't have it for the third year, and haven't on my current car - because I didn't have warranties on other similar cars, and the McLaren's seem no worse than them.
If I had paid for warranty on my current car, I don't think I would have got a penny back in the last 12 months.
Each to there own how they run/ maintain their cars, as long as they’re on the road it doesn’t really matter,,
I do all my own work. After 30+ years of Ferraris, McLarens are a breeze to work on. I've had my 570S since '18. Cost wise, fluids are cheap. Filters are cheap. If I had to estimate (without looking at my records): oil changes cost less than $100USD. clutch fluid ~$400USD, filter ~$200. Gearbox fluid ~$200, filter ~$200.
I bet it costs me around $250USD annually to maintain my 570 by the book.
I bet it costs me around $250USD annually to maintain my 570 by the book.
Edited by Ingenere on Friday 4th October 07:28
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