Showing your age there mate..
We had a 3.0L Capri with straight through pipes with cherry Bombs.....
edit. Scratch that, I thought it was an 80's thing...Turns out you can still get them.......
Now I'm feeling old
Last edited:
Its a bird! It's a plane! No, it's a new yellow CryptoClaren!
- Thread starter kindai
- Start date
We had a 3.0L Capri with straight through pipes with cherry Bombs.....
edit. Scratch that, I thought it was an 80's thing...Turns out you can still get them.......
Now I'm feeling old
Caporegime
You and me both!
I thought I was being retro, until l googled them to see they are actually still current!
Had one on an old XR3i Ford Escort, it ruined it to be honest!
Mod time! Wooo!!!
Ok not that woo, but a QOL enhancement
Not sure where the quality is as I ended up cutting my hands to shreds, many swearies and a call to @Gibbo
First up, take off the top off the back wall.
Next
Tease out the wiring and plug in the new harness... The person who built my car seemed to have a fettish for cable ties, so this was... very difficult.
At this point, I have no idea how to get the new wiring harness out of the way to plug the new one in.
I wiggle, I jiggle, I giggle in despair. No way that is going anywhere.
A quick call to Gibbo and after removing the back carpet, it opens up 4 bolts that allow the back wall to pull away slightly.
With that extra room I can wiggle the wires down and get the module connected up.
No where for this to go realistically, so just stuck it where it was.
And re-assemble the cover.
The result, I can now put the roof down and up using the keyfob
A simple but amazing mod.
Ok not that woo, but a QOL enhancement
Not sure where the quality is as I ended up cutting my hands to shreds, many swearies and a call to @Gibbo
First up, take off the top off the back wall.
Next
Tease out the wiring and plug in the new harness... The person who built my car seemed to have a fettish for cable ties, so this was... very difficult.
At this point, I have no idea how to get the new wiring harness out of the way to plug the new one in.
I wiggle, I jiggle, I giggle in despair. No way that is going anywhere.
A quick call to Gibbo and after removing the back carpet, it opens up 4 bolts that allow the back wall to pull away slightly.
With that extra room I can wiggle the wires down and get the module connected up.
No where for this to go realistically, so just stuck it where it was.
And re-assemble the cover.
The result, I can now put the roof down and up using the keyfob
A simple but amazing mod.
Man of Honour
Do they assume you normally have staff on hand for such menial tasks?
Looks lovely, friend of mine has a blue 720s great pieces of engineering in the flesh and it makes me laugh every time he takes it back to McLaren for something and they just shrug "it's a McLaren thing" but he still loves it
Looks lovely, friend of mine has a blue 720s great pieces of engineering in the flesh and it makes me laugh every time he takes it back to McLaren for something and they just shrug "it's a McLaren thing" but he still loves it
Associate
A simple but amazing mod maybe, but I would honestly expect that to be standard. I'm really surprised. Still a beautiful car. 
A simple but amazing mod maybe, but I would honestly expect that to be standard. I'm really surprised. Still a beautiful car.
It is something that is missed on many cars and hence why smart top I guess sell a lot of the dongles.
I believe newer McLarens models do have this coded from factory now.
I did mine a couple of weeks back and continued the McLaren cable tidy fetish and added a few more cable ties for good measure and some tape to ensure what I’d done did not introduce any rattles.
It’s a gimmick but it’s cool and I suppose at somepoint it might come in handy other than just showing off.
Associate
Yeah just fitted one to my F23 2 series in the last few weeks. Worth it after struggling to fit it by feel alone!!
Depends where the parking for your salon is
So not much interest to post up at the moment!
The car is solid, reliable and trouble free so far.
The service teams at Manchester and Birmingham are fantastic, the factory however.... yea... not good.
Replacement door hinges were identified as a warranty job when I putchased the car. We are now half a year later and still waiting for them to turn up.
Otherwise, added my insta handle back on. At least it makes a talking point 
The car is solid, reliable and trouble free so far.
The service teams at Manchester and Birmingham are fantastic, the factory however.... yea... not good.
Replacement door hinges were identified as a warranty job when I putchased the car. We are now half a year later and still waiting for them to turn up.
Otherwise, added my insta handle back on. At least it makes a talking point
Service time!
After going into Birmingham for a door switch issue, I came out thinking, theyre just looking for work.
A few "issues" found, which they wanted to investigate and after speaking with people about those issues, they arent anything of concern at all.
On top of that, in the previous service the coolant wasnt changed, and they couldnt find any information as to why despite them having all the car records. I had to eventually ring up a number of dealers and workshops to find out it was done prior to the service.
Anyway, that didnt leave me with much confidence if im honest. If a main dealer cant find out that kind of basic information on their own systems...
So, decision made. Car went to litchos.
As always, the service is top class there. Everything done to manufacturer specs, using official parts. Any "problems" looked at and discussed properly.
Half the price of the main dealer, better service, people I trust. And they did a free MOT while at it.
After going into Birmingham for a door switch issue, I came out thinking, theyre just looking for work.
A few "issues" found, which they wanted to investigate and after speaking with people about those issues, they arent anything of concern at all.
On top of that, in the previous service the coolant wasnt changed, and they couldnt find any information as to why despite them having all the car records. I had to eventually ring up a number of dealers and workshops to find out it was done prior to the service.
Anyway, that didnt leave me with much confidence if im honest. If a main dealer cant find out that kind of basic information on their own systems...
So, decision made. Car went to litchos.
As always, the service is top class there. Everything done to manufacturer specs, using official parts. Any "problems" looked at and discussed properly.
Half the price of the main dealer, better service, people I trust. And they did a free MOT while at it.
Last edited:
Soldato
Nice - but did you leave the lift up for those photos?!
£800 and change
Haha it was actually litchos who took them!
£800 and change
Haha it was actually litchos who took them!
Very good if that included the coolant change, main dealers want £1400 for that service even with 4+ discount.
@kindai
How are you getting on with the car buddy?
I'm looking for a replacement for the M5Comp. After watching @Gibbo 600LT videos I'm seriously considering a McLaren. Obviously the M5 is a spectacular all rounder So I'll be needing a daily as well. The new M5's are too big. We have trouble in the F90 finding parking at hotels whilst on the continent, so that kinda rules out the new one especially when it was the touring i liked.
How are you getting on with the car buddy?
I'm looking for a replacement for the M5Comp. After watching @Gibbo 600LT videos I'm seriously considering a McLaren. Obviously the M5 is a spectacular all rounder So I'll be needing a daily as well. The new M5's are too big. We have trouble in the F90 finding parking at hotels whilst on the continent, so that kinda rules out the new one especially when it was the touring i liked.
Its been fantastic, Comfy in comfort mode, sporty in sports. No major problems, a few niggles here and there (door handle stopped working on passenger side).
Its the kind of car I think id keep alongside something less sensible.
Moisture gets into the soft rubber buttons contacts on the doors, normally via pressure washing (so inform your car valeter).
I'd still always recommend a warranty but some else of note is the earlier McLarens from the 2017 period known as the P11 cars were generally built very well as 2016-2018 was a period where McLaren was making less cars so they typically went out the door in good quality. 2017-2018 is sweet spot also for the £190 per year tax.
2020-2023 is some of the poor production years potentially as McLaren were selling a lot more cars worldwide, 2024 onwards they seem to have got on top of things, new 750S and Artura going out the door seem to be trouble free. Also to note Ferrari's from same era seem to be plagued with issues, 812's various issues and 296 full of electrical gremlins. Lamborghini been Audi seem trouble free but running cost are in a different league to a McLaren.
I'd still advice a warranty with any McLaren, my 600 LT has been with McLaren Manchester for two months now, due to some weird electrical gremlin and so far they have done all under warranty:
- Replace the steering column power motor
- Remove dash and checked the entire loom
- Update all modules software wise
They now think they have got to bottom of it but because the issue is so random and intermittent I have not been pushing to have car back I always planned to drop it off in December and let them have it for Winter (I won't be driving it) for them to diagnose and hopefully get to bottom if it. Parts and labour this issue would cost thousands alone without a warranty, as such I just renewed my warranty again during December promotional period which cost £4328 for two years warranty, so car is now under warranty until March 2027. Bear in mind in last two years the car has been trouble free with no reasons for recovery until this electrical issue becoming more persistent (dash cycling on and off whilst driving) I personally think its body control module going down. Previous to this its had AC issues fixed twice, new damper, new door hinges all done under warranty.
If self warrantying the best most recommended specialist is V Engineering they seem the most knowledgeable and best labour rates, you then have Litchfield's and Thorney Motorsport who people use for servicing and repairs also.
The 570S particular in Spider form is the best modern supercar sub 100k if you ask me, also do not dismiss the 650S they are absolute bargains and the most feelsome modern supercars for sale today, hydraulic steering, carbon tub, insane performance and old school turbo boosty engines and they are far cheaper to run, maintain and warranty compared to likes of Ferrari, Lamborghini especially if you want to stay within dealer network.
Two years maintenance cost on mine:
£4328 - warranty
£2000 - servicing
£1200 - insurance (admiral multi-car)
£1100 - tax (£400 on 17/18 plate car)
Fuel - 10-40mpg, right foot dependent
So budget 5k a year running cost, potentially far less or far more if you don't warranty. Depreciation if you buy well will not be that much, I paid 150k over two years ago, trade offers are 115-130k on my car now, I purchased on 10k miles, it is now on 19k miles. Retail would be 140-155k, I am not selling but if I was I'd hazard a private sale I can net 130k easy, but feel due to spec I could potentially get 150k if patient, so zero depreciation to drive around in a supercar.
Buy a 570S Spider for 80-90k and your pretty safe, likewise on a 650S as people are realising what epic cars they are and McLaren is no worse than Ferrari or Porsche as a used proposition really. Only Lamborghini really has the edge on reliability but you pay far more for that privilege and an equivalent spec R8 delivers similar with more usability and 1/3 of running cost....
Last edited: