I work at Brabus HQ here in Germany and I worked on the SLR before. I had to strip one down completely because it was repainted. And I can tell you it’s really a challenge. Most body panels are carbon fiber and putting everything back together was a nightmare because every single part is screwed. Nothing is glued or just clipped. I was so happy when I finally finished the car. By the way if you want to replace the spark plugs the engine has to come out completely…
The F1 has to get new fuel cells every few years that cost an absolute bomb before you put them on the car. Ive also read the tyres are similer cost to the Bugatti at £30,000 a set. Jeremy Clarkson also once said that a service was £25,000 on an F1. Wonder how many owners have taken a heart attack when they saw the service bill.
@@Quattro_Joe the f1 requires renting a track to balance the tires and do a tire alignment. My buddies dad has one. Fuel cells technically always have to be replaced every 5 years but they can actually last long. Lol my first car is sitting between an f1 and a ferrari right now. Also how I managed to get a dope first car and build it. 69 gto. But with a race engine. Too bad insurance was retarded. Oh well lofted on the last 10 percent of the build anyways.
@@emilvlahovic3917 it's done at a track. There's literally videos on this shit. Tire alignment and balancing when you replace them requires literally renting a track to do. And there's only one technician for them in all of North America. Super cars are usually dumb like that. Seen a veyron oil change?
@@emilvlahovic3917 Bruce claims McLaren wanted to charge him $50,000 (£40,000) for a new set of tyres despite the fact he'd only done 100 miles and the car had been serviced four months before. He said the cost was made up of around $7,000 for the actual rubber plus the need to balance the tyres at a racetrack which meant paying for a track hire, a pro driver, mechanics and liability insurance. So yeah wanna argue. Literally copy and pasted from an article that's got connections to vinwiki shit. It's the resprayed orange f1. It'd also why despite it being a dream I've said no to driving the one my friends dad owns. And haven't asked to drive that. Yet he's let me drive other shit. Also won't touch some of the vintage ferraris. For maintenance costs on the f1 though and parts time outs that have to be replaced unlike fuel cell. You pretty much wanna be the only one driving it as the owner. Unless he does end up with a veyron. Then I'll be like fuck it I wanna play with the f1 at least once on track. But dude rents a track out every so often specifically for maintenance on the f1. And just takes a bunch of other crazy cars with him and makes a thing of it. Also how I managed to get the suspension upgrades all dialed In on my gto. Modern suspension with coilovers and shit. Still need to figure out a few last details. And then turn boost up
I was an apprentice Technician with Mercedes-Benz when the SLR was launched. The dealer that I worked for at the time, had two of them and they had to order a special lift specifically for the SLR due to it's Carbon-Fiber monocoque. Also they sent the shop foreman to California for special training.
I made a service on an SLR once, 2 years ago or so and I remember the 180 bolts from the floor perfectly, that was a nightmare, also the car has 2 oil filters and more details, it has no oil In the oil pan like normal cars, that was quite an adventure, but the final bill wasn't so big because we skipped some things, if the car is normal driven you don't have to change the wheel nuts I'm every service. But it's truly an amazing car, I loved it.
I often wonder if these car companies deliberately build unreliable cars so they can grift rich folks with vastly inflated repair bills. From what I can tell that $50 keyfob battery is a standard Panasonic CR 2025, if you buy them from Mercedes they put them in the packaging upside down so you can't see what they are, but you can get a pair of them for less than $2.
IIRC the Ferrari F430 had a fuel pump for thousands which you could buy the identical copy from an Alfa catalogue for like 1/10th the price. Probably tons of these examples
I don't think they even make them as unreliable, just keep it in "as new" state and just charge to hell and beyond cause whoever bought it can pay, and won't let it rot away.
@@aaa84gt I recall hearing about some maintenance on a Veyron costing like 5 thousand dollars for the service, which involves replacing a ~100$ VW part. Identical, down to the logos.
That is of course the cost of the battery plus stocking it or having it delivered to them and installation. I wouldn't think that $50 for the battery and the time of a qualified person is that bad considering you know they'll charge pretty big sums. You can go buy a $2 battery yourself, but that time you use doing it isn't nothing or you won't get it delivered for free.
Would certainly be a hard car to give back, despite the headaches it provides, forget the cost, just make sure you enjoy the hell out of it while you've got it, or until it starts throwing more codes than a Microsoft employee!
The SLR McLaren is my all-time dream car. I've always wanted one ever since I first saw it in Gran Turismo 4. I have a few diecasts, love the look, the power, it's supercharged. It's super cool you own one Ed!
It's RBM and completely legit. I was part of the SLR team at another store and front brake pads and rotors were 35k in 2005. Even though the 199 isn't that complex, any part associated automatically got marked wayyy up. It's not the dealer, it's MB. Also, the pump gets metal particulate inside and can sometimes be isolated but you won't know if the rack got hit until pump gets replaced. Happened on the AMG GTS from hyperdrive...I helped with that car for a similar issue.
Financial advisor is another "accountability free" profession. Lawyers, accountants, and real estate agents as well. Any profession that charges you for something they had no hand in creating/improving or whether or not their 'expertise' keeps you out of jail or not is irksome.
@@ConnorHammondif only the world had crystal balls. Would you rather know up front? Or be surprised when the steering rack was causing the pump issue? Try to start with what you know, inform the customer it may need more. Please Uber from now on and don’t own a vehicle.
@@turkeysandwich3466 I just don't like the fact that, multiple times now, my gut instinct was better than the decisions I've let mechanics make. And I get billed for their shortcomings. I've had friends spend months diagnosing issues with one workshop, only to go to another and they somehow fix the problem instantly. There's a high level of incompetence that is not being held accountable, within the industry. I'll die on that hill.
The SBC braking system seems to be the sketchiest part of the car. I hear the brakes stop working without warning when the SBC computer crashes or decides to reboot while you’re driving. And btw, in your previous video about the fuel smell in the SLR, I was the guy who suggested the broken air conditioning was causing the fuel vapor problem (or at least one guy, if there were others) thank you…..you’re welcome!
@@joeljeffrey9139 I doubt it, that car would need some very expensive servicing before it could be driven. I think they're just using someone else's. Probably the peterson's museum, maybe.
Hey, that's the Biltmore house! The Vanderbilts had mega money starting in the mid-1800's. The house was finished right before 1900 and had some cool quirks and features- indoor plumbing and electricity!
Fun fact, SLR technician explained the A service on the SLR that I work with, it's not the fact that its too insane, it's the fact that MB decided that every screw and bolt on the A service has to be manually disassembled and reassembled by hand only to spec, which he said is usually 12-18 hours of labor alone
@@arshaq4471 I get that's its a hypercar, every service is over $1,000 and it needs special everything, down to the windshield washer fluid, but a key fob battery? I'm paying a tech $50 to install a $2.99 Wal-Mart button cell? That key better work EVERY. GOD. DAMN. TIME. for the next 5 years, or he's getting his balls pulled out through his nose 😁
@@brandonobaza8610 That Mercedes battery most likely is lithium and will last at least 2 years. That 2.99 Walmart battery will last 25 minutes then will go flat. Once a battery has been installed the tech will have a reprogramming procedure to link the key to the ECU. It's not just a battery replacement...
So a used SLR that had covered a total of 2,000 miles had a repair estimate of $34,000. That is $17 per mile. Sounds like a great design, and very well executed..... 🙄
He said they didn't think everything had to be done now. So he didn't do everything now. He said he did about 7000 worth of maintenance the first time and 600 when the car went funky with the fuel.
"the carbon tub is so stiff if you Jack it up normally it can break all the glass" Is that really how that works? Surely a car that flexes a lot would cause the stiff glass to break, if there's no flex atall the glass shouldn't even move.
Back in the 70s I knew the owner of a foreign car repair shop. He was replacing the windshield on a Ferrari 365 GTB/4 “Daytona”. He explained the windshield is a structural member, minus the glass the unibody is quite flexible. Windshield replacement required special shims around the circumference because without a snug fit the glass could pop out or break as the body flexes under load. Fast forward through the years and it seems nothing has changed. Exotic cars demand an unusually high level of understanding or the unintended mistakes lead to very expensive consequences.
@@rauldeu56 I'm not fully familiar with the construction of the SLR but from the images I've seen most of the glass is mounted in the carbon tub as you'd expect, I don't understand how a subframe flexing elsewhere would cause the glass the flex if it's mounted in a rigid carbon frame. That's besides the point though when you consider that on a regular car if the chassis flexes so does any sub assembly mounted to it otherwise the bolts/welds would just shear off and other cars windows don't shatter when lifted as a general rule. If the carbon tub is so rigid is doesn't flex then neither do the mounting points for the subframes which means unless you're actually lifting via the subframes themselves they have no real cause to flex anyway
🤣🤣🤣 ridiculous dealership prices! Like I do for all my clients with Exotics, I could do that list at just a fraction of the price! Prices like that are just insane!
Back before the SLR came out, I got to see a prototype on the street with its camouflage on. I couldn't figure out what it might be.. it was in university city San Diego, their map said a road went through my neighborhood but the bridge hadn't been built yet. The driver asked us for directions while we were jumping our bikes on some dirt jumps. So cool, hey Ed, I've got some more great car stories if you want to hit me up.
In the beginning I liked it, now it's confusing and slightly off-putting (I get it that he does this for a living, I just wish he was more upfront about the advertisement plugs)
when i was younger my dad worked for a company that made those fuel caps with the tethers. I have a prototype V8 Vantage cap in my desk. So i can tell you those caps cost about $5 to make and the tethers themselves cost less than a cent to make. You can figure that profit margin.
So many of these could be done with 3d printing or having someone mock up a replacement in whatever metal should be used, and if the next buyer wants to replace it for collector value that's on them! Especially things like the fuel cap tether...
The body is so rigid it’s transferring the weight of the car from the chassis to the doors and then the glass. It’s not twisting that breaks the glass it’s pressure. On a normal just the frame flexes when you lift on the frame Corvettes and most sports cars can have this risk as well.
@@Meowface. it doesn’t deform at all is the cause. the glass is almost directly connected to the frame when the doors are shut so if you lift the frame unevenly that put uneven pressure on the glass.
@@Meowface. depending on the method and design determines how stiff the window frame is. There shouldn’t be hardly any flex when the door are shut which is why they should be open when lifted. Some exotics are different though. For instance on the Lamborghini Gallardo I lifted I I made sure the engine cover was open and the side windows rolled down enough to not touch the roof to prevent pressure on the glass. Lifting on the correct lift point evenly is the most important step. It’s nerve racking to lift any exotic.
My friend owns one of those. Last service was a 15.000 euro engine out for spark plug replacement. 2 months later it greeted him with a dead alternator at 4000 euro. Still a unique car to own and never sell.
A really nice video thank you for making this. Being an SLR complete fanatic and fan - this makes my love for it even more. The complicated structure, the pricing and the pain.. I love the car even more
marketing and ad execs: please take notes on how to incorporate advertising without compromising the integrity of the content. this is a masterclass lol
I’ve always loved the long nose and side pipes on the SLR it was one of my favorite cars in the need for speed games never been a big fan of Mercedes V8 sounds but this has its own beautiful note And I love McLaren having owned three of them Have 720 S now Awesome car they hit it out of the park with the 720 crazy fast fairly light very safe and different luxe I love it
Yeh but they're absolutely worth it though 😉. Service etc isn't my thing, but it might be worth taking it by a McLaren dealership next time, I know the guys over the road at MSO still work on them quiet often, so you never know a MAL dealer might be able to help out. Great to see people still driving and enjoying them the way they're meant to, keep it up 🤙🏼
My Honda Accord power steering pump was $70 brand new and lasted over 300k miles my A/C is ice cold car is comfortable to drive the only down side it's slow
6:38 just me or is the left tire on backwards? pretty sure ventus tires have a rotation pattern following the arrow of the tread, 6:49 compare em to the back and yeah, its on backwards
Good point on modern cars. TH-camr Rich Rebuilds shares a story of a Tesla sedan with a broken fitting to the battery coolant system. Tesla wanted $16000 for a new battery pack. It was fixed by Rich's team for $700. If Tesla wants 16 grand for a broken hose fitting, that's a very dim future for electric cars.
I really don't like brown interior on cars. But I have to say the spec of your SLR in that dark grey with brown interior looks killer. Harry from Harry's Garage did a test on a SLR that had some factory updates done by McLaren that meant a repaint, new 5 spoke wheels that are alot lighter and look killer on the SLR. If you haven't checked out that video you really should Ed.
Working at mercedes years ago, in parts we billed something like $500 worth of parts (at list price, obviously menu pricing for service department jobs was different) for an A service. Those Benz list prices 😂
I’ve never bought supers because I felt that they’d be to expensive. I have around a dozen cars half of which are classic muscle cars. The only exotic that I find enjoyable to drive and look at is the SLR.
I work at Brabus HQ here in Germany and I worked on the SLR before. I had to strip one down completely because it was repainted. And I can tell you it’s really a challenge. Most body panels are carbon fiber and putting everything back together was a nightmare because every single part is screwed. Nothing is glued or just clipped. I was so happy when I finally finished the car. By the way if you want to replace the spark plugs the engine has to come out completely…
Sounds like a joy to work on
I almost thought when you mentioned "every part is screwed" means all those parts were broken 😂😂
No way! Engine pulled for spark plugs???
@@atticusrussell1225 That’s how Mercedes wants you to do it, yes. We did it a couple of times.
@@gerryakbar depends on how you look at it..!
"bolted to this special lift"
*me looking at the slr at work sitting on a regular 2 post hoist with its engine on a table under it
"Sir, thats an SL550..."
If Ed ever gets the McLaren F1 or Bugatti Veyron that he has been lusting for, it will make maintenance on the SLR look like peanuts.
The F1 has to get new fuel cells every few years that cost an absolute bomb before you put them on the car. Ive also read the tyres are similer cost to the Bugatti at £30,000 a set. Jeremy Clarkson also once said that a service was £25,000 on an F1. Wonder how many owners have taken a heart attack when they saw the service bill.
@@Quattro_Joe the f1 requires renting a track to balance the tires and do a tire alignment.
My buddies dad has one.
Fuel cells technically always have to be replaced every 5 years but they can actually last long.
Lol my first car is sitting between an f1 and a ferrari right now. Also how I managed to get a dope first car and build it. 69 gto. But with a race engine. Too bad insurance was retarded. Oh well lofted on the last 10 percent of the build anyways.
@@bmxriderforlife1234 balancing the tires on track ? Nah
@@emilvlahovic3917 it's done at a track. There's literally videos on this shit.
Tire alignment and balancing when you replace them requires literally renting a track to do. And there's only one technician for them in all of North America.
Super cars are usually dumb like that. Seen a veyron oil change?
@@emilvlahovic3917 Bruce claims McLaren wanted to charge him $50,000 (£40,000) for a new set of tyres despite the fact he'd only done 100 miles and the car had been serviced four months before.
He said the cost was made up of around $7,000 for the actual rubber plus the need to balance the tyres at a racetrack which meant paying for a track hire, a pro driver, mechanics and liability insurance.
So yeah wanna argue. Literally copy and pasted from an article that's got connections to vinwiki shit. It's the resprayed orange f1.
It'd also why despite it being a dream I've said no to driving the one my friends dad owns. And haven't asked to drive that. Yet he's let me drive other shit. Also won't touch some of the vintage ferraris.
For maintenance costs on the f1 though and parts time outs that have to be replaced unlike fuel cell. You pretty much wanna be the only one driving it as the owner. Unless he does end up with a veyron. Then I'll be like fuck it I wanna play with the f1 at least once on track.
But dude rents a track out every so often specifically for maintenance on the f1. And just takes a bunch of other crazy cars with him and makes a thing of it. Also how I managed to get the suspension upgrades all dialed In on my gto. Modern suspension with coilovers and shit. Still need to figure out a few last details. And then turn boost up
Imagine if dealerships maintained houses. They'd find at least $50k of repairs and maintenance per year, every year, on any house.
Ed: took it to the dealership for an oil change
RBM of Alpharetta: $35k
Is this “SLR specialist” a salesman?
I was an apprentice Technician with Mercedes-Benz when the SLR was launched. The dealer that I worked for at the time, had two of them and they had to order a special lift specifically for the SLR due to it's Carbon-Fiber monocoque. Also they sent the shop foreman to California for special training.
Special training for the foreman.....What Billing? The Tech gets the special training, my son worked on Shaq's McLaren when he was in Arizona.
@@doginu "The working class can kiss my ass, cos I got the foreman's job"
;)
@@doginu I don't know or care what your son did in Arizona. All I know is that our shop foreman worked on the floor with us Techs.
@@MrBdavis99 That's Great...
I made a service on an SLR once, 2 years ago or so and I remember the 180 bolts from the floor perfectly, that was a nightmare, also the car has 2 oil filters and more details, it has no oil In the oil pan like normal cars, that was quite an adventure, but the final bill wasn't so big because we skipped some things, if the car is normal driven you don't have to change the wheel nuts I'm every service. But it's truly an amazing car, I loved it.
I often wonder if these car companies deliberately build unreliable cars so they can grift rich folks with vastly inflated repair bills. From what I can tell that $50 keyfob battery is a standard Panasonic CR 2025, if you buy them from Mercedes they put them in the packaging upside down so you can't see what they are, but you can get a pair of them for less than $2.
IIRC the Ferrari F430 had a fuel pump for thousands which you could buy the identical copy from an Alfa catalogue for like 1/10th the price. Probably tons of these examples
I don't think they even make them as unreliable, just keep it in "as new" state and just charge to hell and beyond cause whoever bought it can pay, and won't let it rot away.
@@aaa84gt I recall hearing about some maintenance on a Veyron costing like 5 thousand dollars for the service, which involves replacing a ~100$ VW part. Identical, down to the logos.
Honestly I think that was an era where manufacturers were stretching their technical expertise to the max
That is of course the cost of the battery plus stocking it or having it delivered to them and installation. I wouldn't think that $50 for the battery and the time of a qualified person is that bad considering you know they'll charge pretty big sums.
You can go buy a $2 battery yourself, but that time you use doing it isn't nothing or you won't get it delivered for free.
But I love it anyway!
Hard to leave easy to get attached
Would certainly be a hard car to give back, despite the headaches it provides, forget the cost, just make sure you enjoy the hell out of it while you've got it, or until it starts throwing more codes than a Microsoft employee!
You have great taste.
You really need to stop with that soy face in your pictures.
I’ve just spent $17,000+ in maintenance and repairs on a 2007 Lexus LS460L… I love it too. So I understand! 💙
The SLR McLaren is my all-time dream car. I've always wanted one ever since I first saw it in Gran Turismo 4. I have a few diecasts, love the look, the power, it's supercharged. It's super cool you own one Ed!
Ed it sounds like you have a "Mercedes Dealer Issue" not a McLaren issue lol
Well, they have to pay for the "special lift". Every time an SLR gets placed on it.
It could be the power steering pump? But if that’s not it we will replace the steering rack?
@@bobbycuesroadhouse2204 sounds like a typical quick lube that also attempts to service cars. Outstanding!
It's RBM and completely legit. I was part of the SLR team at another store and front brake pads and rotors were 35k in 2005. Even though the 199 isn't that complex, any part associated automatically got marked wayyy up. It's not the dealer, it's MB. Also, the pump gets metal particulate inside and can sometimes be isolated but you won't know if the rack got hit until pump gets replaced. Happened on the AMG GTS from hyperdrive...I helped with that car for a similar issue.
Jeeze! I had an SLR on my list…now, not so much.
Vin Wiki: The Mercedes-McLaren SLR is an unbelievable maintenance nightmare!
Manny Khoshbin: Heyyy Guys, here is my tenth Mclaren SLR.
Lmao, spot on man. I literally thought this as soon as i clicked the video.
Manny rarely drives or starts them, so he probably wouldn't know if they have issues.
well if you sell then when the maintenance is due and buy one that just had maintenance you'll never have these issues 😅
@@zarbon700 he got a call from the dealership to pick up one of his slrs he said oh I forgot I had that one 😂
He doesn't drive his cars very much, and he doesn't care about the cost to maintain.
I laughed hard when he said, "im glad Paris Hilton's SLR is now Ed's SLR." 🤣🤣
A hundred bucks for a plastic gas cap leash. 😂
I fell in love with the SLR at first sight when I saw its debut in the 2003 Mercedes Benz Magazine.
SLR tech:
I’m guessing it’s the power steering pump, but if it’s not that then it’s the steering rack?
And you get to pay for both
Not many professions that bill you for their own incompetence, the way a mechanic does.
Financial advisor is another "accountability free" profession. Lawyers, accountants, and real estate agents as well.
Any profession that charges you for something they had no hand in creating/improving or whether or not their 'expertise' keeps you out of jail or not is irksome.
@@ConnorHammondif only the world had crystal balls. Would you rather know up front? Or be surprised when the steering rack was causing the pump issue? Try to start with what you know, inform the customer it may need more. Please Uber from now on and don’t own a vehicle.
@@turkeysandwich3466 I just don't like the fact that, multiple times now, my gut instinct was better than the decisions I've let mechanics make. And I get billed for their shortcomings. I've had friends spend months diagnosing issues with one workshop, only to go to another and they somehow fix the problem instantly. There's a high level of incompetence that is not being held accountable, within the industry. I'll die on that hill.
@@ConnorHammond
Also not like a mechanic would shy away from overcharging you.
Ed's sponsor transitions are smoother than the finish on my car after a detail using Gloss It's premium line of products
The SBC braking system seems to be the sketchiest part of the car. I hear the brakes stop working without warning when the SBC computer crashes or decides to reboot while you’re driving.
And btw, in your previous video about the fuel smell in the SLR, I was the guy who suggested the broken air conditioning was causing the fuel vapor problem (or at least one guy, if there were others) thank you…..you’re welcome!
"What did they do? Buy you a Golf?" - James May
Nice one. The SLR is Mercedes’ best car. Keep driving it, truly is a fantastic motor.
I prefer the SLS.
Are we all going to ignore the fact that there's a photo of him, Hoovie and Tavarish in a Mclaren f1
I believe that's from next season of cartrek
lol nope, Just waiting on the next season of cartrek so I can see the video with the F1
Some says they were riding commando in homage to Hilton Lohan picture
I was just going to comment this. Did Ed find and buy the El Chapo F1?!?!
@@joeljeffrey9139 I doubt it, that car would need some very expensive servicing before it could be driven. I think they're just using someone else's. Probably the peterson's museum, maybe.
Hey, that's the Biltmore house! The Vanderbilts had mega money starting in the mid-1800's. The house was finished right before 1900 and had some cool quirks and features- indoor plumbing and electricity!
The tour is Fantastic. Well worth the price of admission.
Fun fact, SLR technician explained the A service on the SLR that I work with, it's not the fact that its too insane, it's the fact that MB decided that every screw and bolt on the A service has to be manually disassembled and reassembled by hand only to spec, which he said is usually 12-18 hours of labor alone
And apparently they're a bitch to drive because the brake pedal is much closer to the gas pedal than it should be
"Key Battery -- $50"
Well, hey, compared to _everything_ else...
Good point😁
Bruh. For a key battery for my dad's cx 9 it's pretty much like 10 dollars max.
@@arshaq4471 I get that's its a hypercar, every service is over $1,000 and it needs special everything, down to the windshield washer fluid, but a key fob battery? I'm paying a tech $50 to install a $2.99 Wal-Mart button cell? That key better work EVERY. GOD. DAMN. TIME. for the next 5 years, or he's getting his balls pulled out through his nose 😁
@@brandonobaza8610 Exactly lmao. I could easily go and get a battery right now from the baqala below my house for just less than 5 dollars.
@@brandonobaza8610
That Mercedes battery most likely is lithium and will last at least 2 years.
That 2.99 Walmart battery will last 25 minutes then will go flat.
Once a battery has been installed the tech will have a reprogramming procedure to link the key to the ECU.
It's not just a battery replacement...
That bit about fuel cooling makes my brain hurt
The way you speak is incredible. I wish I could wordsmith as you do.
He practices a lot
@@Smarterthanyou-mthrfkr yeah he does , by making more videos for TH-cam, lol.
Second that
He’s a charming charlatan.
With friends and a sales job you'll get there too
So a used SLR that had covered a total of 2,000 miles had a repair estimate of $34,000. That is $17 per mile. Sounds like a great design, and very well executed..... 🙄
He said they didn't think everything had to be done now. So he didn't do everything now. He said he did about 7000 worth of maintenance the first time and 600 when the car went funky with the fuel.
I worked at McLaren in 2004 building the SLR great job))
Nice 👍
"the carbon tub is so stiff if you Jack it up normally it can break all the glass"
Is that really how that works? Surely a car that flexes a lot would cause the stiff glass to break, if there's no flex atall the glass shouldn't even move.
thought the same here
I think it has to do with rest of the car cause if tub is so stiff maybe subframes take majority of flex witch causes glass to break
Back in the 70s I knew the owner of a foreign car repair shop. He was replacing the windshield on a Ferrari 365 GTB/4 “Daytona”. He explained the windshield is a structural member, minus the glass the unibody is quite flexible. Windshield replacement required special shims around the circumference because without a snug fit the glass could pop out or break as the body flexes under load. Fast forward through the years and it seems nothing has changed. Exotic cars demand an unusually high level of understanding or the unintended mistakes lead to very expensive consequences.
Subframe takes majority of the flex since the tub is so ridigid
@@rauldeu56 I'm not fully familiar with the construction of the SLR but from the images I've seen most of the glass is mounted in the carbon tub as you'd expect, I don't understand how a subframe flexing elsewhere would cause the glass the flex if it's mounted in a rigid carbon frame.
That's besides the point though when you consider that on a regular car if the chassis flexes so does any sub assembly mounted to it otherwise the bolts/welds would just shear off and other cars windows don't shatter when lifted as a general rule.
If the carbon tub is so rigid is doesn't flex then neither do the mounting points for the subframes which means unless you're actually lifting via the subframes themselves they have no real cause to flex anyway
🤣🤣🤣 ridiculous dealership prices!
Like I do for all my clients with Exotics, I could do that list at just a fraction of the price!
Prices like that are just insane!
SLR: Slightly Less Rich
The problem with all of this is that I'm really wanting an SLR now.
you’d better get on it before Koshbin buys them all
Ready for a maintenance bill costing much as a Camry?
One of my top favorite super cars. I got the amazing experience to drive one a few years back. All my little dreams had come true that day.
Everyone knows an “unsheathed undercarriage” is terrible for the aero!
Back before the SLR came out, I got to see a prototype on the street with its camouflage on. I couldn't figure out what it might be.. it was in university city San Diego, their map said a road went through my neighborhood but the bridge hadn't been built yet. The driver asked us for directions while we were jumping our bikes on some dirt jumps. So cool, hey Ed, I've got some more great car stories if you want to hit me up.
I love how ED makes the sponsor sound like it’s part of the story
Its almost like he’s been in sales for awhile 😉
I don’t
In the beginning I liked it, now it's confusing and slightly off-putting (I get it that he does this for a living, I just wish he was more upfront about the advertisement plugs)
As I was in my computer doing my taxes and I do raid shadow legends it's so fun blah blah blah
@@stirfryjedi agreed
Damn, I work on my bosses high end Mercedes all the time for hardly anything. I'm gonna have to show him this video and re-evaluate my prices.
Key battery for 50 Bucks?? Had one replaced in a key of my 911 lately, cost me like 4$😅
The batteries are usually a buck. $49 labour for a shop boy to replace it.
I'm gonna have to get a storage unit to house all the products Ed hypnotizes me into buying in the middle of his stories.
Unsheathed undercarriage 🤣🤣🤣🤣 that one line absolutely killed me 🤣🤣🤣
when i was younger my dad worked for a company that made those fuel caps with the tethers. I have a prototype V8 Vantage cap in my desk. So i can tell you those caps cost about $5 to make and the tethers themselves cost less than a cent to make. You can figure that profit margin.
Ed Bolian = a great story teller with amazing facts, figures, data and stats. And a true professional. Please keep up the great work! God bless...
So many of these could be done with 3d printing or having someone mock up a replacement in whatever metal should be used, and if the next buyer wants to replace it for collector value that's on them! Especially things like the fuel cap tether...
Agreed. If the OEM parts were so fucking great, to justify their ridiculous pricing, they wouldn't have failed in the first place.
"Unsheathed undercarriage"....hahaha...I'm stealing that!!
If the car were rigid it wouldnt break glass when you lift it
That means its flexing enough to twist the glass
The body is so rigid it’s transferring the weight of the car from the chassis to the doors and then the glass. It’s not twisting that breaks the glass it’s pressure. On a normal just the frame flexes when you lift on the frame Corvettes and most sports cars can have this risk as well.
@@ramblin327 so the frame doesnt deform..but it deforms enough to break glass
Got it
@@Meowface. it doesn’t deform at all is the cause. the glass is almost directly connected to the frame when the doors are shut so if you lift the frame unevenly that put uneven pressure on the glass.
@@ramblin327 so the frame the glass is in changes shape right?
@@Meowface. depending on the method and design determines how stiff the window frame is. There shouldn’t be hardly any flex when the door are shut which is why they should be open when lifted. Some exotics are different though. For instance on the Lamborghini Gallardo I lifted I I made sure the engine cover was open and the side windows rolled down enough to not touch the roof to prevent pressure on the glass. Lifting on the correct lift point evenly is the most important step. It’s nerve racking to lift any exotic.
My friend owns one of those. Last service was a 15.000 euro engine out for spark plug replacement. 2 months later it greeted him with a dead alternator at 4000 euro. Still a unique car to own and never sell.
You and Tyler should put on Scottish kilts with bag pipes in the trunk. A perfect meme for owning Paris Hilton’s car.
Truly Shocking.
Appreciate you not trying to recreate the Brittany picture for all of us to see.
That is the best color on the SLR
in my opinion
Leave it to the Germans, to somehow route the AC system through the fuel system, because reasons….. just crazy.
Fuel boiling is not a joke.
It was designed, engineered and built by McLaren in the UK
@@robsmith6794
The Germans are trying to take over the UK again?
unsheathed under carriage/ we would also have accepted exposed waste gate.
Comment of the day
anything with Mclaren on it, is going to be mega expensive
I dont know why but i love the wheel and tire package on the SLR
Can't believe Ed got the TH-cam rag in GA
A really nice video thank you for making this. Being an SLR complete fanatic and fan - this makes my love for it even more. The complicated structure, the pricing and the pain.. I love the car even more
marketing and ad execs: please take notes on how to incorporate advertising without compromising the integrity of the content. this is a masterclass lol
I’ve always loved the long nose and side pipes on the SLR it was one of my favorite cars in the need for speed games never been a big fan of Mercedes V8 sounds but this has its own beautiful note And I love McLaren having owned three of them Have 720 S now Awesome car they hit it out of the park with the 720 crazy fast fairly light very safe and different luxe I love it
Blacklist #2
It would be cool if you guys could get Manny Khoshbin to tell some stories
Don’t mind me…
Just admiring depreciation…
Jay Leno himself said the car was one of the most reliable super cars hes ever owned so this video is weird.
Yeh but they're absolutely worth it though 😉. Service etc isn't my thing, but it might be worth taking it by a McLaren dealership next time, I know the guys over the road at MSO still work on them quiet often, so you never know a MAL dealer might be able to help out. Great to see people still driving and enjoying them the way they're meant to, keep it up 🤙🏼
My Honda Accord power steering pump was $70 brand new and lasted over 300k miles my A/C is ice cold car is comfortable to drive the only down side it's slow
Yeah, but can you do any celebrity seat sniffing in your Honda Accord? Nope.
My only question is in about 20-30 years will you still be able to service this cars or are they just going to be an art piece?
My guess is unless you have the cash to have the parts 3d printed or custom/hand made, you will be out of luck.
The aftermarket might take over.
They.Charge.50 DOLLARS.FOR.A.KEY.BATTERY.
lol i would be doing that myself or cutting into the key to fish the battery out if they make it none removable
Thanks to the tune up, what do I owe you?
A new fully loaded Honda Accord.
The video title we all unfortunately saw coming
Hope you cleaned the seats well....really well
I other words...
Don't get an aging supercar like this, UNLESS...
You have started a successful TH-cam channel with lots of enthusiastic sponsors!!
Its not the looks or how fancy the doors open,.. its the freedom one person gets with one machine made to go fast..
I remember Rob Ferreti's SLR rental got a damaged wheel. It cost $20,000. Nuckin futs
6:38 just me or is the left tire on backwards? pretty sure ventus tires have a rotation pattern following the arrow of the tread, 6:49 compare em to the back and yeah, its on backwards
You need to clone the car wizard and give him a shop near Atlanta😂😂
That guy's trash, bud.
Ed talked the sponsor into buying an SLR. Ever the shrewd negotiator.
Paris Hilton should talk to you in VINwiki
The Engine in the SLR is bulletproof, It's based off the legendary m113. Solid engines!
I just got a 52,000 dollar maintenance estimate for my 2015 Porsche Macan Turbo after going in for an oil change
I'd love to see that estimate!
Good point on modern cars. TH-camr Rich Rebuilds shares a story of a Tesla sedan with a broken fitting to the battery coolant system. Tesla wanted $16000 for a new battery pack. It was fixed by Rich's team for $700. If Tesla wants 16 grand for a broken hose fitting, that's a very dim future for electric cars.
“It uses about a liter of oil every thousand miles…”
Uhhh, what? I hope I heard that wrong.
German quality..?
Plz never sell this one! It's just an iconic car! It will be desirable for decades to come!
I like that you have so much money but you also have financial awareness
Consuming a *liter* every thousand miles? I was concerned when my Honda was losing a quart every 3 thousand.
10 new minutes from Ed. It is a good day.
I really don't like brown interior on cars. But I have to say the spec of your SLR in that dark grey with brown interior looks killer. Harry from Harry's Garage did a test on a SLR that had some factory updates done by McLaren that meant a repaint, new 5 spoke wheels that are alot lighter and look killer on the SLR. If you haven't checked out that video you really should Ed.
Talk about luxury tax! That’s insane! Almost a grand for hood struts that you could probably change yourself for under $50..
This particular Benz is definitely worth the maintenance nightmares imo !
i've wanted on since i seen jeremy clarkson drive one... i love the growl it makes....
I think the car is acting up because it’s traumatized by Britney Spears lol 😂 Good story Ed as always!
I used to drive a benz, after a few services, I sold it and bought a honda.
Did the same with porsche....sold it kept my mx5....best move I made
Finally Ed video but when will rabbit come back
He’s already told his next story on his own channel
There was an Ed video about a week ago....
"Buy a german depreciated exotic car they say, it will be cheap they said!" 😂😂😂
@Alen The car itself, i didn't say anything about maintenance 😂
That key battery at $50 must be an exceptionally fancy battery :O
Most of that is probably labor $200+ an hour but they also mark up the price on parts too.
@@Farquad76.547 A CR-2025 battery with a Mercedes or any oem part number instantly gets a large mark up.
Ed: have a great day!
Me: well it hadn't started this way but..
"OEM Battery" = $1350. Is it Unicorn powered?
"Key Battery" = $50. Must use that new CR-FiddyFiddy battery.
50 bucks for the battery cuz the employee has to drive to Walmart to buy one 😂😂😂😂😂
Working at mercedes years ago, in parts we billed something like $500 worth of parts (at list price, obviously menu pricing for service department jobs was different) for an A service. Those Benz list prices 😂
Time to buy a pair of coveralls Ed.......
I’ve never bought supers because I felt that they’d be to expensive. I have around a dozen cars half of which are classic muscle cars. The only exotic that I find enjoyable to drive and look at is the SLR.
Two thing put me off on buying and SLR. 1st. Maintenance is far to expensive. 2nd. I only have $17. 68 in my savings account.
I've said it over and over and over... If you can't afford to buy it new, you can't afford to maintain it used...
I fell in love with this car when I first saw it and it's still my #1 dream car.