MERCEDES-BENZ SLR McLAREN ROADCAR - PRODUCTION
BODY ASSEMBLY
The Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren begins life at our Portsmouth facility where the carbon fibre monococque is assembled. Portsmouth focuses on the complex, high-precision assembly process and makes only the most critical of the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren’s carbon fibre components. When complete the monococque with all its closures are sent to Woking to be transformed into a fully functioning super sports car.
PAINTSHOP
The body is delivered directly to the paintshop where there are five preparation and spray booths along one wall of a glass-sided hall that overlooks the assembly hall. To ensure the highest quality paint finish, the paint process for the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren consists of a multi-stage operation, including primer, stone chip protection, base coat and clear coat, followed by an extensive polishing process to achieve a very high gloss.
VEHICLE ASSEMBLY
The body is now delivered to the assembly hall. There are 14 assembly work stations in total, operating to a strict structure. There are four to six technicians plus a relief technician in each team, supported by three team leaders. Our highly talented technicians have acquired cross-functional skills that allow them to work in any team at any station.
The assembly process begins with the wiring harness and front heat-shielding, plus the wiper motor linkage, ECUs and electrics. Every operation is logged into a wireless computer network to maintain strict quality control of the assembly operation.
The assembly of the car continues as it moves along each station. Further along the line the engine is assembled into the vehicle, together with the brake pipes, rear differential and rear suspension. To facilitate this, this station is one of two fitted with a lift. Even this comes out of a simple floor hatch, emphasising how everything was considered at the planning stage.
The final operation involves fitting the floor to the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren and the wheels, followed by the end-of-line vehicle audit.
PRE-DELIVERY
However, before the car can be shipped to the customer it must undergo a strict regime of tests to meet the highest of quality standards.
First each car visits the set-up bay to correctly set the suspension geometry, before being put on a four-post hydrapulse simulator to identify any squeaks and rattles. Each car is then put through 40 minutes on a rolling road at up to 250 km/h to reaffirm all the mechanical and electronic systems.
The car then visits the Monsoon booth where it’s sprayed by very high pressure jets to check seal integrity.
After passing these tests the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren gets taken for a shakedown at the Dunsfold race-circuit to check the ride and handling of the vehicle, as well as bedding in the vehicles ceramic brake system.
Once it has been signed off the car returns to McLaren Automotive for its final quality audit, before being cleaned, polished and shipped to the customer.
