The McLaren F1 is inextricably linked to BMW. One of the most legendary road cars in history features a BMW-sourced S70/2 V12 engine that delivers equally legendary performance: it develops 618 horsepower, screams at 7,500 rpm and allows the machine to reach a top speed of over 240 miles per hour. Keeping the power plant in top shape is no joke. And for those lucky enough to be thinking about getting their own McLaren F1 almost 30 years later, regular maintenance is probably one of the highest priorities on the list. Predictably, BMW of North America played an important role here too. A 1994 McLaren F1, chassis 014, arrives at RM Sotheby’s in Abu Dhabi tomorrow, boasting a service history from none other than BMW of North America. Impressive for a car that was never technically intended for the US!
BMW and the McLaren F1: A real “service story”
Although it’s not often talked about, a McLaren F1 serviced by BMW of North America shouldn’t necessarily be considered the most unusual thing. Of course, that’s in proportion to the fact that there are only 106 McLaren F1s in existence and about 20 or 30 in the US. McLaren hired BMW of North America to service the BMW-powered supercars that landed in the US in the mid-1990s. Only a handful of technicians were ever trained on the BMW side. It took until 2018 for McLaren to open its own service center for the F1 – perhaps understandable since the car has nothing in common with its successors.
Meanwhile, BMW of North America continues to benefit from the tentative commercial agreement. Tom DiGregorio, a trained technician, still performs work on the McLaren F1 cars still in the collection of BMW of North America. It wasn’t until 2024 that he replaced the windshield of an F1 GTR – a $25,000 component, in case you were wondering. “It’s my favorite car to work on, but you better pay attention and be aware of your surroundings when you’re working on it,” he said. And apparently have a blank check or suitcase full of cash on hand.
McLaren F1 chassis 014 at a glance
Unfortunately we do not have permission to use the auction listing images. Please see the link at the end of the story. In any case, this particular McLaren F1, chassis 014, is even stranger because despite being a BMW of North American origin, it’s actually no longer in the US! As mentioned, it is now in Abu Dhabi. Originally Titanium Yellow, its original custodians were none other than the royal family of Brunei. After ownership under a former McLaren director, David Clark, the car eventually migrated to the United States, where its New York-based owner took it to BMW of North America for extensive servicing. The car then changed hands again and made its way to Woking, where it was completely rebuilt. The car also received some notable factory extras this time around, including new paint, the much-lauded High Downforce Kit and many interior improvements.
After this nearly $500,000 renovation in the early 2000s, the car remained more or less unchanged. Today, the car has almost 14,000 miles on the clock, which likely puts it in the “medium to high mileage” category for McLaren F1s. The RM auction goes live tomorrow and you can check out the car at the link below – and I highly recommend you do so even if you don’t have the estimated $21 million.
1994 McLaren F1 at RM Sothebys
