Bodywork Price Gouging

[Magnets!]

I'm not sure a Tesla painted bumper is better than body shop painted, given all the paint issues we've read about. FYI Tesla charges $350 for an unpainted bumper and $250 for a front quarter panel.

 

[jelloslug]

Hey, imagine that. Tesla giving out different stories to people who ask the same questions... ;-)

I specifically asked. The answer was very vague. "The bumper is painted by Tesla." I asked for very specific details, as in, where, physically is this part painted by Tesla. That's when I was told the above. I'm not at all surprised that you were told differently.

I asked the same thing and was told specifically that the Model 3 front and rear bumper covers only were factory painted. Everything else would be painted in house or at a satellite location.

 

[jelloslug]

I'm not sure a Tesla painted bumper is better than body shop painted, given all the paint issues we've read about. FYI Tesla charges $350 for an unpainted bumper and $250 for a front quarter panel.

Most bodyshop use "less expensive" paints and a totally different painting method which can result in fading differences over time and paint delamination if a quality paint is not used. We plan on keeping the car for a long time so a factory painted part is desirable for us.

 

[kgoroway]

I asked the same thing and was told specifically that the Model 3 front and rear bumper covers only were factory painted. Everything else would be painted in house or at a satellite location.

Ah hah! You probably heard correctly afterall! I sent an email asking WTF my bumper was (after 3 weeks), and this is what I got back:

"At this time, we had a shift in policies of painted bumpers. Pre-painted bumpers became available from our parts distribution center out of California. We had moved forward with ordering a pre-painted bumper. We are currently waiting for the bumper to be shipped from California."

Too bad this puts me back in the waiting phase... *sigh*

 

[jelloslug]

Ah hah! You probably heard correctly afterall! I sent an email asking WTF my bumper was (after 3 weeks), and this is what I got back:

"At this time, we had a shift in policies of painted bumpers. Pre-painted bumpers became available from our parts distribution center out of California. We had moved forward with ordering a pre-painted bumper. We are currently waiting for the bumper to be shipped from California."

Too bad this puts me back in the waiting phase... *sigh*

If it's any consolation, the pre-painted bumper matched the car perfectly.