On Monday, I upgraded my 2018 (which has EAP) to the new 3.0 FSD computer. I then signed up for the monthly FSD fee and watched as traffic lights lit up like Christmas trees and Stop signs appeared out of nowhere. Nice touch I thought and then...
When I picked up my car from service I immediately saw a message that stated "Autopilot Unavailable" May be restored on your next drive. Okay, no problem. Asked the Tesla Tech what was wrong as the car should just be working as they did a full service. He told me they noticed a few Model 3's from my year throwing up that message but told me to just calibrate the cameras. So, I drove around calibrating cameras and eventually reached 99% of calibration and then it...
STOPPED.
No problem, set up another appointment and they told me I'll have a visit from mobile tech on Nov 22 at 1 PM and then...
Tesla service accessed my car computer and stated the appointment will now be on December 8th if they receive my parts in time. Huh? What parts? I was totally in the dark and then...
Received another message; Cameras all need to be updated. They are replacing my cameras as the ones on my car are no doubt not compatible with the new computer install. So I figured by making the $1000 investment in the new computer I would be able to keep the value of my car up there with 2021+++. I have the following:
Enhanced Autopilot (which I did not lose by upgrading)
Autosteer (Beta - was on the car when I bought it)
Summon (Beta - was on the car when I bought it)
Autopark (Beta - was on the car when I bought it)
Navigate on Autopilot (Beta - was on the car when I bought it)
Traffic Light & Stop Sign Control ((Just Added)
Green Traffic Chime (Just Added)
Full Self-Driving Visualization Preview (Just Added)
Basically, once the cameras are replaced on the 8th I was told I have tech in the car which are in the 2021's and beyond. If I sell the car the new buyer can choose FSD and subscribe or cancel it and go with EAP (makes sense).
Now, here's where it gets interesting. My car can't navigate on Autopilot right now as Pillar B cameras are not compatible with the FSD 3.0 I had installed. I got on the highway and then to my surprise the car drove safer (in my opinion) on Autopilot with cruise control and passing then it did on EAP. The car stayed almost directly in the center lane (with blue lines on either side guiding her down the highway) then when on EAP (one blue line appearing under the middle of the car). The car actually (for the first time in months) made smoother exits on off ramps (from the exit lane) and braked smoother then on EAP. All my settings for distance and braking were never changed so I can definitely tell the difference between the two.
No charge for the cameras being installed. No charge for a new cable (as they replaced the pins on the charging point as they've been doing on all the cars) and no charge for ball joints (and whatever else goes with the joints) and no charge to place the Dual Motor designation tag which never put on the car when it first manufactured in 20018.
Moral of the story: I thought I was going to get a bit mad when told after paying the 1K I need to now wait for cameras. I then thought it through and realized I'm getting an entirely new car for a grand. I learned that simply autopilot with cruise control actually works better than what I had (EAP) and that my driving score of 93 no longer makes a difference as once the new cameras are in my FSD is activated and works 100%. Whether I get future updated for "Kudo's Safety Driving" I really don't care and I don't think anyone else should care.
Happy Holidays.
When I picked up my car from service I immediately saw a message that stated "Autopilot Unavailable" May be restored on your next drive. Okay, no problem. Asked the Tesla Tech what was wrong as the car should just be working as they did a full service. He told me they noticed a few Model 3's from my year throwing up that message but told me to just calibrate the cameras. So, I drove around calibrating cameras and eventually reached 99% of calibration and then it...
STOPPED.
No problem, set up another appointment and they told me I'll have a visit from mobile tech on Nov 22 at 1 PM and then...
Tesla service accessed my car computer and stated the appointment will now be on December 8th if they receive my parts in time. Huh? What parts? I was totally in the dark and then...
Received another message; Cameras all need to be updated. They are replacing my cameras as the ones on my car are no doubt not compatible with the new computer install. So I figured by making the $1000 investment in the new computer I would be able to keep the value of my car up there with 2021+++. I have the following:
Enhanced Autopilot (which I did not lose by upgrading)
Autosteer (Beta - was on the car when I bought it)
Summon (Beta - was on the car when I bought it)
Autopark (Beta - was on the car when I bought it)
Navigate on Autopilot (Beta - was on the car when I bought it)
Traffic Light & Stop Sign Control ((Just Added)
Green Traffic Chime (Just Added)
Full Self-Driving Visualization Preview (Just Added)
Basically, once the cameras are replaced on the 8th I was told I have tech in the car which are in the 2021's and beyond. If I sell the car the new buyer can choose FSD and subscribe or cancel it and go with EAP (makes sense).
Now, here's where it gets interesting. My car can't navigate on Autopilot right now as Pillar B cameras are not compatible with the FSD 3.0 I had installed. I got on the highway and then to my surprise the car drove safer (in my opinion) on Autopilot with cruise control and passing then it did on EAP. The car stayed almost directly in the center lane (with blue lines on either side guiding her down the highway) then when on EAP (one blue line appearing under the middle of the car). The car actually (for the first time in months) made smoother exits on off ramps (from the exit lane) and braked smoother then on EAP. All my settings for distance and braking were never changed so I can definitely tell the difference between the two.
No charge for the cameras being installed. No charge for a new cable (as they replaced the pins on the charging point as they've been doing on all the cars) and no charge for ball joints (and whatever else goes with the joints) and no charge to place the Dual Motor designation tag which never put on the car when it first manufactured in 20018.
Moral of the story: I thought I was going to get a bit mad when told after paying the 1K I need to now wait for cameras. I then thought it through and realized I'm getting an entirely new car for a grand. I learned that simply autopilot with cruise control actually works better than what I had (EAP) and that my driving score of 93 no longer makes a difference as once the new cameras are in my FSD is activated and works 100%. Whether I get future updated for "Kudo's Safety Driving" I really don't care and I don't think anyone else should care.
Happy Holidays.
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