Changes to Servicing

[dalec]

Hi everyone, I'm a little confused, forgive me I'm a n00b. I placed an order a week ago for a long range Model S. My car hasn't been built yet. When I was at the showroom, they walked me through a service plan, which was basically buying 4 years of servicing upfront. Now I see they are saying they aren't doing that anymore.

I'm a little confused they'd literally try to sell it to me last week, then not offer it this week, but okay. I'm not entirely clear on whether I am still supposed to buy the plan because I ordered last week, but this change looks like it is universal. Assuming that is the case, the things that need to be done do not look particularly challenging. I mean, changing air filters is something I reckon I could do (at least in a normal car).

So does this "as needed" servicing need to be done at a Tesla Service Centre, or can we get a local mechanic to do it? Do Tesla supply the filters to local mechanics, or only sell them via the Service Centre? Is there any other checks done (data logs, battery, air suspension, etc) that would mean I should go to the Service Centre? It seems a long way to drive to change an air filter, check the wiper blades and brake pads...

Regards, Dale

 

[Tam]

...last week...

That's a long time for Tesla's policy to remain the same

I believe their sales people did not get any advanced information until club members would find out first so I don't think they were selling something that they knew would be discontinued tomorrow.

I don't see why local mechanic can't do what now listed as "as needed" maintenance service.

The first will come up for your S is 12,000 mile tire rotation which requires no parts or just generic tires.

Next will be every 2 year air filter. I hope by then, generic air filter companies will make theirs available to the public.

Otherwise, I guess have your local mechanic order one from Tesla in advance.

Good luck!

 

[Blue heaven]

Hi everyone, I'm a little confused, forgive me I'm a n00b. I placed an order a week ago for a long range Model S. My car hasn't been built yet. When I was at the showroom, they walked me through a service plan, which was basically buying 4 years of servicing upfront. Now I see they are saying they aren't doing that anymore.

I'm a little confused they'd literally try to sell it to me last week, then not offer it this week, but okay. I'm not entirely clear on whether I am still supposed to buy the plan because I ordered last week, but this change looks like it is universal. Assuming that is the case, the things that need to be done do not look particularly challenging. I mean, changing air filters is something I reckon I could do (at least in a normal car).

So does this "as needed" servicing need to be done at a Tesla Service Centre, or can we get a local mechanic to do it? Do Tesla supply the filters to local mechanics, or only sell them via the Service Centre? Is there any other checks done (data logs, battery, air suspension, etc) that would mean I should go to the Service Centre? It seems a long way to drive to change an air filter, check the wiper blades and brake pads...

Regards, Dale

Although there is far less serviceable items on an electric car it's still a good policy to get the car into Tesla from time to for what is essentially a safety check, for sure Tesla check the aircon, battery coolant and brake fluid condition but the most important part of the car is the steering, brakes and suspension, it's worth paying the small cost of a service to provide the comfort that your 100k plus car is going to stop correctly when needed.
I don't use the pay up front service plan, some owners on here swear by it, I guess it depends on how many kilometers you plan to travel per year.

 

[NiallDarwin]

Don't touch dealers with bargepoles unless you have to.

 

[paulp]

Hi everyone, I'm a little confused, forgive me I'm a n00b. I placed an order a week ago for a long range Model S. My car hasn't been built yet. When I was at the showroom, they walked me through a service plan, which was basically buying 4 years of servicing upfront. Now I see they are saying they aren't doing that anymore.

I'm a little confused they'd literally try to sell it to me last week, then not offer it this week, but okay. I'm not entirely clear on whether I am still supposed to buy the plan because I ordered last week, but this change looks like it is universal. Assuming that is the case, the things that need to be done do not look particularly challenging. I mean, changing air filters is something I reckon I could do (at least in a normal car).

So does this "as needed" servicing need to be done at a Tesla Service Centre, or can we get a local mechanic to do it? Do Tesla supply the filters to local mechanics, or only sell them via the Service Centre? Is there any other checks done (data logs, battery, air suspension, etc) that would mean I should go to the Service Centre? It seems a long way to drive to change an air filter, check the wiper blades and brake pads...

Regards, Dale

My experience with tesla preventative maintenance is that it is very fairly priced unlike traditional car ‘dealers’. I have never done the service plan. There is no way I’d let a mechanic inexperienced at tesla anywhere near my cars. Wheels and alignment though I have done at my local tyre place. Tesla in Adelaide send it out in anycase so no big deal.
Replacing the filters is easy, but whilst my local tesla wiz is checking the car over, I’m more than happy to add a few minutes to get the filters swapped.

 

[dalec]

Don't touch dealers with bargepoles unless you have to.

Hi Niall, when you say "dealers" do you mean Tesla?

 

[dalec]

My experience with tesla preventative maintenance is that it is very fairly priced unlike traditional car ‘dealers’. I have never done the service plan. There is no way I’d let a mechanic inexperienced at tesla anywhere near my cars. Wheels and alignment though I have done at my local tyre place. Tesla in Adelaide send it out in anycase so no big deal.
Replacing the filters is easy, but whilst my local tesla wiz is checking the car over, I’m more than happy to add a few minutes to get the filters swapped.

Thanks for this @paulp, I wasn't planning on using any kind of "dealer" other than Tesla themselves, but it's the bit about Tesla "experience" that I'm really interested in. From what I understand about traditional dealerships, it's very much a checkbox exercise of going through a list of things at each mileage point. Sometimes they actually do stuff like replacing timing belts, but other times they really just change some oil and filters and print out three pages of "checks" to make it look like the $700 was worth it. So the question I'm still not clear on is whether taking the car into Tesla means they'll check anything, or just replace consumables I could almost do myself...

 

[⚡️ELECTROMAN⚡️]

Is the motor lubricant still supposed to be changed one time only, at 12,000 miles?

 

[⚡️ELECTROMAN⚡️]

My experience with tesla preventative maintenance is that it is very fairly priced unlike traditional car ‘dealers’. I have never done the service plan. There is no way I’d let a mechanic inexperienced at tesla anywhere near my cars. Wheels and alignment though I have done at my local tyre place. Tesla in Adelaide send it out in anycase so no big deal.
Replacing the filters is easy, but whilst my local tesla wiz is checking the car over, I’m more than happy to add a few minutes to get the filters swapped.

From my experience it's usually pretty obvious when something is wrong with your car. I don't think there is any need for yearly service. Leave the service centers alone as much as possible. They have more important things to do. Like fixing things that are broken.

 

[paulp]

Thanks for this @paulp, I wasn't planning on using any kind of "dealer" other than Tesla themselves, but it's the bit about Tesla "experience" that I'm really interested in. From what I understand about traditional dealerships, it's very much a checkbox exercise of going through a list of things at each mileage point. Sometimes they actually do stuff like replacing timing belts, but other times they really just change some oil and filters and print out three pages of "checks" to make it look like the $700 was worth it. So the question I'm still not clear on is whether taking the car into Tesla means they'll check anything, or just replace consumables I could almost do myself...

Getting your car serviced regularly is not a condition of the warranty.
I had mine done after the first two years, mainly because my km was low.
My local tesla tech thought it was time it was looked over.
Keeping your wheels aligned, balanced, inflated, and rotated (if possible) is the largest cost of servicing, and does not need to be done at tesla, but should be done at a place used to a tesla.
I’m not Ware of any other servicable parts other than checking brakes (seems pointless) and battery fluid which you cannot do yourself.

 

[PJF000]

fwiw I took an 8 year service plan ($4.5k) and have just gone out of warranty (over 80k). Whilst I didn't strictly have 20k/1 year services, I was relatively close and was able to get a 3 year extended manufacturer warranty from Redbook for $1240. Every service had work done that justified the cost.

 

[aegidius]

I took mine in to the Brisbane SC for the Takata airbag recall (free). While there, they checked battery packs, coolants and tyre pressures, and washed the car. All free.

 

[paulp]

Is the motor lubricant still supposed to be changed one time only, at 12,000 miles?

You can only change the motor lubricant after you have drained the fuel tank and cleaned out the exhaust pipe otherwise you get cross contamination.

 

[NiallDarwin]

Hi Niall, when you say "dealers" do you mean Tesla?

I mean any and all manufacturer's official outlets. I learnt this as a kid when observing how much my parents spent on main dealer servicing and looking at what was(n't) done for the money.
I had this most strongly re-enforced when I ran a vehicle rental company and whenever a vehicle went into a dealer it generally came back fixed but with no attention to detail and a huge bill. Contrary to my experience with Tesla executives my experience in the Tesla SC/dealer (come on that's what they are!) has been OK but expensive. I always go to independent specialists. They have no monopoly guaranteeing them work, they rely on their knowledge and reputation. There's close to zero of them for Tesla out here in AU/NZ but that's changing.

 

[meloccom]

If today’s service, the 4 year annual, is anything to go by things are looking up.
They replaced the Air Bag and some drain plugs in the tailgate as recall items.
Then they flushed and replaced the brake fluid and replaced the desiccant in the receiver dryer along with its cap and the cabin filter. Total parts were $37.59 the rest was labour and GST total 373.86.
I declined the wheel alignment as I can get that done at my tyre shop cheaper.
Seems reasonable to me considering the 4th year service is a major one.

 

[Shock-On-T]

I serviced my car at 20,000kms.
It’s now at 100,000kms, drives exactly the same as the day I bought it.

I trust Tesla’s monitoring for everything except the wheels, brakes, CV joints, suspension etc. I get everything inspected when I change my tyres, and I have an amateurish look myself whenever I’m swapping my wheels about.

I probably won’t do another Tesla service again, I don’t think it’s necessary. I also don’t service my Dyson.