End of Model S lease questions!!!

[jasonLA]

Here is the list of modifications I have done to my Model S

- Tint on every window
- Clear bra on the front only
- Painted calipers red...
- Installed a sub (which is easy to take out)

So my questions is... Do I have to remove and repaint the calipers? I've never turned a lease in so I'm not sure how I go about this. Thank you! Also, I just ordered a Model 3! Little bit smaller and a lot cheaper!

 

[verdee]

My windows were tinted and they said nothing. I would leave everything, wait until you get the inspection report. The calipers could be an issue but the fine may less than what your time is worth to repaint them

 

[jasonLA]

My windows were tinted and they said nothing. I would leave everything, wait until you get the inspection report. The calipers could be an issue but the fine may less than what your time is worth to repaint them

Perfect. It's worth a try. Did you have to do a pre-inspection? I was reading it was 15-60 days before the lease is up. Any info you gave give would be awesome!

 

[trident]

I don't know if you can still do this, but I had a 2007 Toyota on lease and at the end the residual was $16,000. Took it to CarMax and they bought it for 19. I paid Toyota the residual and everything worked out perfect.

 

[AMPd]

I don't know if you can still do this, but I had a 2007 Toyota on lease and at the end the residual was $16,000. Took it to CarMax and they bought it for 19. I paid Toyota the residual and everything worked out perfect.

You can definitely do this
Unfortunately with the latest price drop the car will not be worth anywhere near the residual

 

[aus]

Get ready to get HOSED compared to a major car manufacturer. Be sure to buff out any minor scratches because they will ding you for it. Keep the car dirty when they come inspect it. Hope the tires are ok. Good luck and be ready to pay a few hundred extra.

 

[trident]

You can definitely do this
Unfortunately with the latest price drop the car will not be worth anywhere near the residual

Maybe this was the best time to lease the car vs buying. Three years from now there will be numerous FSD cars available io chose from.

 

[viper2ko]

Why would you do those to a leased car

 

[bandido]

I just turned in my Tesla Finance, leased car. Easy process. You have to get a "pre" inspection from a company Autovin. I did remove my carbon fiber adds, but window tint and clear bra should not be an issue. As far as the calipers, no idea if they would even notice unless done poorly. They will measure paint thickness around scratches though. As other have said tires are critical, must be 4/32's minimum. Online you can see what acceptable wear and tear are considered. I had a few minor scrapes and curb rash. They told me no extra charges, other than miles. I have not gotten final bill yet, but they seem reasonable. They are not going to waive miles like a big car company, but I was not expecting that to happen.

 

[ESoCal]

My experience is, in the inspection, they just look for obvious wear and damage items and a check list of items that includes scratches, dents, tire tread, damage to interior, damage to wheels, missing parts, etc. They don't care about tinting or paint protection treatments. They generally don't notice anything customized unless it stands out as obvious and detracting to general look for general customers. I had customized my tesla oem 21" wheels ... chromed them, and they gave me a hard time because I had asked about them, but several friends who also had customized tesla wheels ... e.x., black chromed them, had no issue because they didn't ask about it or raise the issue ... inspector simply checked that they weren't curb damaged.

 

[trident]

Bandido and ESOCal, How would you rate your lease experience, end of lease residual vs black book\ NADA and would you do it again? Anything else to add?

 

[Black/Black MS]

I turned in my lease last September and they didn't even look at it. Way over the mileage allowance, lots of minor blemishes on the bumpers. I thought I was going to get dinged for a few grand but I never heard from them again.

 

[ba2002]

Is this through tesla or usbank? I heard usbank wont let you sell the car to a dealer and pocket the difference. I had never heard of that but someone on another thread said there was something in the language about that. YMMV.

Get the inspection done via autovin ahead of time. Some were told it wasnt necessary and then got hosed on charges. I had some minor wheel rash and small paint chips/scratches. Inspector didn't notice or note them and I didn't get charged anything.

 

[Mrk1]

Perfect. It's worth a try. Did you have to do a pre-inspection? I was reading it was 15-60 days before the lease is up. Any info you gave give would be awesome!

It is now online.

 

[ahkahn]

Is this through tesla or usbank? I heard usbank wont let you sell the car to a dealer and pocket the difference. I had never heard of that but someone on another thread said there was something in the language about that. YMMV.

Get the inspection done via autovin ahead of time. Some were told it wasnt necessary and then got hosed on charges. I had some minor wheel rash and small paint chips/scratches. Inspector didn't notice or note them and I didn't get charged anything.

How can they prevent you from doing that? You have in your contract the buyout price and once you pay them that price there is nothing they can do to prevent you from reselling the car, blowing it up, or continuing to drive it?

 

[ba2002]

How can they prevent you from doing that? You have in your contract the buyout price and once you pay them that price there is nothing they can do to prevent you from reselling the car, blowing it up, or continuing to drive it?

Yeah pretty sure you could do as you describe.

Not sure you can trade it to a dealer and have them pay it off. I haven't done it before, so not sure of the details - was just reporting something I read on the internet - quite possibly could have been inaccurate. Just advising someone to do their own due diligence.