Everyone notices panel gaps.....

[lynnpt2001]

I was sitting outside a restaurant at a picnic table, up pulls a new lexus sedan. parallel parks in front of my model 3, I wanted to take pics but the wife says no not to embarrass myself. The panel gaps on the lexus were bad. Almost every gap on that car varied and was different. I will take the M3 gaps all day long compared to that car.....maybe it was a fluke, but wanted to share.

 

[Mattopotamus]

Panel gaps are the most overblown thing on the Tesla forums. Every car has panel gaps. With that said, I have seen some pretty terrible ones, but 99% of the time the gaps people post are definitely within spec.

 

[CyberGus]

Probably no one would care about the panel gaps, if not for all the leaks.

 

[P3dStealth]

Yea right. My panel gaps are all over the place. This car has the worse build quality I have seen. My back door sticks out, my front door is under my front fender, my hood is higher than the right fender and below the left, my bumper has light blotchy paint by the intake vent, my back bumper is a different shade.

 

[InfinitySky]

Yea right. My panel gaps are all over the place. This car has the worse build quality I have seen. My back door sticks out, my front door is under my front fender, my hood is higher than the right fender and below the left, my bumper has light blotchy paint by the intake vent, my back bumper is a different shade.

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Not trying to be rude, but I'm curious as to why you didn't refuse delivery with all those issues?

 

[Fadiawesome]

Yea right. My panel gaps are all over the place. This car has the worse build quality I have seen. My back door sticks out, my front door is under my front fender, my hood is higher than the right fender and below the left, my bumper has light blotchy paint by the intake vent, my back bumper is a different shade.

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geesh bro, have you sent those pictures to Tesla to have them fix it? That's just plain ridiculous that they let that car come of the factory line looking like that.

 

[P3dStealth]

Not trying to be rude, but I'm curious as to why you didn't refuse delivery with all those issues?

I took delivery in the snow and it was dark. I also have never had issues with a new car like this and wasn't a member of these forums. Then a couple days later I got sent to Mississippi for two months.

Now Tesla tells me it's all within spec. They said to contact my sales advisor about the blotchy paint or pay for it myself at a Tesla body shop even though it's obviously a manufacturer defect. Every other new car I've purchased has been perfect. I never needed to inspect it

 

[P3dStealth]

geesh bro, have you sent those pictures to Tesla to have them fix it? That's just plain ridiculous that they let that car come of the factory line looking like that.

They only fixed one thing. A rattle in my dash. While I was at the service center i walked around looking at all the other model 3s and got a sick feeling when I noticed that mine was the worse. They made it seem like everyone's was like this.

I'm in the northeast Tesla's are rare here. I've never seen a 3 up close till I had one

 

[P3dStealth]

Side note it makes sense that I got the car in a few days when people were waiting months. I am thinking someone rejected it. It came from PA.

I love the car and the tech but horrible build quality. I've never even heard of rejecting a vehicle but it's so common for Tesla's

 

[InfinitySky]

I took delivery in the snow and it was dark. I also have never had issues with a new car like this and wasn't a member of these forums. Then a couple days later I got sent to Mississippi for two months.

Now Tesla tells me it's all within spec. They said to contact my sales advisor about the blotchy paint or pay for it myself at a Tesla body shop even though it's obviously a manufacturer defect. Every other new car I've purchased has been perfect. I never needed to inspect it

Yikes, I'm sorry to hear that. You paid enough $ for the car...you shouldn't have to deal with that nonsense on a new vehicle. Hopefully it all works out for you in the end! Tesla has awesome vehicles, but unfortunate circumstances like this seem to be happening too much

 

[ElectricIAC]

Not trying to be rude, but I'm curious as to why you didn't refuse delivery with all those issues?

"Shut up and take my money" syndrome.

 

[vegas888]

How all of that can be within spec ? Even paint? Also you could return your car within 7 days, correct?

 

[gbrgbr]

I own 2 models 3's including one very early one. I have friends with Teslas. There are a number that park next to me at work and I notice when I see a Tesla in a parking lot any where. I have never once noticed a panel gap.

 

[jelloslug]

Every new car I have owned has had body defects of some sort. My Teslas that I own are no different and not out of line with anything else that I have had or see.

 

[Mattopotamus]

Yea right. My panel gaps are all over the place. This car has the worse build quality I have seen. My back door sticks out, my front door is under my front fender, my hood is higher than the right fender and below the left, my bumper has light blotchy paint by the intake vent, my back bumper is a different shade.

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That is a perfect example of bad panel gaps, yikes.

Every new car I have owned has had body defects of some sort. My Teslas that I own are no different and not out of line with anything else that I have had or see.

On the flip side, I've had 5 (new) cars other than Tesla's and never had cosmetic issues. I also didn't have issues with my Tesla.

 

[CertLive]

Panel gaps well if I look at my fathers BMW E24 which is over 30 years old and worth more than my model 3 it has panel gaps but they are even. When I look at a Kia sportage parked next to it worth half my model 3 at 3 years old I see even panel gaps. When I look at my Oct 2019 M3 they are uneven gaps and the door is dropping again I had fixed. So make of it what you will but one of these cars is the odd one out. Just how it is I guess...

 

[P3dStealth]

Wait are we talking about panel gaps or alignment?

I think the issue is panel alignment. Every car has gaps. I don't mind the spacing. The problems are the panels should be even. Should be a smooth transition.

The pictures of my car make it look worse than it is. A person not inspecting doesn't notice these things. Even though it looks bad to us we are really talking about millimeters in alignment. The paint blotch is not visible from standing. It's above the grill vent by the license plate. It was actually covered by the plate now that I think of it my car came with the plate on.

My girlfriend made fun of my car the other day saying her Corolla has perfect everything. She is right. Her panels are aligned, even the gaps are half the size. I'd drive the Tesla with no panels before that Corolla though.

I am done ranting sorry. I think I'm going to try to adjust my doors and my hood myself. I am pretty sure it can be done.

 

[CertLive]

Wait are we talking about panel gaps or alignment?

I think the issue is panel alignment. Every car has gaps. I don't mind the spacing. The problems are the panels should be even. Should be a smooth transition.

The pictures of my car make it look worse than it is. A person not inspecting doesn't notice these things. Even though it looks bad to us we are really talking about millimeters in alignment. The paint blotch is not visible from standing. It's above the grill vent by the license plate. It was actually covered by the plate now that I think of it my car came with the plate on.

My girlfriend made fun of my car the other day saying her Corolla has perfect everything. She is right. Her panels are aligned, even the gaps are half the size. I'd drive the Tesla with no panels before that Corolla though.

I am done ranting sorry. I think I'm going to try to adjust my doors and my hood myself. I am pretty sure it can be done.

Agree its just a common thing with Tesla’s that is considered OK by them to let pass. I like to compare first and its also what is acceptable on a new car. If you walk into a Renault dealership For e.g. and take a look at their Zoe, then all the other new cars out there I found it quite hard to find anything wrong with their alignment and paint quality. Same with Kia in fact. So I suppose it is what each individual person is willing to accept / notice. It is the first car I have owned with these issues. In fact first car talking to my extended family that anyone has had body alignment issues. Paint sure corrected by the dealer before it was given out. But this is the new model that is working. A car can literally be delivered to your door now. This is fantastic but its a shame you cant rely on Tesla who are intent on handing out cars regardless of their condition to new customers. Tesla basically throw the onus on you from day one. This in my opinion is going to set new industry quality lows unless some of that money is invested in pre correction. But that takes some balls and even Elon doesn't seem to have big enough ones to rectify this.

 

[Ol'Blue]

You will be able to do a lot yourself. It’s something I’ve done on most cars I’ve owned on one panel or another.

Usually the hood is the worst offender, but easiest to fix.

sorry your alignment is so off, that’s crazy! I’ve never seen a car like that before.

I have a 72 Volvo project car with pretty horrendous alignment and gaps, but nothing like what you showed. It will take some to sort, but it will improve.

 

[CertLive]

You will be able to do a lot yourself. It’s something I’ve done on most cars I’ve owned on one panel or another.

Usually the hood is the worst offender, but easiest to fix.

sorry your alignment is so off, that’s crazy! I’ve never seen a car like that before.

I have a 72 Volvo project car with pretty horrendous alignment and gaps, but nothing like what you showed. It will take some to sort, but it will improve.

Volvo gave you a car with bad alignment gaps? Now this surprises me any photos of this?