Got my M3 today. Love it. But....

[Rebuiltm276]

After driving a few km after delivery I noticed the steering wheel alignment was off to the right. I had to steer right to drive straight....

I addressed paint issue on the door on delivery... They have noted it

And all the little rubber egdes that are sticking out on one side but not the other.

Am I being too sensitive? Anyone else having this issue?

 

[Adam3]

Not sure what you mean about rubber edges sticking out

 

[rreevessde]

I had the same steering wheel pulling to one side issue with my new M3. Took it to the SC and they did an alignment which fixed the issue.

 

[cucubits]

I've heard about others complaining about steering alignment. Is it possible to drive the car a bit before pick-up to make sure it's not too bad or no "drive test" before accepting delivery?

 

[Celledral]

I was told by my first SC at 500mi to let the car settle in for at least 1,000 miles. Never corrected itself, obviously. Took it to another SC at 2000mi and they fixed my alignment.

 

[Akikiki]

Yeah, a month from now you will just think about driving it and how much pleasure it is.

 

[SMAlset]

After driving a few km after delivery I noticed the steering wheel alignment was off to the right. I had to steer right to drive straight....

I addressed paint issue on the door on delivery... They have noted it

And all the little rubber egdes that are sticking out on one side but not the other.

Am I being too sensitive? Anyone else having this issue?

Congrats on the car! Definitely communicate the issues you’d like addressed within the period you are given. Sounds reasonable to me. Don’t think any of them should be a problem getting realigned or corrected.

 

[electricM3]

I had the exact same steering wheel alignment issue with my 07/19 SR+. Was corrected at a SC yesterday through wheel alignment.

 

[FrunkLover]

Bumping this because my car also has wheel alignment issues. Dropped it at SC this AM with 1,300 miles, and they're claiming that it won't be covered "because I could have hit a pothole." Did you all have to pay for wheel alignment when you had it done? I'm pretty frustrated.

 

[Raro]

Bumping this because my car also has wheel alignment issues. Dropped it at SC this AM with 1,300 miles, and they're claiming that it won't be covered "because I could have hit a pothole." Did you all have to pay for wheel alignment when you had it done? I'm pretty frustrated.

I had the same issue, but I reported it within a few hours of picking it up. I would ask them to show proof it is damaged by a pothole. And if they still won’t do it for free I would take it somewhere else, I heard someone else got a quote for over $500 for an alignment, you can get it done for $100-150, shop around.

 

[FrunkLover]

I had the same issue, but I reported it within a few hours of picking it up. I would ask them to show proof it is damaged by a pothole. And if they still won’t do it for free I would take it somewhere else, I heard someone else got a quote for over $500 for an alignment, you can get it done for $100-150, shop around.

This is a good suggestion, to ask for proof it was damaged by pothole. Though I wonder how they would be able to prove either way?

Regardless, in my scenario I am being genuine, I just didn't observe it until a week later: I drove home delivery day, early next morning dropped off for ceramic coating, picked up three days later and only on a drive that day did I realize it was pulling to the right. A few days later I scheduled service appointment, not considering they may not cover it or I would have booked immediately. SC was all booked up until today -- a month later!

My estimate (Red Hook, Brooklyn) SC is $320 -- seems to be right in the middle of what others are being quoted. Hoping to make a compelling argument to waive because:

• Tried to schedule service the week after delivery
• No service appointments between then and today
• No feasible way to see if it is misaligned on delivery day -- requires some driving and an understanding of what misalignment even is. (Plus, not all of us are legacy car people! Some of us expect top-tier product from a top-tier car manufacturer.)

Anyway, my plan for tomorrow is to see if I can talk my way into getting this comped, or at least reduced in price. (They issued me a $200 Uber voucher, would most certainly have preferred that go into the cost of repair.) I think it would be in poor form for them not to give me some concession.

Curious of others have experienced this, as well, upon taking delivery?

 

[Akikiki]

You know this already. It could have been your ceramic coating guys. And the SC could also say there's nothing wrong with it and decline (which is what they are already doing) to fix it.

My pappy used to tell me, "don't piss off the people that fix your food or work on your car".

 

[FrunkLover]

You know this already. It could have been your ceramic coating guys. And the SC could also say there's nothing wrong with it and decline (which is what they are already doing) to fix it.

Fair point, but I trust them and monitored mileage in and out of their care, and also speed limited it -- so no joy rides from what I can tell.

You're right that SC could make a reasonable argument that in one week I busted my own alignment, but it just seems to be such poor customer service to not give the customer the benefit of the doubt on something like this over something that costs them so little. Also alignment issues out of the factory are well documented here, it seems to be a common issue.

My pappy used to tell me, "don't piss off the people that fix your food or work on your car".

I was perfectly nice on drop off! Will only raise an issue when I'm asked for my credit card.

 

[Akikiki]

For everyone. When we submit a work request, they will review the request, check if parts are needed and estimate the labor required. Then issue you an estimate for the repair. Often even when under warranty it will show a cost/price - again - even sometimes when you are under warranty for the work/repair. So before we get upset, text back and ask if warranty is going to cover the cost. Usually, the answer is going to be Yes, not cost to you, but their system automatically cracks it out that way. So, ask. And even if you authorize repair, you are going to have a chance to discuss it when you pickup the car. Don't get upset if under warranty, you get an estimate that says you are going to pay - because often/usually you won't. Ask them.

New owners are often very upset particularly because they know theirs is under warranty. It probably is. When in doubt, ask.

Save your stress and anger for the Taliban and Covid.

 

[slashsnake]

After driving a few km after delivery I noticed the steering wheel alignment was off to the right. I had to steer right to drive straight....

I addressed paint issue on the door on delivery... They have noted it

And all the little rubber egdes that are sticking out on one side but not the other.

Am I being too sensitive? Anyone else having this issue?

I don't think you are. Just make sure you report it immediately. We did on site, and the person with the transaction was great.

When mine was delivered their was a paint defect on the front bumper. Very small, and they tried to buff it out in their service center where I was taking delivery but no luck. Had me put it in for a maintenance request, and today getting the entire bumper replaced. She told us if we saw anything else just to make sure to get it reported within 24 hours so it would be considered a delivery issue.

I've got no problem expecting a new luxury car to be delivered in new condition. And they were great in ensuring that.

 

[Raro]

This is a good suggestion, to ask for proof it was damaged by pothole. Though I wonder how they would be able to prove either way?

Regardless, in my scenario I am being genuine, I just didn't observe it until a week later: I drove home delivery day, early next morning dropped off for ceramic coating, picked up three days later and only on a drive that day did I realize it was pulling to the right. A few days later I scheduled service appointment, not considering they may not cover it or I would have booked immediately. SC was all booked up until today -- a month later!

My estimate (Red Hook, Brooklyn) SC is $320 -- seems to be right in the middle of what others are being quoted. Hoping to make a compelling argument to waive because:

• Tried to schedule service the week after delivery
• No service appointments between then and today
• No feasible way to see if it is misaligned on delivery day -- requires some driving and an understanding of what misalignment even is. (Plus, not all of us are legacy car people! Some of us expect top-tier product from a top-tier car manufacturer.)

Anyway, my plan for tomorrow is to see if I can talk my way into getting this comped, or at least reduced in price. (They issued me a $200 Uber voucher, would most certainly have preferred that go into the cost of repair.) I think it would be in poor form for them not to give me some concession.

Curious of others have experienced this, as well, upon taking delivery?

Never meant it to sound like you were not genuine, sorry if it came across like it.

Question: is it pulling to the right as in that you need to apply left turning force to the steering wheel to keep it going straight? or is the wheel just turned a little to the right when your going down a straight piece of road? the former would point to a rear toe alignment issue and the later to a front toe issue.

In any case i can guarantee you that a pot hole would destroy your rim or tire long before it yields any suspension component. If they cant show you some kind of significant damage on the wheel or tire i would push them to fix it under warranty.

 

[FrunkLover]

Never meant it to sound like you were not genuine, sorry if it came across like it.

Question: is it pulling to the right as in that you need to apply left turning force to the steering wheel to keep it going straight? or is the wheel just turned a little to the right when your going down a straight piece of road? the former would point to a rear toe alignment issue and the later to a front toe issue.

In any case i can guarantee you that a pot hole would destroy your rim or tire long before it yields any suspension component. If they cant show you some kind of significant damage on the wheel or tire i would push them to fix it under warranty.

The wheel is tilted right under normal circumstances, though under strong acceleration I think it pulls harder right. So maybe it’s both!

 

[Raro]

The wheel is tilted right under normal circumstances, though under strong acceleration I think it pulls harder right. So maybe it’s both!

Ok, same issue i had then, its because they didnt lock the steering wheel straight at the factory during the front alignment procedure, you have the correct amount of toe on the front axle, but the wheel is not "centered", its basically "cosmetically" but very annoying (atleast for me)

 

[FrunkLover]

Ok, same issue i had then, its because they didnt lock the steering wheel straight at the factory during the front alignment procedure, you have the correct amount of toe on the front axle, but the wheel is not "centered", its basically "cosmetically" but very annoying (atleast for me)

It was very annoying!

 

[FrunkLover]

OK, to close out this little saga of mine for future misaligned owners ... Kathy in Red Hook did the right thing and comped the alignment. I was grateful and made sure she knew it was a kind gesture because technically it was against Tesla policy. I’ve worked with her many times over the last 3+ years (with my 17 MS, too) and she does have the customer in mind. Thank you!

Advice to upcoming M3 owners: Add alignment to your delivery checklist. Document it immediately however you can with the delivery specialist, even if it means telling them you’re going to drive it around the block to check. They make notes on your file and the service reps look at those notes to determine what are factory issues and what are not.

Thanks all for your feedback! Now I can actually use my Acceleration Boost and avoid getting pulled off the road by some misaligned wheels .