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Missing Tow Package?
- Thread starter RangeQler
- Start date
Got my little box in the trunk, haven't pulled the panel yet to be sure it's really there.....
Every car (X) should have them, so hard to see why it's missing!
Every car (X) should have them, so hard to see why it's missing!
So, are we talking about the 'bagx with the hitch receiver' in it, or the actual chassis part to plug it into?
Now I'm unsure. I had the receiver in its bag (it now comes in a Tesla zipper bag with foam holding it, in the trunk; I believe it used to be a plastic box?), and I assume the place to plug it into is behind the panel under the bumper.
Now I'm unsure. I had the receiver in its bag (it now comes in a Tesla zipper bag with foam holding it, in the trunk; I believe it used to be a plastic box?), and I assume the place to plug it into is behind the panel under the bumper.
My MX 75D which I picked up on September 29th (Costa Mesa location) is also missing the tow package. In all the delivery excitement/information overload, I forgot to verify I had the receiver before I left the delivery center. I assumed they just forgot to put it back in the car and it was still sitting on a desk somewhere. When I called the Delivery Specialist, he told me I hadn't ordered the tow package. When I reminded him it was standard, he said my car was manufactured prior to the change. When I reminded him he told me the car was "born" on September 15, he said he would check. He then said his manager had a similar issue with another Model X. I now have a "due bill" for the trailer hitch (inside the bumper) to be installed, but the part is back ordered with no ETA.
I imagine the conversation with Elon went something like this:
Factory Supervisor: "Hey Elon, we have a problem on the floor. Remember I told you not to make the tow package standard? Well we ran out of trailer hitches. Now what do we do?"
Elon: "Ah, just send out the cars without. The customers won't notice. Nobody is stupid enough to use a Model X to tow anything anyway. When we get some more hitches, we'll recall the vehicles for an AP upgrade and sneak them in then. It'll be fine."
FS: "OK Elon, you're the boss."
Somehow, I don't think Mercedes would have tried this tactic.
BTW, since I expect a long wait for the trailer hitch to arrive, does anyone think I should just ask the Service Manager to install a Draw-Tite Trailer Hitch (75326). It looks like a better design.
I believe there are 2 parts that should be included with the Tow package. 1) the tow bar assembly inside the bumper (see pic). 2) The 2" receiver inside a small zipper bag. I was only given the 2" receiver only after i asked my delivery guy about it. Got too excited and forgot to actually pull the plastic cover under the bumper to look for the tow bar assembly.
My DS just got back to me and said it definitely should have been included as standard equipment. He created a due bill and Tesla service will take care of it.
My DS just got back to me and said it definitely should have been included as standard equipment. He created a due bill and Tesla service will take care of it.
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LJ32
Member
Mercedes charged me $350 for a "Comfort Box" which is was to have been installed in the trunk of my 2016 S550e...guess what, no "Comfort Box" was in the trunk. I made the dealer take $350 off of the final negotiated price and made them give me a document that states this was missing from the delivered car and therefore should not have been on the sticker. My new MX 100D delivered on 9/29 had the tow package in the trunk and the DS went through with me how it works. Even MB makes this kind of mistake.
I took delivery on Sept 1st. I had them show me how to install the tow hitch at delivery. It was funny because they had one tech installing and then 4 other people watching so get the feeling they rarely show people how to do it. LOL Not sure if i'll ever use but good to know it works (and was there) 
I wonder if you have the receiver and the wiring pigtail, you can assume you have the chassis pieces! Have to check beneath the plastic cover when I get the car back...
Have to check beneath the plastic cover when I get the car back...
It is listed as standard on both the 100 and 75D. There should be an access door in the center under the rear bumper. The hitch is stored in the rear trunk, and is not protruding when not installed. Double check in your trunk and look for the access door beneath the rear bumper.
So, if you have the door, you have it all? See the OP's pic above.. he had the door, but inside, not so much.
You have a very fanciful imagination. Big manufacturing companies don't just randomly run out of parts without anyone anticipating it.
As @LJ32 pointed out above, Mercedes dealers are hardly perfect examples of ethical dealings.
Missing tow hitch receiver (the part that fits into the actual tow hitch bar), not a big deal. Anyone can forget to stick an accessory package in the trunk.
Missing Bosal tow hitch bar (the part that is bolted to the rear frame, behind the bumper) on an individual vehicle, that's poor quality control, but it happens.
Multiple Model X delivered without a tow hitch bar or a tow hitch receiver, all made in September, the end of the quarter--that's suspicious. Especially when the part is on back order with no date for it's arrival. Either someone in the factory made the decision to send the cars out without the tow package (standard equipment) or there is an incredible disconnect between sales/marketing and the factory. Maybe no one in sales told the factory that the tow package is now standard on the Model X.
I really don't care, as long as Tesla installs the tow hitch bar and gives me the tow hitch receiver. I would have been happy if they told me in advance the car was coming without the towing package but would be installed later. I planned on ordering the tow package but was happy to see it was included as standard equipment. But if Tesla wants to produce 500,000 Model 3s and become a "big manufacturing company", they are going to have to get their act together.
I second your thought. This and the adaptive lights they missed installing as standard is a big disconnect between marketing, sales, and manufacturing. How in the world can all three divisions missed these?!?!.You would think someone in those division would have said, "wait guys.. aren't these standard", between July and September. To make things worst, when you informed them of their mistakes at the service center, they give you some BS reason and kissed the issue off like you're crazy. So even Service is disconnected.
Missing tow hitch receiver (the part that fits into the actual tow hitch bar), not a big deal. Anyone can forget to stick an accessory package in the trunk.
Missing Bosal tow hitch bar (the part that is bolted to the rear frame, behind the bumper) on an individual vehicle, that's poor quality control, but it happens.
View attachment 253228
Multiple Model X delivered without a tow hitch bar or a tow hitch receiver, all made in September, the end of the quarter--that's suspicious. Especially when the part is on back order with no date for it's arrival. Either someone in the factory made the decision to send the cars out without the tow package (standard equipment) or there is an incredible disconnect between sales/marketing and the factory. Maybe no one in sales told the factory that the tow package is now standard on the Model X.
I really don't care, as long as Tesla installs the tow hitch bar and gives me the tow hitch receiver. I would have been happy if they told me in advance the car was coming without the towing package but would be installed later. I planned on ordering the tow package but was happy to see it was included as standard equipment. But if Tesla wants to produce 500,000 Model 3s and become a "big manufacturing company", they are going to have to get their act together.
Tesla has been building cars for five years now, longer if you count the roadster. They should have got their act together by now. Model 3 won't be so forgiving if they miss a part.
And yes, they forgot my adaptive lights too. And my ap2 didn't work even after I told them at 200 miles. They told me it needs to calibrate. After 700 miles still no ap2.. Tech support told me camera didn't calibrate. No kidding Sherlock. Had to set up another appointment for this among other issues. Third time at service since three weeks ownership. Listening Tesla?? Get your act together! Sorry done.
This is all part of the basic Tesla issue... no comms.... No one is communicating between the divisions, looking at what is needed when a new decision or policy is implemented.
For one trivial example: They implement the executive action emails from MyTesla. Then no one has the authority to own issues sent in from there and get things done. We all could go on and on.....
Elon had this memo to all hands that was leaked a week or two ago about anyone can talk to anyone in the company (not up the chain and down the chain in normal format (you don’t need to go through your boss, etc.)), and that sure doesn’t seem to be working. No ownership of issues.
Question on this, was the receiver supposed to come in a carry/storage bag?
I took delivery back in June and mine had the tow package but no receiver. The delivery specialist just went and got one off the shelf, but no bag. Just set the receiver in the car. Now I'm wondering if I'm missing a storage bag that would look a lot nicer than the plastic bag I put it in now.
I took delivery back in June and mine had the tow package but no receiver. The delivery specialist just went and got one off the shelf, but no bag. Just set the receiver in the car. Now I'm wondering if I'm missing a storage bag that would look a lot nicer than the plastic bag I put it in now.
Zaphod
Galaxy President (former)
My theory with this and the adaptive lights is not necessarily communication issue, but I suspect most (if not all) of these cars were ordered and confirmed during the week or so transition between when these were part of the PUP for the lights and option for the hitch.
Not sure how their production and ERP (enterprise resource planning) system operate, but I can easily see how with Tesla constantly changing options and packages leads to situations like this. They didn't run out of parts or Jimmy on the line just didn't feel like installing the right things, but when the build sheet data was loaded either before, during, or possibly some time window afterwards, it only reflected whatever it knew to be ordered and confirmed at the time. If some change was made to the configurator, but you already placed and/or confirmed your order and are not even in production, there is no guarantee you will get the changes. Unfortunately it is downside to how Tesla handles and implements design and option changes as opposed to conventional automakers with set model years.
Yes, it is annoying and inconvenience, but seems that for the most part Tesla is making things right. As an engineer who deals directly with manufacturing on a daily basis, just want to state that it's not always as it seems.
Not sure how their production and ERP (enterprise resource planning) system operate, but I can easily see how with Tesla constantly changing options and packages leads to situations like this. They didn't run out of parts or Jimmy on the line just didn't feel like installing the right things, but when the build sheet data was loaded either before, during, or possibly some time window afterwards, it only reflected whatever it knew to be ordered and confirmed at the time. If some change was made to the configurator, but you already placed and/or confirmed your order and are not even in production, there is no guarantee you will get the changes. Unfortunately it is downside to how Tesla handles and implements design and option changes as opposed to conventional automakers with set model years.
Yes, it is annoying and inconvenience, but seems that for the most part Tesla is making things right. As an engineer who deals directly with manufacturing on a daily basis, just want to state that it's not always as it seems.
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