If you compare to a Japanese car, the repair cost is high. If you compare to Mercedes or BMW, it is about the same per repair, but I hope Tesla will require less repairs as it has less mechanical parts. Our X5 parts started breaking as soon as the warranty went out. Every repair is about $1200 to $3000. I don't think I have ever has a repair on the BMW less than $1200 or more than $3000. It is like a magic number they came up with that you will likely to fix it in that price range.
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Model S expensive repair making me feel like I'm losing the faith...
- Thread starter lance
- Start date
Difference is I can get OEM parts and do the labor myself on european and japanese cars... I just read someones power steering rack fell apart at under 50K miles due to bolts backing off, they quoted him $1920 just for the rack. That's pretty costly for a rack no? I guess this car isn't DIY friendly just yet. If that changes, I will be a happy camper.
KidDoc
Member
I went without the extended warranty after passing the original warranty (48k or 55k miles I can't recall) and regret it. A year and a few ~$1,000 repair jobs later I bought an independent auto warranty from Car Shield. They just paid for a door handle fix and it was a bit of a hassle as they balked at the $175/hr labor fee but with enough arguing they are paying it. Cost me $5200 for a 4 year/48k mile with $100 deductible. Even if all I end up needing over the next four years is door handle replacements that almost pays for the plan. And I fully expect the AC or MCU to die eventually which will again justify the expense.
How do you figure that? You said that the door handle repair cost $487.50, and you had a $100 deductible. So if all you get is 4 door handles repaired it cost you $5,600 (assuming they come one at a time.) But the actual cost to repair them was only $1,950. That would mean you over-paid by $3,650; I wouldn't call that "almost pays for the plan".
KidDoc
Member
The original quote on the door handle was up to $950 depending on what they found when taking it apart. Luckily they only needed $145 in parts not $500 in parts as they did not replace the entire unit. So it was $145 in parts + $325 in labor give or take a few dollars.
No, this is the whole reason why salvages cars get branded. Parts that seem to be fine after a major accident make break years down the road due to some unseen damage caused during the crash or flood.
I'm not saying Tesla's are reliable or anything, just that failures in a salvage car mean nothing.
Xtek
Member
Tesla has replaced my 6 month old X's charge port 4 times. New front windshield. New driver's seat. New B pillar camera. New visors. New back glass.
Yeah, I don't think age has anything to do with it.
Brando
Active Member
20 years ago, I'd listen to BMW owners who'd brag that they found a tune up not for the usual $1,800 but got it for only $1,400.
And then you can talk Porsche or even Jag or many British luxury cars of the past. Perhaps someone could tells us how much a heater core replacement on a Range Rover or a Jag costs? A dealer charge? As I remember you have to remove the entire dash, so it cost a lot.
I agree, if you pay 2 or 3 times the price of an average car why would you expect the repairs to be cheap. Don't be foolish. Buy what you can afford to spend. So right now, there are no Tesla models I can/want to afford. But I still appreciate and love the car. Loved many Ferrari too, just can't afford one. And not to forget that E-type Jag ... just ask Elon how dependable those were. I don't think he even got his home before he was stranded at the side of the road. Real love/hate relation with cars. (Back in the 60s we had to re-build the carburetors every year... so much better in the last 20/30 years that is for sure.)
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glhs272
Unnamed plug faced villian
With my high mileage Tesla, I have gotten into the DIY repairs myself. I just changed out my brake pads and rotors. Not difficult, and the parts were cheap and available via aftermarket. I have fixed the drivers side door handle. Very common failure and not really that difficult of a repair if you are handy. Lots of videos on youtube how to do it. I didn't even bother buying the door handle repair kit from Tesla, just re-solderd the wire to the switch and froze it in expoxy and re-routed the wires to insure the problem never happens again (the same way anyway). The whole repair cost me $0, but a couple of hours time. Next up on the list: replace the front wheel bearings. Looks almost as easy as changing the rotors (just wish I had the parts, would have done that while doing the rotors). Most of the repairs on the Model s are actually quite easy. The biggest problem is when Tesla doesn't want to sell you parts or require getting the computer diagnostics. So far Tesla has been selling me any part I have asked for, but haven't asked for anything that touches high voltage. My understanding is that's when they balk at selling parts. It's a shame, but having independent repair shops servicing Tesla would help with a lot of the complaints I hear on these boards.
Why does it matter if his cars are salvaged or not? They are 100% correct. Mine is a 2017 delivered on Dec 8th does it make you feel any better that I agree with everything he says?
glhs272
Unnamed plug faced villian
BTW, I called up Tesla's Highland park service center, Parts Department. They set me up with an order for two new wheel bearing & hub assemblies quickly and easily over the phone & email. I didn't have to go there, they are shipping me the parts same day. I am a happy with Tesla supporting me with parts for DIY service so far.
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