MOT valet mode

[IanMcL]

End Match, my S85D will be 3 years old, so MOT.

Questions that come to mind...

1. Can an ordinary mot station do the mot, or does it have to be Tesla service?

2. If I place it in Valet mode, do I have to give them the code to be able to start the vehicle?

3. If, say brakes need pads, can they do that and warranty remain ok?

Difference is local versus long drive to service centre.

Cheers.

 

[arg]

1. Can an ordinary mot station do the mot, or does it have to be Tesla service?

Certainly an ordinary MOT station can do it (and indeed I don't think Tesla themselves are registered to do MOTs - if they offer it at all they will be putting it out to someone local).

However, there are some issues you need to prime them with. If you have air suspension you may need to tell them about jack mode. They may struggle with things like turning on all the lights. All in all, it's probably better if you get an appointment where you wait while they do it rather than dropping the car off and leaving them to struggle.

The one thing that caught me out the first time was the fact that the odometer doesn't appear on the display when the car is 'off', but the trip meter does, and I hadn't reset the trip meter in a while. So they issued me with a certificate showing a ludicrously low mileage for a 3-year old car, and I didn't notice it until I got home, which caused them some trouble to issue me a corrected certificate.

 

[Beady3647]

I had my first MOT on my P85D in November and it failed the first time!!!!!! on two of the letters on my personalised plate being 10mm too close together. Apparently the legislation changed in May 2018. I got a new set done £30 (just under) and had it retested for £15 total.

They needed my PIN code and they asked me to put it into valet mode for them, it was a local company called Motorserv UK. I had spoken with Tesla service and they suggested I phone a local company and confirm that they were familiar with Tesla cars.

My understand is that if you needed brake pads (for instance) they would fail you, you would then get the pads replaced and submit for a retest.

 

[Peteski]

I would simply disable the PIN before you leave it with them to avoid any hassle.
As above I would show them how to put it in "Jack" mode and the windscreen wiper service mode. Make sure they are aware of the correct jacking points to avoid battery damage too. Also worth pointing out that the wheel nut torque is much higher than average.

 

[IanMcL]

Sounds a nightmare!!!
I have not come across Jack mode! Where do I press for that?

 

[Peteski]

Sounds a nightmare!!!
I have not come across Jack mode! Where do I press for that?

Go into the "suspension" tab on the controls and you'll see it under the ride height settings if applicable to your car. This only applies to air suspension and I'm not sure if it even applies to both X and S models either. I have a Model X.

 

[tonyj01]

My MS90D is now at the same stage as OP, having MoT this weekend.

I'm heading for a service and MoT to a specialist EV place, and they have the experience to get the car through the MoT.

I agree its best to undo PIN-to-drive, don't set valet mode.

I am not certain, but I think brake pads on our cars will last almost forever! My previous BMW 7 series showed a service life of 100k miles for the pads, in this car you barely need to touch the brakes. Maybe we should look at the US part of the forum for people with say 300k miles on their MS!

Good luck,


Tony

 

[tonyj01]

I found this thread, 180k miles on a 2013 MS
P85 need front brake pads after 180k miles, need advice

also this relates to M3s and going on track days
Stock breakpads, anyone had to replace yet?

Only we Brits know how to spell!! Haha


Tony

 

[IanMcL]

Thanks all.

 

[Fellsteruk]

My father is an MOT tester and actually has an update on their training next month which is all about battery, hybrid and believe it or not hydrogen cars.

He was telling me about it and it doesn’t seem like rocket science but the idea is that all MOt testers will at the least have a basic knowledge of EVs what to avoid and what to test.

I’d say anyone will do you right but as other have said jack mode and jack points would be wise a typical MOT car lift uses 4 jack points to lift the car so knowing exactly where to jack is key.

All that said most places have software packages that tell them everything about every car from things like jack points how many liters oil they hold, wheel torque and much more.

 

[Peteski]

All that said most places have software packages that tell them everything about every car from things like jack points how many liters oil they hold, wheel torque and much more.

This is true, but there were a few blank database entries for Tesla at one point e.g. no info on wheel nut torque. Such omissions may have been rectified by now, but I wouldn't count on it with Tesla!

 

[WannabeOwner]

If I place it in Valet mode,

Cannot open bonnet ... so if they need anything from there (charging cables to check? IDK ...) don't leave them there Anything else to check in there? Washer bottle?

I got caught out on that when I had the car wrapped as they needed to open the bonnet, but was able to undo Valet Mode from Phone APP (which garage thought was pretty cool )

 

[arg]

In my experience, they don't need to lift the bonnet for an MOT (though I suppose if the washer failed to work when they pressed the button they might want to check it rather than just writing FAIL).

There's currently nothing EV-specific in the MOT about charging or the electrics generally, though arguably it would be a good thing in the longer term.