Refused Deliver 4/26 - should I get repair or new VIN?

[gbdc]

Hi all. Would appreciate your help and suggestions.

Took family to Springfield NJ delivery center today to receive a blue M3, but ended up not taking delivery after making below observations. Because it was end of the day, delivery specialist promised to have his manager call me tomorrow with options.

1. 3 or more paint chips on the passenger front door where door meets the fender. SC was not sure how it could have happened either.
2. Gap between driver side fender where it meets the A pillar is awfully large. Clearly not flush.
3. Same issue on the passenger side gap between fender and A pillar. Not as big but still not flush.
4. Front of both side fenders touch (almost overlap) with the bumper
5. Both headlights not flush with bumper - headlight is pointed out forward than the bumper - 4-5mm if I remember correctly, especially the driver side.
6. Charger cover is not flush with the rear light when closed
7. Most weird - left and right side rear windows do not roll down to the same height. Discovered it after just looking at them though actual difference seems to be about 5mm. Confused if this is a sign of some bigger issue, or just something I can safely let go.
8. Hairline paint scratches on hood and other places
9. Scratch on glass panel - this turned out to be glues left in place (why though)​

They did call technician, and they told me (SC and technician):

• #1- no idea why that happened. They can make it right
• #2 and #3 will be hard to fix. May make it look worse.
• #4 is out of spec and they can make it right
• #5 is actually within spec - I got a bit mad at this point
• #6 is actually within spec - I pretended to let it go, but this just doesn't feel right
• #7 is actually non issue - I need some explanation of why this can happen before believing it
• #8 can be fixed - I agree. Planning to do paint fix and opticoat, so willing to let it go
• #9 is actually remains of glue not scratch

For tonight, they provided a loaner car (BMW - not Tesla but still nice)... They took my CC info but I am trusting they are covering the full cost.

Anyhow... what would you suggest are important ones I need to really address?

Also, when the manager calls me tomorrow, should I .... (1) accept whatever they can fix (2) demand all to be fixed OR (3) refuse delivery for new VIN? I'm not thinking of cancelling the sale yet.

Still excited about the car but trying to get it right from the start...

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and suggestions

GBDC

 

[Evthusiast]

I am a Tesla fan boy.. been into the company since day one. Own an early model S 2013 that had tons of fit and finish problems. The company is now older and smarter... no way would I accept that car. No excuse for fit and finish issues any more. I absolutely love Tesla and will never ever drive another type of car in my life time, but no excuse for those problems. I am pissed at Tesla as an investor. They should be getting that stuff right by now. It really ticks me off. Yet I will still only buy Teslas. I am angry for you...seriously. I want Tesla to succeed, but new Tesla buyers should not be submitted to this kind of stuff.

I will always hate oil companies much more than a few fit an finish issues... so still buying Teslas regardless.

Unless they are giving the car to you for free do not accept it. Get a new vin.

 

[TaoJones]

Hi all. Would appreciate your help and suggestions.

Took family to Springfield NJ delivery center today to receive a blue M3, but ended up not taking delivery after making below observations. Because it was end of the day, delivery specialist promised to have his manager call me tomorrow with options.

1. 3 or more paint chips on the passenger front door where door meets the fender. SC was not sure how it could have happened either.
2. Gap between driver side fender where it meets the A pillar is awfully large. Clearly not flush.
3. Same issue on the passenger side gap between fender and A pillar. Not as big but still not flush.
4. Front of both side fenders touch (almost overlap) with the bumper
5. Both headlights not flush with bumper - headlight is pointed out forward than the bumper - 4-5mm if I remember correctly, especially the driver side.
6. Charger cover is not flush with the rear light when closed
7. Most weird - left and right side rear windows do not roll down to the same height. Discovered it after just looking at them though actual difference seems to be about 5mm. Confused if this is a sign of some bigger issue, or just something I can safely let go.
8. Hairline paint scratches on hood and other places
9. Scratch on glass panel - this turned out to be glues left in place (why though)​

They did call technician, and they told me (SC and technician):

• #1- no idea why that happened. They can make it right
• #2 and #3 will be hard to fix. May make it look worse.
• #4 is out of spec and they can make it right
• #5 is actually within spec - I got a bit mad at this point
• #6 is actually within spec - I pretended to let it go, but this just doesn't feel right
• #7 is actually non issue - I need some explanation of why this can happen before believing it
• #8 can be fixed - I agree. Planning to do paint fix and opticoat, so willing to let it go
• #9 is actually remains of glue not scratch

For tonight, they provided a loaner car (BMW - not Tesla but still nice)... They took my CC info but I am trusting they are covering the full cost.

Anyhow... what would you suggest are important ones I need to really address?

Also, when the manager calls me tomorrow, should I .... (1) accept whatever they can fix (2) demand all to be fixed OR (3) refuse delivery for new VIN? I'm not thinking of cancelling the sale yet.

Still excited about the car but trying to get it right from the start...

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and suggestions

GBDC

New VIN.

Body panel misalignment and scratches have been common. But some of that other stuff shouldn't have made it past QA. If that's the new lower standard, that's a significant problem.

Good catches, btw.

 

[Dutchie]

Also, when the manager calls me tomorrow, should I .... (1) accept whatever they can fix (2) demand all to be fixed OR (3) refuse delivery for new VIN? I'm not thinking of cancelling the sale yet.

You have to do whatever YOU feel comfortable about. It is your money and your car.

 

[Evthusiast]

You have to do whatever YOU feel comfortable about. It is your money and your car.

Still quite a shame. Model 3 owners should not have to deal with this type of stuff. Us early model S and X folks have already gone through it. Just crazy that it is still an issue.

 

[CricTic]

Yeah you did the right thing. 2, 3, and 4 are the most worrisome. Good news is you’ll be at the front of the line for a new VIN if that’s the route you choose, so you won’t have long to wait.

 

[gbdc]

@Evthusiast @TaoJones @Dutchie
Thanks guys. Say if I request a new VIN - can they refuse it? Also, I take they won't extend car rental until new VIN is delivered?

 

[vinnie97]

One paint chip and many hairline scratches on the one I received today as well. If I believed waiting a month or more to get another VIN would make a difference and make the multiple 4-hour round trips to the service center worth it, I might have also refused. Maybe I should've chosen white paint. I'd have never seen all the hairline scratches.

 

[Jason S]

Front lights on the 3 just bulge out a bit. I wouldn't expect a new VIN to change that. The charge port door too, I would not expect a new VIN to change that. That's #s 5&6.

If you refuse delivery I don't think they'll continue giving you a rental - you aren't an owner and they aren't fixing anything for you since you are simply back to awaiting delivery. It was nice of them to give you a rental for this situation imho.

Anything they say is within spec is unlikely to change with a new VIN.

Our 3 was paint corrected and wrapped right after delivery so I've no idea regarding paint issues. Didn't care since just having everything perfected anyway.

 

[gbdc]

@Jason S
Thanks. Any suggestions from my list what I should be worried about? Trying to figure out which ones are more material and which aren't.

 

[dhanson865]

5. Both headlights not flush with bumper - headlight is pointed out forward than the bumper - 4-5mm if I remember correctly, especially the driver side.
​

See Protruding headlights: Did Tesla fix this on your 3? was it worse than that? There is a bulge/gap by design apparently.

The techs at the local Service Center told me yesterday the bulging is by design to cool the headlights. I’m not kidding.

​

 

[gbdc]

@dhanson865 It's comparable. Wish I took a good picture to upload. More protruding at the bottom, but also with #4 where front of fender almost touches / overlaps with bumper where headlight is.

I agree with a poster in that thread - why would LED light need cooling? Not sure if it really is by design or as intended.

 

[vinnie97]

Because they still produce a lot of heat especially when encased. Have you checked out the requirements for the average A9 LED bulb? Almost all of them are not rated for enclosed fixtures because they'll cook themselves.

 

[dhanson865]

@dhanson865 It's comparable. Wish I took a good picture to upload. More protruding at the bottom, but also with #4 where front of fender almost touches / overlaps with bumper where headlight is.

I agree with a poster in that thread - why would LED light need cooling? Not sure if it really is by design or as intended.

Check out this video

Why did they install fans inside a headlight assembly? Why are they willing to discuss heat in marketing material?

I'd say it's because car LED headlights produce a lot of heat.

 

[gbdc]

Because they still produce a lot of heat especially when encased. Have you checked out the requirements for the average A9 LED bulb? Almost all of them are not rated for enclosed fixtures because they'll cook themselves.

good points. Thanks.

 

[vinnie97]

I remember some of the first enclosed fixture-rated bulbs that were liquid cooled. I have 3 of them, which might even be souvenirs at this point. The company name was Switch who went bankrupt trying to sell their $30 bulbs. Sorry for the tangent.

 

[gbdc]

@vinnie97 BTW just read your other thread about the chips and what to do about it. Sorry mate! Guess we are in this together... Luckly my service center is 20 min away and I have a spare car so I don't have any urgency.

Seriously wondering if I should request new VIN with feedback here & scanning other threads... Will sleep on it... but worried Tesla will refuse to issue new VIN.

 

[vinnie97]

Thanks, fortunately it's just the one chip, though there is a slightly rough spot at the edge of the passenger door and the panel anterior to it (which are not completely flush, and I suspect that's partially the cause for aforementioned paint roughness defect). I'm sure that can be buffed out by the Xpel/ceramic coating pros. I did find more surface scratches than I would have liked.

 

[gearchruncher]

I'd say it's because car LED headlights produce a lot of heat.

It's not so much that LED's create a lot of heat since they are one of the most efficient light sources, it's that they need to be kept cool. Glass halogen bulbs could handle getting to 300 degrees C, but an LED needs to be kept below about 100C or its lifetime will be very short.

 

[cellogig]

Glad you got some insightful help here from others. Hope it works out for you what ever desicion you make.