Tesla 4 year service plan - do we need it? Is it worth it?

[green1]

All that's listed on the Tesla yearly service is a possible wheel alignment and new wiper blades. For $600, no thanks!

A few people have found service centres backing away from the wheel alignment too...

it's a $600 wiper blade and fob battery replacement, I believe they also top up your wiper fluid and replace the cabin air filter. If you include shop time, it might be worth $100... but I'm a sucker so I bought it anyway...

 

[HankLloydRight]

It's a lot more than that -- they really spend several hours going over the entire car to find anything that might be out of place or needing (warranty) replacement. It's not a $600 15-minute Jiffy-Lube for washer fluid, wipers, and a fob battery. When I had my car in for the 1st year service (I bought the 8-year plan), they had my car for 2.5 days. So there is value in the service visit, but is it a value to you is a different question. For $475/year for me is worth it (and it includes the alignment, which the al-a-carte $600 visit does NOT include), and it's much less than my other ICE vehicles have ever cost on a yearly basis for maintenance and repairs.

 

[aus]

It's a lot more than that -- they really spend several hours going over the entire car to find anything that might be out of place or needing (warranty) replacement. It's not a $600 15-minute Jiffy-Lube for washer fluid, wipers, and a fob battery. When I had my car in for the 1st year service (I bought the 8-year plan), they had my car for 2.5 days. So there is value in the service visit, but is it a value to you is a different question. For $475/year for me is worth it (and it includes the alignment, which the al-a-carte $600 visit does NOT include), and it's much less than my other ICE vehicles have ever cost on a yearly basis for maintenance and repairs.

Did they have to repair anything? There's no way it really took them that long to do an annual inspection on a car.
It takes a good mechanic maybe 45 minutes to inspect a car to clear it for running on a track, and that includes the time to get it up on a lift and getting it off the lift.
.

 

[HankLloydRight]

Did they have to repair anything? There's no way it really took them that long to do an annual inspection on a car..

They had to replace the contactors, and a few other things they discovered during the inspection. Trust me, the actual inspection doesn't take 45 minutes.

It takes a good mechanic maybe 45 minutes to inspect a car to clear it for running on a track, and that includes the time to get it up on a lift and getting it off the lift.
.

You can't compare a track-side safety inspection of an ICE to a Model S at the Service Center. Like I said, the annual service inspection/service isn't a 15 minute Jiffylube type deal. They really go over every inch of the car. But you don't have to believe me, just ask your Service center what they do and how long it takes.

 

[BertL]

Ah, I have such a big grin on my face reading some of these interactions, I can't stand it. I'm glad that everyone can voice their opinions here -- both if they do, or perhaps don't even own an MS, as well as make their own choices when it comes to how they choose to service (or not) their MS, especially when it comes to preventative maintenance.

Me, well, after having spent more than $100,000 for my MS; it being my 13th new vehicle I've owned in my life; and having spent the last 25+ years owning Lexus, Acura, BMW, and MBZ with varying brand service approaches and reliability, I must say that for me, as a percentage of the cost of my MS, a fixed $475 per year to be up-to-factory-spec is a steal. Maintenance costs for the life of my MS was a definate plus on my decision matrix before ordering -- even assuming 100% service by the manufacturer, that some ICE owners don't always elect to do. My MS out-of-pocket annual costs will be less than what I spent many years having service performed on my previous luxury vehicles by the mfgr, e.g my 2014 MBZ SLK every-other-year mandatory B-Service (to maintain the warranty) cost me over $500, and that vehicle cost about half of my MS, with less performance and arguably different technology. I don't have money to throw away, but as I said in an earlier post, I believe in the value of preventive maintenance by someone that knows my vehicle -- especially one that has unique or leading-edge tech like MS. (Unfortunately perhaps -- and I'm not trying to get this discussion off topic, but) anyone purchasing a Tesla today MUST acknowledge to themselves before they even purchase one, that there really are not a lot of choices when it comes to servicing a MS in 49 of the 50 States, and most countries around the world. Unless it's the basics like tires or wiper blades, a Tesla Service Center is the single choice. (BTW, THAT was something on the negative side of my pre-order decision matrix because of the relative lack of options, even though I prefer to go to the auto mfgr for service -- and yes, perhaps pay more for the basics than some others may.) Be that as it may, my initial experience with Tesla Service has been as great as I grew to know with Lexus, and that's pretty hard to top by most accounts. I have no reason to believe here in SoCal, my Tesla service experience will diminish.

With my relatively low mileage, being able to lock in the price with Tesla prepaid annual service, even with the rather loose terms that involves, was a win for me. Once again, good luck to each MS owner with your own choice when it comes to preventive maintenance. The best situation is you'll have to pay for your MS, but never have a single thing go wrong for all the years you own your perhaps greatest toy; never pay for any service of any sort; never get on these boards to grouse about something that went wrong or didn't meet your expectation that may have been prevented if your MS had gone in for annual preventive check-ups; and you'll be able to pat yourself on the back you saved a few bucks over those of us that took the prepaid preventive service approach for at least the piece of mind it provides us. I wish you well. Enjoy!

 

[green1]

So the argument is that EVs require MORE maintenance than an ICE?

 

[BertL]

So the argument is that EVs require MORE maintenance than an ICE?

I personally wouldn't say that. I would say that at least for me, any mechanical device may benefit from some amount of preventative maintenance, especially one that can directly impact personal safety and has a high expectation for continued reliability.

 

[f-stop]

T&C may always vary between countries, but here in the US from the docs I read and were in effect when I purchased the agreements, issue is one can only buy the extended SERVICE agreement (4 or 8 version) within first 60 days after MS purchase. ...BUT, the extended WARRANTY, you can get as long as the basic warranty for the vehicle is in effect (and of course, the price of it can change between now and then.) When I first read both docs, I questioned myself on the same thing until I read them both another time and kept them separate in my head.

yes, it takes a while to get it straight that the prepaid service plans and the extended warranty are separate things. What makes it a bit confusing is that Tesla calls the extended warranty beyond the original new car 4yr/80,000km warranty the "Vehicle Extended Service" plan, at least in the Canadian documents I'm reading.

My DS and also the main service webpage do say that the prepaid service plans (either 4, or 4+4) must be bought within 60days (no possibility to buy the +4 separately), however as I mentioned if you click on the "read agreement" link, the resulting PDF for the Canadian version of the plan says within 30days, and also that the +4yr prepaid service add-on can be bought within 30days of the expiration of the original 4yr prepaid plan (implying separately). I'm checking with my DS if the PDF if out of date or if they can clarify the discrrepancy. I'm assuming it's actually the 60days as stated by you and on the main webpage, but it would be nice to see the correct actual agreement document before clicking on "buy".

 

[green1]

I personally wouldn't say that. I would say that at least for me, any mechanical device may benefit from some amount of preventative maintenance, especially one that can directly impact personal safety and has a high expectation for continued reliability.

Except we all know how much an ICE needs, and it isn't "a couple days" or even "many hours" a year. In fact many shops specialize in doing the whole thing for $30-40 and in 20 minutes or so.
Does an EV require more than that? if so, it needs more than an ICE.

 

[st50maint]

My DS and also the main service webpage do say that the prepaid service plans (either 4, or 4+4) must be bought within 60days (no possibility to buy the +4 separately), however as I mentioned if you click on the "read agreement" link, the resulting PDF for the Canadian version of the plan says within 30days, and also that the +4yr prepaid service add-on can be bought within 30days of the expiration of the original 4yr prepaid plan (implying separately). I'm checking with my DS if the PDF if out of date or if they can clarify the discrrepancy. I'm assuming it's actually the 60days as stated by you and on the main webpage, but it would be nice to see the correct actual agreement document before clicking on "buy".

I got my car on 8-11-15 and bought the 4 year service plan on 10-04-15. Today I looked at the mytesla page and it still will allow me to purchase the second 4 year plan. I was surprised since I had assumed I had only 60 days to get them.

 

[Canuck]

Some people will buy it and be happy they did.
Some people will not buy it and be happy they didn't.

I bought it.

 

[David_Cary]

EVs don't NEED more maintenance than an ICE. It is just that Tesla and some buyers decide to do more maintenance. That is a big difference.

Leaf owner - 30 months, 30k miles. I did the cabin air filter and wiper blades once. Still on the original fob batteries.....

Tesla at 9k miles in 6 months. No maintenance yet or anticipated. I'll probably find an air filter that works if Tesla won't sell me one at the 2 year mark. I'll replace the fob batteries when they stop working. I anticipate a warranty change out of the 12V battery at around the 18 month mark.

Maintenance is a funny thing. You will find people that won't change the oil in a new ICE until it makes a funny noise. I know several of those. And then you will find people who change the oil at 3000 miles despite the car telling them it is fine for a lot longer as well as the data telling them it is fine also.

A service at 4 years 49,999 is the only one worth their ridiculous cost IMO. But I live in the suburbs of a medium safe city. There are tow trucks, uber and gasp friends and family if I had a reliability issue. Oh yeah - Tesla 24 hour road service. But electronics die in a different way then ICEs die. Preventative maintenance is not the same and is unlikely to move the reliability needle more than a percent or two.

 

[BertL]

Since one is not forced to perform PM on one's vehicle, it all comes down IMHO to one's risk tolerance ... just like choices they make with other forms of insurance.

Some people are OK carrying zero auto, homeowner's, rental, flood or earthquake insurance, and even zero health insurance for themselves and their family. Paying nothing as long as there are no pay-outs is a really smart move. OTOH, a catastrophic event could impact one's life for years trying to correct the situation they got into. Not everyone is comfortable taking as large of a risk, so they carry one of more types of insurance and then vary the coverage limits and possible pay-out exposure they are open to. IMHO, unless one looks at any sort of insurance in hindsight, it's impossible to guarantee what the best choice for any single situation would have been.

When it comes to preventative maintenance, some people elect to not do an annual physical or other types of health-related tests which allow an independently trained and certified 3rd party specialist to give their complex and ever-aging body a once-over, looking for trends and possible symptoms before something more severe MAY occur. Some people lead very healthy lives not doing physicals unless forced to because of sports or employment in their younger years, waiting to go to doctors until later in their life after they have a life-changing event or truly run into a health problem that needs resolution. Again, those choices can save a bunch of initial money, but OTOH, waiting until something becomes a noticeable and bigger issue MAY cost a lot more to resolve after-the-fact, have unnecessarily impacted one's quality of life for some period of time, and perhaps then not be as affordably resolved if the issue had been nipped in the bud so-to-speak -- assuming of course, irreversible damage has not already been done and the problem can still be resolved.​

I'll let readers draw the possible parallels to automobile extended warranties, preventive maintenance and it's frequency -- especially one like our expensive, technically complex, and leading-edge MS -- then make their own choices that are best for them.

Risk Tolerance. It's different for everyone.

Peace.

 

[HankLloydRight]

Except we all know how much an ICE needs, and it isn't "a couple days" or even "many hours" a year. In fact many shops specialize in doing the whole thing for $30-40 and in 20 minutes or so.

Again, for the third time, the Annual inspection/service is a lot more than a 15 minute Jiffylube visit. I don't know how many more times I have to repeat it. The Tesla Annual Service is an extremely thorough inspection/service of the entire car, looking for anything that might be a problem down the road and repair or replacing those items. It's not just topping off fluids and changing a battery.

But electronics die in a different way then ICEs die.

There's A LOT more to the Model S than just "electronics". It's still car and has wear and tear like any other. Road and weather hazards could silently damage the car in ways you'd never know until there's a catastrophic electric, electronic, or mechanical failure.

 

[liuping]

When people think $475 is too much for annual service and EVs should always have less maintenance than ICE cars, etc., They need need to compare the Model S to similar vehicles.

Comparing the maintenance of a $100k, super accelerating, 4700 lbs sport sedan, against the maintenance costs of a Honda accord do not make much sense.

It does need less maintenance than any other car that has similar size, acceleration, features, etc, and $475 is cheap compared to any super car out there. Try putting 20k miles a year, with (frequent multiple times a day daily 0-60 launches) on a Lambo and see what your maintenance costs will be.

Prepaid service is not for everyone, but I'm glad to have it. Taking the car in once an year (which is almost exactly 20k miles for me) to make sure everything is working properly is worth it too me.

 

[GreenT]

I am at the 50,000 mark and have to decide on the $4,000, 4 year - 100,000 miles.
I am glad it is transferable, should I ever trade up, but $1,000 a year seems steep to me. 8c a mile?
Has anyone done that ... and I notice on their web site under the $1,900 option it states ...
"Extension plans may be available for individual purchase in the future. Availability, duration, and pricing subject to change." So what if I buy the $4k and then they announce the availability of the $1,900 plan?

 

[BertL]

I am at the 50,000 mark and have to decide on the $4,000, 4 year - 100,000 miles.
I am glad it is transferable, should I ever trade up, but $1,000 a year seems steep to me. 8c a mile?
Has anyone done that ... and I notice on their web site under the $1,900 option it states ...
"Extension plans may be available for individual purchase in the future. Availability, duration, and pricing subject to change." So what if I buy the $4k and then they announce the availability of the $1,900 plan?

Be sure you are keeping the two agreements separate. You may be getting things mixed-up.

One is for warranty extension that is (in very simplified terms) "for years 5-8, up to 100K miles, costs $200 deductible for each unique problem needing to be resolved, but otherwise covers everything that your basic warranty does beyond the traction battery that already has its own 8-year warranty; this DOES NOT include preventive service" and presently (or at least last month when I paid for it) costs $4K flat fee that can be purchased in the US until 30 days after your basic warranty expires (which is far more liberal in timeframe than any other luxury brand I've ever owned allows). I believe this is what you are considering.

The other agreement is for preventive service, which provides people only during the first 60 days after delivery here in the US the the ability to prepay a discounted optional 4 year and then 4-more years of optional annual service, which is over and beyond what the basic warranty requires or provides. That is where the $1900 comes in, and the point that the "+4" option MAY be offered in the future. Since you are well past 60 days after purchase, none of this I suspect applies to you (at least it wouldn't to a person like me that took delivery 10/5/2015... Tesla seems to be evolving their terms, so maybe some are dependent upon vehicle delivery date, and showing something different on your My Tesla page, IDK.)

​

As to if anyone here has purchased an extended WARRANTY, yes, several have, including me. Please read my (and other) previous posts on this thread for our (or at least my) thoughts on it.

 

[aus]

When people think $475 is too much for annual service and EVs should always have less maintenance than ICE cars, etc., They need need to compare the Model S to similar vehicles.

Comparing the maintenance of a $100k, super accelerating, 4700 lbs sport sedan, against the maintenance costs of a Honda accord do not make much sense.

It does need less maintenance than any other car that has similar size, acceleration, features, etc, and $475 is cheap compared to any super car out there. Try putting 20k miles a year, with (frequent multiple times a day daily 0-60 launches) on a Lambo and see what your maintenance costs will be.

Prepaid service is not for everyone, but I'm glad to have it. Taking the car in once an year (which is almost exactly 20k miles for me) to make sure everything is working properly is worth it too me.

BMW M5. ZERO Maintenance cost for 4 years or 50,000 miles. Similar cost, but MUCH better lease rate too.

I think the OP just wants to know what EXACTLY do you get for that $600 inspection?? There are those out there who actually can do simple work on our cars... even $70-120,000 cars.

.

 

[Canuck]

BMW M5. ZERO Maintenance cost for 4 years or 50,000 miles. Similar cost, but MUCH better lease rate too.

Yeah, but then you have to drive a BMW. Every time I drive my wife's, I'm so glad it's only once every so often, and I avoid it as much as possible.

 

[liuping]

BMW M5. ZERO Maintenance cost for 4 years or 50,000 miles. Similar cost, but MUCH better lease rate too.

I've always like BMW's 4 year service included policy. I wish Tesla would do something like that.

However, after that up, M5 maintaince can get pretty expensive. By 8 years/100,000 miles, I suspect the Prepaid Model S maintenance at $3800 will seem like a steal. Plus they use a lot more gas than a Model S.