Tesla Service Plan Change

[dsm363]

Can someone explain to me the difference between ranger and valet service? I thought valet was only available if the car was within 50 miles of a service center, otherwise you needed a ranger (for an extra fee). Now I hear of people who live 300 miles or more from a SC getting valet service without an extra fee. So is the only benefit to a ranger is that they don't take away my car for a while an leave me a (non-Tesla) loaner?

I currently live ~25 miles from a SC, but there's a good chance that during my ownership, I'll be moving 100 miles further away. I was told at the Tesla store I couldn't add ranger service to a pre-paid plan. They said I had to either buy the ranger plan now, or stick with valet service for the life of the plan.

With ranger service they try and fix it right in your garage if they can. Hopefully your car would only need annual service so 125 miles isn't too bad but might have to lock down ranger service if you think you'll need it.

 

[mknox]

I see the plan includes replacement parts brake pads if you use the regen as it is supposed to be used then I don't see how brake pad will ever need changing, especially in the first 12000 miles 24 hour roadside, I have my insurance for that, and windshield wipers?

System monitoring, does this mean they are always watching my car 24/7 and if I don't get the plan they don't watch 24/7? Do they alert me if there is a problem, and if there is a problem the car should tell me anyway?

Remote Diagnostics, I am 5 miles from the service center so that does not seem relevant unless I am on a trip then is something goes wrong but even then I have my insurance to flat bed the car.

Hardware upgrades, what Hardware upgrades have people received over those who did not buy the plans

This has always bugged me. I pre-paid for 8 years because of this. It was said to be the ONLY way you would be entitled to the things you mention above. I now know that people who did not get the plan are receiving all of these things for "free". When I took my car in for its first "annual", all I got were fob batteries and wiper blades. I didn't get an alignment or a tire rotation. All of the other TSB work, inspections and upgrades they did I know for a fact were made available to people without the plan and/or who did not pay for an annual service. I don't begrudge folks getting great service from Tesla, but I do feel like I wasted my money on this.

 

[mibaro2]

This is really bad timing for me. I need to pick a service plan is the next 10 days, so I'll be watching these changes closely, and try to get some clarification from Tesla.

 

[HankLloydRight]

This has always bugged me. I pre-paid for 8 years because of this. It was said to be the ONLY way you would be entitled to the things you mention above. I now know that people who did not get the plan are receiving all of these things for "free". When I took my car in for its first "annual", all I got were fob batteries and wiper blades. I didn't get an alignment or a tire rotation. All of the other TSB work, inspections and upgrades they did I know for a fact were made available to people without the plan and/or who did not pay for an annual service. I don't begrudge folks getting great service from Tesla, but I do feel like I wasted my money on this.

You're still getting the annual service/inspection at a discounted rate.
The people getting these things "for free" likely paid $600 for the annual inspection.

I also suspect that as the number of cars increases quickly, the people getting stuff "for free" will diminish.

 

[highfalutintodd]

If "true" Ranger service is indeed no longer available as an option, I can't say I'm surprised. It always seemed like one of those things that simply wouldn't be feasible to scale (at least not at the rates they were charging).

Although I've enjoyed the uniqueness of the couple of ranger visits I've had, hopefully this will simply end up being semantics. If the "valet" service brings me a loaner and then brings my car back when it's done I really don't care. The end result - that I wasn't inconvenienced and tesla came to me - is the same.

 

[sbronle1]

I am a bit confused. Is there not a "free warrantee plan" that comes with the car when purchased? Mine is due delivery in 14 days and this is the first time I have looked into the warrantee. I guess if they are going to charge you for a center console as an add on that in a way is a design flaw, they can charge you for a warrantee that should be included in the purchase price.

 

[EarlyAdopter]

If "true" Ranger service is indeed no longer available as an option, I can't say I'm surprised. It always seemed like one of those things that simply wouldn't be feasible to scale (at least not at the rates they were charging).

Although I've enjoyed the uniqueness of the couple of ranger visits I've had, hopefully this will simply end up being semantics. If the "valet" service brings me a loaner and then brings my car back when it's done I really don't care. The end result - that I wasn't inconvenienced and tesla came to me - is the same.

Per dsm363 and Jerome of Tesla noted above, it appears it's still available, just ala cart ($100 per visit). That still matters for the increasingly smaller and smaller number of people still >50 miles away from a service center, out of range for valet.

 

[dsm363]

I don't think the charge will stay at $100 in the future either at least for people not locked into a plan.

 

[stevezzzz]

@sbronle1: All work needed during the warranty period is covered, except for the 'annual' service visits. Everybody pays for annual service; some just choose to pay up front for a discount.

 

[tga]

Per dsm363 and Jerome of Tesla noted above, it appears it's still available, just ala cart ($100 per visit). That still matters for the increasingly smaller and smaller number of people still >50 miles away from a service center, out of range for valet.

But it appears that people who live >50 miles are now getting free valet service. Someone over on the factory forums says he got valet service 310 miles from a SC.

I agree with highfalutintodd - if they are going to come to me, why would I care if it's valet or ranger? Why would anyone care if the car is fixed in their driveway or back at a SC? Why would they care enough to pay $100?

If I can get valet service if I move further from the SC, I don't see why I (or anyone else) would want ranger service.

 

[capt601]

@sbronle1: All work needed during the warranty period is covered, except for the 'annual' service visits. Everybody pays for annual service; some just choose to pay up front for a discount.

Exactly!! The plan is only getting people a discount. Very simple. No other special services. Others will pay $150 more annually but get the same annual service.

 

[EarlyAdopter]

The Ranger Service option is back on the website, just a la carte. No more bundled package. Like I was saying...

 

[gg_got_a_tesla]

Exactly!! The plan is only getting people a discount. Very simple. No other special services. Others will pay $150 more annually but get the same annual service.

$125 to be precise but, yes, by prepaying for a 4- or an 8-year service plan, one's just getting a discount.

Don't know why there's still angst about the non-plan folks (such as myself) getting the same service (TSBs, wheel alignment, tire rotation, etc.) when we are indeed paying ($600) for it.

I preferred to go this route as I could invest the $1,900 (or $3,800) and gain way more than the $125 discount (x4 or x8) rather than lock up all that money up front. Also, I was not strictly locked into using the 4 or 8 service vouchers within the 4 or 8 year windows; I got my first service done at 14 months and will maintain a 16-18 month cadence from here on.

The only risk in not having a locked-in price is that Tesla could conceivably raise it beyond $600 but, I'm betting that the price will hold and even drop for Gen 3 as more owners come on board. There's no way Tesla can continue touting a no/low maintenance slogan for an EV while raising these scheduled visit costs into high end ICE territory.

@mknox, not providing you with the alignment and rotation at your first annual visit was definitely an oversight from your service center. You should be able to justifiably get that rectified.

 

[HankLloydRight]

I bought the 8 year pre-pay plan for a few reasons. Anecdotally, I've heard people receiving preferential treatment at the service centers who have purchased the pre-payment service plan. Might be true, might not be. But if I'm going in for some other non-warranty repair or maintenance, why not maximize the chances of getting preferential treatment for something I'd be paying for anyway? I also want to show my commitment in the future success of Tesla Motors, and if buying the service plan demonstrates that, and the service centers see that, I think they'd be more willing to offer "freebies" than someone who hasn't pre-paid. I'm also not concerned about the opportunity cost of the $3800 versus just paying $600 each time. I'd rather let TM use that cash to fund their growth then try to invest it at a slightly better return for myself. I think we're all invested in the long-term viability of TM.

I also bought an inventory car with 8000 miles on it, and since I didn't know it's previous history of the car, I thought it was prudent to get the service/inspection plan. I also feel that in case I sell the car before the 8 years, the inclusion of the balance of the service plan helps resale value.

 

[David_Cary]

Of course, those who chose to not do annual inspections at all still get all the TSB and warranty work. They might even get a key fob battery too....

Given the warranty clarification (ie inspections not required), the best value (ie smartest thing to do) is forego annual inspections completely. I have never seen a justification that changes this basic fact.

I suppose I might pay for an inspection at the 49k mark. That might have some value. Otherwise, any problems are on Tesla anyway.

$30 for wipers and $5 for a key fob battery does not equal $475 or $600... if they aren't doing alignment and tire rotation balance. But even adding those things in, the value just isn't there.

 

[HankLloydRight]

. if they aren't doing alignment and tire rotation balance. But even adding those things in, the value just isn't there.

Just not true.. when I asked my delivery specialist about the service plan and "hardware upgrades" this is what he said:

Hardware upgrades refer to changes we make to components that are already installed on your Model S. Through the program, you would be eligible to receive any of the upgrades that we come out with at no extra charge.

For example, when the production team created a better defroster vents for the Model S last year, even older Model S equipped with the previous defroster vents could receive the upgrade. If you had the service plan, this was included. This is distinct from the warranty, which would cover replacement the vents with the same components if they were defective or failed.


Almost every car sold has a warranty to protect against defects in workmanship. Offering hardware upgrades means you are entitled to the latest and greatest version of each part of your vehicle, even if they are not defective.

So there's plenty of value in upgraded hardware replacements over the course of the next 8 years that people not on the plan do not get.

 

[dirkhh]

So there's plenty of value in upgraded hardware replacements over the course of the next 8 years that people not on the plan do not get.

Have we seen any evidence that people without the service plan had to pay for, say, the new vents? Or the improved cover for the lower part of the trunk?

For the record, I bought the 8 year service plan assuming that it would provide additional value over just buying annual service. At $3800 / 8yrs it's $125 a year compared to buying annually, sure, but when I asked in July last year I was similarly told that I would get "more" compared to paying for service on a yearly basis.
And I haven't seen evidence that this true. I'm not upset about it, I simply don't know what people without the service contract experience... so I guess I'm just wondering.

 

[Doug_G]

That's what Jerome said last night. With all the service centers opening up he said it didn't make sense for Tesla to keep prepaid ranger plans. People who already have them keep them of course.

That's why I jumped on the "anywhere" service plan. Who knows when they'll put a service center in Ottawa? I've had a lot of Ranger visits (early Sig VIN) so it's been a fantastic value for me.

And let's admit it, this excuse about "all the service centers opening up" doesn't make sense (to put it rudely, it's "spin"). If anything more service centers just means there will be less uptake, but it would be still invaluable for new/wider market areas. The reality is that they are discontinuing it because it's costing them too much money.

 

[dirkhh]

That's why I jumped on the "anywhere" service plan. Who knows when they'll put a service center in Ottawa? I've had a lot of Ranger visits (early Sig VIN) so it's been a fantastic value for me.

And let's admit it, this excuse about "all the service centers opening up" doesn't make sense (to put it rudely, it's "spin"). If anything more service centers just means there will be less uptake, but it would be still invaluable for new/wider market areas. The reality is that they are discontinuing it because it's costing them too much money.

Yes, I was stunned how "cheap" it was (the incremental cost). Certainly seemed implausible that this would cover their cost.
I live literally 10 minutes from the Portland service center so it wasn't worth it, but if I had been more than 30 minutes away, I would certainly have ponied up the money.

 

[mknox]

You're still getting the annual service/inspection at a discounted rate.
The people getting these things "for free" likely paid $600 for the annual inspection.

But what I'm saying is that I know for a fact that people who did not buy the plan (or paid the $600 at the door) are taking their cars in for warranty items and getting the full service for "free", minus just the wiper blades and fob batteries. They're getting hardware upgrades (i.e. door handles) and still get all of the software upgrades that you were only supposed to get with the plan.

- - - Updated - - -

Have we seen any evidence that people without the service plan had to pay for, say, the new vents? Or the improved cover for the lower part of the trunk?

LOTS of people got the new defroster vents without the service plan or paying for it a la carte. I have the 8 year plan and didn't know about the trunk cover. What's that all about?