This panel gap worth having SC fix?

[mmoon24]

I don't know why I never noticed, despite having the car for 6 months, but man does this look egregious from some angles. It is the between point between the glass roof and rear hatch.

To top it off, it's been raining non-stop the past week and half, and I've been driving in it quite a bit. Now I'm concerned if water might've gotten inside.

 

[jelloslug]

Is that at the top of the hatch?

 

[Max*]

If it bothers you, you can ask. If it doesn't bother you, no need to ask.

There should be rubber seals/gaskets around the sunroof, so even if water got into the panel gaps, doesn't mean it got into the car.

 

[mmoon24]

Is that at the top of the hatch?

Yeah. It's what connects the glass top to the rear hatch.

 

[jelloslug]

Yeah. It's what connects the glass top to the rear hatch.

There has to be a gap there for the hatch glass to clear the roof glass. I don't know how much it could be adjusted.

 

[Tam]

...I'm concerned if water might've gotten inside...

I am no expert but I wouldn't be concerned about water because the gaps are designed with water in mind.

Materials do expand in heat so you don't want glass to rub against glass.

You might want to ask Tesla what's the specs of acceptable gaps

 

[P85Dave]

I honestly think you should let it go.

I'm pretty OCD about things like this and I would not bother about it. I guess bring it up if it bothers you thta much but personally I would not worry about it. Last thing I want is to get the car back and it is worse

 

[AmpedRealtor]

Here's my 2013. It looks a tiny bit tighter than yours, but only by a fraction of an inch.

 

[Zextraterrestrial]

If that gap is any tighter, when the hatch opens you can have the glass break due to really small sticks or debris (or the glass might touch even without any debris if it is tighter?). I have seen a couple of broken glass issues from tree debris of something similar to an acorn. That gap is fine and not an area where I have ever heard of water intrusion

 

[mmoon24]

If that gap is any tighter, when the hatch opens you can have the glass break due to really small sticks or debris (or the glass might touch even without any debris if it is tighter?). I have seen a couple of broken glass issues from tree debris of something similar to an acorn. That gap is fine and not an area where I have ever heard of water intrusion

Good point. Since my work is near the service center, I'll probably pop in and ask for their opinion as well.

 

[Zextraterrestrial]

not the thread I was looking for but it shows that the tolerance is pretty tight regarding the glass & crap can happen from debris.
If I remember the thread I was thinking of correctly it was broken glass from a small pebble sitting in the gap when the trunk was opened.

Broken Glass

 

[Snowstorm]

Looks normal to me, or least compared to mine.

 

[buttershrimp]

I don't know why I never noticed, despite having the car for 6 months, but man does this look egregious from some angles. It is the between point between the glass roof and rear hatch.

To top it off, it's been raining non-stop the past week and half, and I've been driving in it quite a bit. Now I'm concerned if water might've gotten inside.

View attachment 283697

View attachment 283698

It looks a bit like the white paint makes the gap look bigger. But it is likely a very small bit more than the average. Maybe take another pic without the flash on or direct sunlight overhead and then decide?

 

[Tam]

...take another pic...

Please lay down a ruler with inches and millimeters with the picture.

Otherwise, if you ask me without a ruler, and I have to go by my own rule of thumb: I would say it is not acceptable if you can slide freely into the gap with your thumb and it's fine for me if the gap can fit only your small finger at the maximum!

 

[CameronB]

On mine, the gap is several mm's thinner than my small finger.

8.70mm (.34") vs 11.62mm (.46"). FWIW

 

[buttershrimp]

On mine, the gap is several mm's thinner than my small finger.

8.70mm (.34") vs 11.62mm (.46"). FWIW

View attachment 284182View attachment 284183

Hey, I think I know who is behind this thread!

 

[CameronB]

@mmoon24 Would be interested to see what your gap is. I don't know if my gap is tighter than normal, but at 8.7mm, mine doesn't seem excessive.

But you mentioned you were concerned "if water had gotten inside"? Do you mean you are concerned that the water is getting inside of the car at your hatch/trunk area? Like the trunk carpet?

Even if your gap was very tight, water will get through the gap...but that's not really important as it will simply go down the channels on either side and then exit the car at the bottom. There's a seal that prevents the water from getting into your hatch area so as long as that seal is intact, then water getting into the gap between roof and hatch shouldn't cause any problems as long as your seals are in good shape.

 

[Uncle Paul]

Might be worth sending your service center a picture like this and asking their opinion. Might save you a trip.

I spent a lot of time with surgeons, and their favorite saying was "Better is the enemy of good". Sometimes trying to make something perfect makes it worse.

 

[mmoon24]

@mmoon24 Would be interested to see what your gap is. I don't know if my gap is tighter than normal, but at 8.7mm, mine doesn't seem excessive.

But you mentioned you were concerned "if water had gotten inside"? Do you mean you are concerned that the water is getting inside of the car at your hatch/trunk area? Like the trunk carpet?

Even if your gap was very tight, water will get through the gap...but that's not really important as it will simply go down the channels on either side and then exit the car at the bottom. There's a seal that prevents the water from getting into your hatch area so as long as that seal is intact, then water getting into the gap between roof and hatch shouldn't cause any problems as long as your seals are in good shape.

Sorry for not responding over the weekend. Was out of town with no access to my laptop.

I just measured using a measuring tape and got back exactly .4 inches or 10.16 mm far as the space between goes. Based on what you posted, mine is slightly bigger than yours.

Might be worth sending your service center a picture like this and asking their opinion. Might save you a trip.

I spent a lot of time with surgeons, and their favorite saying was "Better is the enemy of good". Sometimes trying to make something perfect makes it worse.

Yeah, I sent them a picture last Friday, and they essentially said to come on down so they could take a closer look.

 

[The Duke]

My car is not perfect either. But I can live with it. What I could not live with is getting the gaps perfect and adding a rattle or squeak. Nicki has never had a rattle or squeak in 24K miles of bad freeways so I plan to have no body maintenance until that changes.