Will an 8 year old Model S be almost worthless?

[Ingineer]

I don't think keeping out of warranty Tesla's on the road is going to be a problem. I've restored plenty of cars that were already considered done. There is a plentiful supply of used parts and I predict there will be plenty of aftermarket.

I can and have already repaired many of the systems in the car that Tesla just replaces outright, such as the IC, MCU, Drive Inverter, etc.

The Model S is quite easy to work on compared to other cars and it's internal diagnostic capability is second to none, even comparing it to commercial avionics systems.

 

[GJ79]

I don't think keeping out of warranty Tesla's on the road is going to be a problem. I've restored plenty of cars that were already considered done. There is a plentiful supply of used parts and I predict there will be plenty of aftermarket.

I can and have already repaired many of the systems in the car that Tesla just replaces outright, such as the IC, MCU, Drive Inverter, etc.

The Model S is quite easy to work on compared to other cars and it's internal diagnostic capability is second to none, even comparing it to commercial avionics systems.

Can you please move to the Tampa area ???

 

[ApauloThirteen]

Yeah, except numerous folks here have been thru multiple drive units.

As for "the tranny, the increasingly complex emissions stuff", seems like automatic transmissions at least on reliable Japanese brands tend to last a lot longer than DUs. It is not often I hear of transmissions needing replacement for any reason on Toyotas, Hondas, or Subarus by say the 90K mile mark. As for emissions stuff, FWIW, my hybrid ICEV and that of my mother's are AT-PZEV, so they're mandated to have a 15 year/150K mile emissions warranty (https://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/warranty.pdf).

Also see Lifespan/Operating costs for my example of long-lived Priuses.

BTW, here are some examples (I have MANY more) of people having many DU replacements and some early failures:
Drive Unit Replacement Poll
Drive unit replacement - getting better?
New Model S Drive Unit Replaced at 734 Miles
Dual engine shut down on freeway. Anyone else?
Drive Unit Failed - Dashcam video
Clunks, Drones and Milling sounds: Just had a drive unit fail

Yes, sorry to hear about that. Hoping that a) they fix it for you and others and b) they have enough engineering resources to find and eliminate it going forward, esp the problems that will drift into other lines (X, 3, Y, etc).

As for Japanese reliability, it's good, maybe great, but not bulletproof. Google search 'Lexus/Toyota engine sludge' or 'Honda Odyssey transmission' issues, both of which at first, the companies refused to acknowledge there even was a problem. And coming from an Accord, they put substandard brake pads on all v6 ones from the start so yes, people were eating a brake pad/rotor replacement costs at low mileage.

We could go back and forth on this all day. I guess my point is, b/c of emissions and fleet fuel averages, ICE engines are getting more complex, more computerized.

If they figure out the Tesla DU issues, all things held equal, they'll have an inherently more reliable platform.

 

[Saghost]

If they figure out the Tesla DU issues, all things held equal, they'll have an inherently more reliable platform.

Not many posts about getting one replaced recently, are there?

Elon said last year that they finally figured out the real cause of the noise that led to most of the replacements - which turned out to be fairly simple and external to the unit itself.

More importantly, all of those replacements were on the older rear drive motor - which is now only installed on the PXXD cars and RWD base Ss - the vast majority of cars built today have two of the newer small drive motors, which AFAIK haven't had any replacement history on the forum to date at all.

 

[GJ79]

Not many posts about getting one replaced recently, are there?

Elon said last year that they finally figured out the real cause of the noise that led to most of the replacements - which turned out to be fairly simple and external to the unit itself.

More importantly, all of those replacements were on the older rear drive motor - which is now only installed on the PXXD cars and RWD base Ss - the vast majority of cars built today have two of the newer small drive motors, which AFAIK haven't had any replacement history on the forum to date at all.

Mine got replaced for the second time about 3 months ago !

 

[davidc18]

Had my front DU replaced at 9k miles. Now at 26k the "new" DU is louder than the replaced DU.

 

[Ingineer]

It's important to note whether your replacement is a NEW or REMAN DU. It seems like the REMAN units just don't last long. After a few of these, I would insist on a NEW unit.

 

[Don85D]

I am taking our Model S in for 24 month service (fluid changes) and I will ask that they change the gear lube as well. It has been my experience that 'lifetime' lubes are OK after the initial wear debris has been removed. Draining it now a refilling should prevent future problems.

This may be old school thinking but I am set in my ways.

 

[Mark Z]

An out-of-warranty Tesla may be more valuable since 3rd party repair could specialize in quality repairs in a timely manner.

The phone call just came and Model X repairs have been completed after 8 weeks and two days. Parts delays were the major contributor to a two month wait. Tesla Motors needs to manufacture more spare parts and have an effective distribution system in place to speed repairs for service centers and other authorized repair locations.

 

[theboom1]

I hope the aftermarket for electric cars grows and does it quickly along with the infrastructure like charging stations with it after electric cars take off (don't know when that will be though). I don't want to buy one until it does. I would like to be able to swap out an old depleted or out of date battery for a fresh new one for a price that does not break the bank and I like modifying cars so I want the aftermarket to come out with more powerful batteries, motors, inverters, transmissions that I can modify my car with.

In fact if I had the money and they would sell it to me I would love to buy 3 sets of rimac's battery, motors, gearboxes, and other components and soft-where of the drivetrain out of the concept one (preferably the concept s for those who know what that is). With one set I want to put it in a much lighter chassis than rimacs's concepts. If your not aware that while they use a carbon fiber body, the rest of the basic tub and structure and other components are mostly steel or alloys. If you swapped all that out along with other things like the wheels and structure components with carbon fiber like what companies like mclaren and especially koenigsegg do, you could cut A LOT of weight out. Based on a little research if you went as extreme as koenigsegg and other similar companies, it could be as much as 4-500lbs! I guess even tho the car costs 1mil you cant blame a company with so little resources for not using carbon fiber everywhere. Just think what a 3500lb 1350hp awd electric hypercar with a two speed highly efficient dual clutch trans and 4 wheel independent torque vectoring with high downforce would be like!!!!

Second set I would put in a lightened model s (using carbon fiber again for the basic structure, I did say "if i had the money" right? )
And the third I would put in a custom built super duty truck but swapping out the gears in the gearboxes to much lower for towing.

As far as resale value of electric cars in the future? Im in the group that thinks replacement or upgrade aftermarket batteries for cheaper prices will keep the values up.