Accident repair time Tesla parts?

[QwikKota]

Actually probably the same system, CCC or Mitchel. At that time they could pull down aftermarket and LKQ parts in real-time. Upload photos and estimates to the ins co almost instantaneously. The lag time is almost always human. Show is busy, tech is working on a car, no time for tear down, parts guy is busy, secretary didn't get authorization to repair etc.

Yikes, sorry to hear they fixed it. The frame ends are replaceable and on some vehicles, back then you could straighten metal to a point. DRP shops will bend the rules and repair things they shouldn't. I've seen it happen unfortunately. I'd rather have a frame job and rebuild the truck from scratch but DRPs don't like jobs that take a long time as it increases cycle time and ruins the shops numbers on how fast they fix vehicles etc.

Obviously you have industry experience but that was not the presence of smart phones and emailing pictures from phones time frame.

This was directly below the cab and bed gap. That part of the frame was integral and not separately replaceable. The first repair even involved a completely new rear end with non-standard gears and a limited slip. That came from a junkyard and I could feel the truck noticeably slow down when I put it in neutral. Was never the same after that. Very surprised it was not totaled on a 3 year old Dakota that was "only" $20k brand new.

 

[PandaBear]

I had a coworker back in 2022 that waited 6 month for a Model 3 bumper shell. I have also heard some people got a car totaled because of part wait time and the insurance company ended up not wanting to pay for rental for that long (and maybe part out the car to help fix other damaged cars).

Last year my body shop had a sign explaining why they charge more per hour for Tesla. Instead of the typical $150/hr they charge $180/hr because of part wait time and storage. That sign is now gone.

I think since the sales are down and they are shutting down a few under utilized product (X and S), they will likely be solved by now.

 

[PandaBear]

I'm sure that right headlight is no longer aimed properly for night driving.

I'm surprised there isn't aftermarket support for a bumper cover and headlight assembly.

Tesla do a lot of rapid design change mid year so you can't use the traditional car industry's model to assume parts availability. You literally have to use VIN to check which one to order.

Wouldn't a long term rental be insanely expensive for 90 days?

In my area the insurance company pays the rental company for $26/day. I don't know how they did it but I guess since most of their cars are constantly rented out instead of in the location, they are like free money printer for the business. $26 x 365 / 12 = 790 / month. If the depreciation is low and the lease is cheap this is like a stable cash flow for the rental company.

 

[Owen Lucas]

Last year my body shop had a sign explaining why they charge more per hour for Tesla. Instead of the typical $150/hr they charge $180/hr because of part wait time and storage. That sign is now gone.

It's common for body shops to charge certain rates for different makes. Specialty training and certification for top tier techs carries a premium. Aluminum vehicles require special, isolated repair bays and tools. If you get an Audi or BMW certification, it's very expensive and you have access to parts regular shops can't buy (easily) so they will charge double labor or more.

I think since the sales are down and they are shutting down a few under utilized product (X and S), they will likely be solved by now.

Elon mentioned in an interview that when he was starting his brand, a well known auto financier told him he would fail because he does not have an inventory of vehicles which require parts to keep running. Parts sales are a big part of any auto manufacturers' income, to the point where, supposedly, the Ford Taurus was manufactured at a loss, but with such high volume that Ford was profitable off of parts sales.

You'd think Elon and co would have optimized their parts supply chain for profitability instead of the current state where some LKQ parts are selling more than OEM just because they are available sooner. IDK, there must be a method to the madness. Why fix cars when you can sell new ones when they are totaled? IDK

 

[PandaBear]

Elon mentioned in an interview that when he was starting his brand, a well known auto financier told him he would fail because he does not have an inventory of vehicles which require parts to keep running. Parts sales are a big part of any auto manufacturers' income, to the point where, supposedly, the Ford Taurus was manufactured at a loss, but with such high volume that Ford was profitable off of parts sales.

You'd think Elon and co would have optimized their parts supply chain for profitability instead of the current state where some LKQ parts are selling more than OEM just because they are available sooner. IDK, there must be a method to the madness. Why fix cars when you can sell new ones when they are totaled? IDK

It is easily seen in the stock price and valuation. A couple years ago Tesla's valuation is only 40% in car business and today it is likely even less. They are there to sell stock instead of car, and other automakers are likely there to finance car loans and leases instead of selling cars.

Since they run as a tech company they move at the speed of a tech company. Not a problem if you are going to have a large pool of fleet and just consolidate them over time, tearing apart one to fix another, but for individual owner with emotional attachment it can be a problem. In sales to hyperscale (data center) we have a thing called e-warranty. If a test fail a part we sold it is scraped and we just give the customer store credit to buy a new one based on the residual value (like lead acid battery). This stop if the rate is too high and the customer wastes labor doing the replacement and their system down for too much, and they would just stop shipment. Can't do that to an individual customer whether in car or computer parts.

 

[Torrid]

I had a coworker back in 2022 that waited 6 month for a Model 3 bumper shell. I have also heard some people got a car totaled because of part wait time and the insurance company ended up not wanting to pay for rental for that long (and maybe part out the car to help fix other damaged cars).

Last year my body shop had a sign explaining why they charge more per hour for Tesla. Instead of the typical $150/hr they charge $180/hr because of part wait time and storage. That sign is now gone.

I think since the sales are down and they are shutting down a few under utilized product (X and S), they will likely be solved by now.

It's pretty common these days for most newer cars. I was without my GTI for about 3 and a half months because of a headlight backorder and a delay for a hood.

 

[dogememe]

I heard back from the body shop. Parts are ordered and my car will be done in about two weeks

About $11K of repairs.

 

[alarmguy]

I heard back from the body shop. Parts are ordered and my car will be done in about two weeks

About $11K of repairs.

Hopefully everything works out good!
Keep us updated, I’m really curious how long it will take. It’s already been a week and they’re telling you two more weeks. The key is if the parts arrive on time.
$11,000 is like wow, cars have been become so complicated

I give you credit that you are taking everything in stride! I would be freaking out that somebody dented my car

 

[dogememe]

Hopefully everything works out good!
Keep us updated, I’m really curious how long it will take. It’s already been a week and they’re telling you two more weeks. The key is if the parts arrive on time.
$11,000 is like wow, cars have been become so complicated

I give you credit that you are taking everything in stride! I would be freaking out that somebody dented my car

I mean being upset about it isn't going to get my car back quicker It's just a car, after all. I will say "dented" is quite the understatement there haha.

 

[alarmguy]

@dogememe
I would hate to see what a real smash would look like. Maybe a total loss?

I freak out when a part of a car has to be repainted. At least long term, if you dont keep it that long not an issue.

 

[Owen Lucas]

I heard back from the body shop. Parts are ordered and my car will be done in about two weeks

About $11K of repairs.

The proverbial 2 weeks. I hope it comes true, not bad for a Tesla. Looks like the paint was capped by the system at a $650 max. They should be charging more than IMHO. Expect supplement 2 for a few hundred more bucks.

 

[The Critic]

I mean being upset about it isn't going to get my car back quicker It's just a car, after all. I will say "dented" is quite the understatement there haha.

View attachment 336207

Who did you take this to?

 

[wemay]

I heard back from the body shop. Parts are ordered and my car will be done in about two weeks

About $11K of repairs.

What a relief, I'm sure. Fingers crossed that it's a seamless experience.

 

[dogememe]

They called me yesterday to let me know that it's mostly done and ready for paint and that I should have it back by the end of the week. I can't wait!

 

[Trav]

The proverbial 2 weeks. I hope it comes true, not bad for a Tesla. Looks like the paint was capped by the system at a $650 max. They should be charging more than IMHO. Expect supplement 2 for a few hundred more bucks.

+1 The price for paint seems low.

 

[dogememe]

I still don’t have the car

 

[97prizm]

I still don’t have the car

Any updates on the timeline?

 

[dogememe]

I got the car yesterday but I brought it back this morning and told them they have to do better. So I still have the lousy gas rental car

 

[JeffKeryk]

Looks better than my '24 M3P... Ha!

 

[dogememe]

Looks better than my '24 M3P... Ha!

I hope you’re kidding haha.