High mileage Tesla Model S cars

[richard at home]

I read that everyone says teslas go for miles without issues etc etc, but surely the weight of those cars means the suspension takes a hammering, even if the drivetrain doesn't?

Batteries don't seem to be an issue over 100k miles.

I'd love to hear from anyone with their experiences of running a model S to 150k miles...

[Andy M]

I'm not able to directly answer your question, but I do recall that several Model X owners had issues with their air suspension.

I guess what you're trying to weigh up is the cost of an EV compared to running an ICE vehicle. All EVs are heavier than their direct ICE rivals (so may punish their suspension more) however they have significantly less moving parts to go wrong; a motor(s), battery equipment and then suspension etc. As a result they do not require the same servicing etc.

[jjwilde]

There are some Taxi companies who have done detailed accounts of taking them over 500k, a quick google?

[Joe5y]

I was in Amsterdam a few weeks ago and the Tesla I was in (at a guess it was a 90D or similar) had 290,000 (miles or KM's) but still high either way.

[robbieduncan]

A guy in Germany has passed 1,000,000km in one: https://ww.electrek.co/2019/11/30/tesla-model-s-1-...

OK, it's had 2 battery pack and 3 drive unit (motor) replacements. But as the article points out Tesla are getting better at building these as the latest drive unit is on 680,000km and the battery on almost 500,000km. So a new Tesla should do a fair old distance before any significant replacements. No word on the suspension but I imagine that's pretty much the same as a conventional IC car: it works the same way after all

[richard at home]

robbieduncan said:

A guy in Germany has passed 1,000,000km in one: https://ww.electrek.co/2019/11/30/tesla-model-s-1-...

OK, it's had 2 battery pack and 3 drive unit (motor) replacements. But as the article points out Tesla are getting better at building these as the latest drive unit is on 680,000km and the battery on almost 500,000km. So a new Tesla should do a fair old distance before any significant replacements. No word on the suspension but I imagine that's pretty much the same as a conventional IC car: it works the same way after all

So one can assume a P75D, 2015, with 130k on the clock, for example, will have shagged suspension, drive shafts and wheel bearings if it hasn't had parts renewed?

I have an 09 Focus with just over 150k on it and the last few MOT's have always needed new bushes to pass.

[UnderSteerD]

It might not be shagged, as that sort of mileage in that period of time would suggest a lot of motorway use - but it would wear out suspension components etc at the same rate as any other car its size.

[Supersnorker]

Have a look at Tesloop who rent Tesla’s for the LA to San Diego run. There’s a report here on the repairs and costs they’ve incurred.

https://electrek.co/2018/07/17/tesla-model-s-holds...

[gangzoom]

richard at home said:

Batteries don't seem to be an issue over 100k miles.

Batteries do have some major potential issues which Tesla are trying to hide with warranty changes, non disclosure clauses, and camping lawyers out in front lawn of anyone trying to share data on rapidgate/cappingate.

Go over to Tesla Motor Club forum and you will see plenty of chat on the topic. Right not you have to be very brave to buy any used Tesla without a full understanding of the potential bill you will face when Tesla can wash their hands of the batteries pack once the warranty is over.

Edited by gangzoom on Thursday 6th February 05:07

[Patch1875]

I need to get more details but a friend of a friend had a £1700 bill at the first mot of his S.

[Heres Johnny]

Model S front suspension known to fail in the cold especially when reversing on full lock

Older cars especially MX have chewed through numerous drive shafts

As Gang mentioned Tesla running scared in 85 and early 70 battery fires resulting in them reducing useable capacity on some considerably

To reduce warranty issues Tesla have also slowed down the max charge rates

Tesla talk about the million mile battery but have recently changed warranty to put a mikeage ceiling in them and have exempted range loss through software

The MCU (big screen) on cars up to 18 months ago have a cheap memory chip which will fail, you can either pay £500 for an aftermarket upgrade or 3k to Tesla. Later cars still have the problem but life expectancy is longer.

Super high mikeage cars you hear about are triggers broom, and come from an era when a Tesla fixed stuff without quibble. That’s no longer the case.

But that all said, a 100k+ mile 6 year old ICE would be having bills.

[gangzoom]

richard at home said:

I read that everyone says teslas go for miles without issues etc etc, but surely the weight of those cars means the suspension takes a hammering, even if the drivetrain doesn't?

Oh the front suspension on our X failed at 30k miles, repaired under warranty, currently getting some weird intermittent knocking noise on full lock, and the internet if full of people having air suspension failure soon out of warranty.

Still the best car I have ever owned, but think of buying any used Tesla like buying a used full fat RR.

Your lucky to hit 50k without suspension problems on these cars let alone 100k. If you want worry free motoring get a Lexus which shares a driveway with our Tesla, the difference in reliability is quite astounding between our two cars.

One is clearly a car built by blind folded monkeys with junk parts, the other a work of craftsmanship with decades of experience.....but really bizarrely if we had to choose between the two the monkeys would be ones still in a job .

Edited by gangzoom on Thursday 6th February 06:55

[richard at home]

Very interesting reading! Thanks everyone.

Great to hear some real life experiences.

Also just found out that you can't tow with an S... That's kind of sunk the idea of one for me. I don't really want to keep an ICE tow car!

[aestetix1]

richard at home said:

I read that everyone says teslas go for miles without issues etc etc, but surely the weight of those cars means the suspension takes a hammering, even if the drivetrain doesn't?

Batteries don't seem to be an issue over 100k miles.

I'd love to hear from anyone with their experiences of running a model S to 150k miles...

Someone has been telling you porkies.

The older batteries often die after 100k miles. Check YouTube, a lot of early buyers found they died after 120-130k miles and had to have them replaced. Definitely check how much longer the battery has on warranty.

There were a lot of other mechanical issues with older cars. For example Bjorn Nyland had one of the first Model Xs and recently sold it. He only just got the last of the warranty issues sorted, the falcon wing doors which never worked properly for almost the entire time he owned it.

He's had the drive motor replaced twice I think, many other parts too. His old Model S was the same, vast amounts of warranty work. He did a video about it if you want to look it up.

[Terminator X]

robbieduncan said:

A guy in Germany has passed 1,000,000km in one: https://ww.electrek.co/2019/11/30/tesla-model-s-1-...

OK, it's had 2 battery pack and 3 drive unit (motor) replacements. But as the article points out Tesla are getting better at building these as the latest drive unit is on 680,000km and the battery on almost 500,000km. So a new Tesla should do a fair old distance before any significant replacements. No word on the suspension but I imagine that's pretty much the same as a conventional IC car: it works the same way after all

Genuine interest, what do they do with the redundant batteries?

TX.

[robbieduncan]

Terminator X said:

Genuine interest, what do they do with the redundant batteries?

TX.

I guess the refurbish and/or recycle them. There has been lots to talk about re-using them as grid-batteries. Sure one part might not be working so range in the car has dropped too far to be acceptable but the unit will still hold probably >50% of its charge. Link lots together and re-use as grid storage.

There are also companies like PowerVault who recycle EV battery packs into home storage: https://www.powervault.co.uk/

[rscott]

robbieduncan said:

Terminator X said:

Genuine interest, what do they do with the redundant batteries?

TX.

I guess the refurbish and/or recycle them. There has been lots to talk about re-using them as grid-batteries. Sure one part might not be working so range in the car has dropped too far to be acceptable but the unit will still hold probably >50% of its charge. Link lots together and re-use as grid storage.

There are also companies like PowerVault who recycle EV battery packs into home storage: https://www.powervault.co.uk/

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2018-06-27/where-3-million-electric-vehicle-batteries-will-go-when-they-retire

[blueacid]

robbieduncan said:

I guess the refurbish and/or recycle them. There has been lots to talk about re-using them as grid-batteries. Sure one part might not be working so range in the car has dropped too far to be acceptable but the unit will still hold probably >50% of its charge. Link lots together and re-use as grid storage.

There are also companies like PowerVault who recycle EV battery packs into home storage: https://www.powervault.co.uk/

Exactly this; even at 50% capacity the weight/size is really not so much of an issue if you're going to stuff them in (at small scale) a shed near a local substation, or a warehouse near a larger one.

[richard at home]

aestetix1 said:

Someone has been telling you porkies.

The older batteries often die after 100k miles. Check YouTube, a lot of early buyers found they died after 120-130k miles and had to have them replaced. Definitely check how much longer the battery has on warranty.

There were a lot of other mechanical issues with older cars. For example Bjorn Nyland had one of the first Model Xs and recently sold it. He only just got the last of the warranty issues sorted, the falcon wing doors which never worked properly for almost the entire time he owned it.

He's had the drive motor replaced twice I think, many other parts too. His old Model S was the same, vast amounts of warranty work. He did a video about it if you want to look it up.

So a used 2014 S 85 with 130k miles on is a very risky proposition?

[Heres Johnny]

richard at home said:

So a used 2014 S 85 with 130k miles on is a very risky proposition?

If you’re happy with a 150 mile range, 120 in winter, and 65kw supercharging, then most of the issues are solvable. Even the big screen memory issue can be solved for £400 which is a month of petrol in an battered ICE.