Paint damage on new car
Discussion
REALIST123 said:
sicarumba said:
Thank you for the useful post. I'll get him to call them and see what to expect. Shame the Brooklands museum is closed, or that could have turned it into a good day out. I guess as it's an Aluminium door and there's no risk of corrosion, we could always wait until it is...
Of course, aluminium will corrode, so that risk is present. 
People make a false assumption that Aluminium won't corrode - But it does (it shows as a white oxide powder, which on vehicles, causes bubbling beneath the paint, in the same way that steel corrosion does)
A big part of the confusion is that it is well know that aluminium doesn't rust, as steel does. People mistakenly assume that corrosion and rust are one and the same, but rust is simply one version of metal corrosion (copper turning green being another type of corrosion)
One of the biggest causes of aluminium corrosion is when it comes into contact with none alloy materials, such as steel, due to a dissimilar metal reaction. Where vehicle manufacturers fix alloy and steel components together (more often than not these days, by bonding the parts together), they have to use a non-conducting material between the two parts, to help prevent corrosion occurring.
SiH said:
While he's waiting for his trip to the bodyshop tell him to get out there and go over the car from front to back and check all the panel gaps and general paint quality. It would be a shame to miss any other blemishes or issues with the body panels because he's focused on the one that was initially pointed out. As the very first reply hinted at Tesla finish is notoriously poor and if it's only one area of paint that is affected then he's probably got one of the better ones!
If he finds other areas of poor fit and finish these could possibly all be taken care of in one visit.
Yes, good advice. He has inspected the car thoroughly and this appears to be the only issue. He describes the panel gaps as "fine for a mass produced car" so that's good enough. It does indeed sound like he has one of the better ones judging by the replies on here.If he finds other areas of poor fit and finish these could possibly all be taken care of in one visit.
REALIST123 said:
Of course, aluminium will corrode, so that risk is present.
4rephill said:
+1
People make a false assumption that Aluminium won't corrode - But it does (it shows as a white oxide powder, which on vehicles, causes bubbling beneath the paint, in the same way that steel corrosion does)
A big part of the confusion is that it is well know that aluminium doesn't rust, as steel does. People mistakenly assume that corrosion and rust are one and the same, but rust is simply one version of metal corrosion (copper turning green being another type of corrosion)
One of the biggest causes of aluminium corrosion is when it comes into contact with none alloy materials, such as steel, due to a dissimilar metal reaction. Where vehicle manufacturers fix alloy and steel components together (more often than not these days, by bonding the parts together), they have to use a non-conducting material between the two parts, to help prevent corrosion occurring.
Thank you both, always educational visiting these parts. Now that I think about it that does make perfect sense. I've owned motorbikes with aluminium components and they do corrode, without rusting. The fact aluminium doesn't rust was at the forefront of my mind and that white oxide powder had been forgotten. People make a false assumption that Aluminium won't corrode - But it does (it shows as a white oxide powder, which on vehicles, causes bubbling beneath the paint, in the same way that steel corrosion does)
A big part of the confusion is that it is well know that aluminium doesn't rust, as steel does. People mistakenly assume that corrosion and rust are one and the same, but rust is simply one version of metal corrosion (copper turning green being another type of corrosion)
One of the biggest causes of aluminium corrosion is when it comes into contact with none alloy materials, such as steel, due to a dissimilar metal reaction. Where vehicle manufacturers fix alloy and steel components together (more often than not these days, by bonding the parts together), they have to use a non-conducting material between the two parts, to help prevent corrosion occurring.
gazza285 said:
The quickly forming aluminium oxide layer and the smoother surface on a molecular level give paint less to adhere to.
Said it better than I could. Steel and iron make great surfaces for paint to adhere to. Aluminium needs to be treated with more care and usually a "better" primer.Morning all
Just wanted to add a quick update. My Dad an I took the car to Tesla yesterday fully expecting a day of waiting around, but the lady on reception said that the damage to the paint would require the car to be left there for a few days and a courtesy Model S was waiting for us.Certainly not achievable by a mobile paint applicator. I think this has simply been an exercise in poor communication and they have been quite reasonable in getting the car booked in and the issue resolved, and as previously stated in this thread it seems he has been lucky with only having one blemish to take care of!
She also mentioned that all their drivers had been made redundant following the Covid-19 outbreak and subsequent lockdown, something which would of course make it difficult for them to offer a collection/delivery service for something non-urgent like this. That would explain their inability to collect the car for this work to be done, as Martin Smith likes to chant "forebearance" is the key. So all is well with the world.
Just wanted to add a quick update. My Dad an I took the car to Tesla yesterday fully expecting a day of waiting around, but the lady on reception said that the damage to the paint would require the car to be left there for a few days and a courtesy Model S was waiting for us.Certainly not achievable by a mobile paint applicator. I think this has simply been an exercise in poor communication and they have been quite reasonable in getting the car booked in and the issue resolved, and as previously stated in this thread it seems he has been lucky with only having one blemish to take care of!
She also mentioned that all their drivers had been made redundant following the Covid-19 outbreak and subsequent lockdown, something which would of course make it difficult for them to offer a collection/delivery service for something non-urgent like this. That would explain their inability to collect the car for this work to be done, as Martin Smith likes to chant "forebearance" is the key. So all is well with the world.
NGee said:
I have always wanted to talk to someone who owned a Tesla. I realize that it's the OP's dad (allegedly (I wouldn't admit it either if it was mine!)) and not the OP but as that seems to be the nearest I can get, just one question.
What in Gods name possesses any one to buy one of the worst, most expensive cars available?
I'm perfectly happy to admit I've got a Tesla Model 3. Of the hundred or so cars that I've owned, including all the premier German marques, it's far from being the worst. Build quality isn't up there with the best, but the car is so brilliant in other ways that I'm happy to compromise on that. Performance is blistering, handling, comfort and low noise levels also excellent. Also, when I swap it out for something else, it will probably be the least expensive car I've had for the last 20 years on a 'per mile' basis. Low 'whole life' costs and all that. So the polite answer to your question is . . . . you may be overlooking some positives. Or perhaps you had your tongue in your cheek - hard to tell.What in Gods name possesses any one to buy one of the worst, most expensive cars available?
Just to bring some closure, as our transatlantic cousins would say, the door panel has been resprayed and it looks absolutely fine. The journey there and back was traffic-free and we've had the opportunity to compare a Model 3 to a Model S in the process so all in all, no harm done. Thank you to everyone who contributed.
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