High mileage Tesla Model S cars

High mileage Tesla Model S cars

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richard at home

Original Poster:

320 posts

128 months

Wednesday 5th February 2020
quotequote all
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...

richard at home

Original Poster:

320 posts

128 months

Wednesday 5th February 2020
quotequote all
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.

richard at home

Original Poster:

320 posts

128 months

Thursday 6th February 2020
quotequote all
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!


richard at home

Original Poster:

320 posts

128 months

Thursday 6th February 2020
quotequote all
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?