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jonathan18

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#299363 2-Sep-2022 09:04
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So I have managed to get a decent scratch/gouge on the door surround of my two-week old car when glass hit metal at speed; while insurance will cover the window repair, it's not worth paying the excess to fix the surround, so I'm looking for tips on the best way to make this less offensive to the eye.

 

While the most basic would be to use paint with a suitable finish, I just wanted to check whether there were any other relatively rudimentary repairs I could do on this, whether to soften the edges (incredibly high grit sandpaper?) or to fill the gouge? (It's not deep, but it's clearly into the metal.)

 

Thanks for any ideas!

 

 

 


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MikeAqua
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  #2962262 2-Sep-2022 09:08
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Is that adonised aluminium?





Mike




Bung
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  #2962269 2-Sep-2022 09:22
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Looks more like exposed fibreglass. Is it a removable capping. Ask how much, you may as well find out whether it is quite cheap or 30% of the price you paid for whole car.

maoriboy
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  #2962304 2-Sep-2022 11:34
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Oh bugger @jonathan18, is that the Tesla MY? How did it happen?








Journeyman
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  #2962325 2-Sep-2022 12:33
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You'll have to buy a new car.

jonathan18

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  #2962356 2-Sep-2022 13:58
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maoriboy:

 

Oh bugger @jonathan18, is that the Tesla MY? How did it happen?

 

 

Yep, that's the one... 

 

The problem was after-market puddle lights I bought off Ali Express.

 

Something I didn't know is that, if the puddle light circuit is broken (in this case it looks like the light fell apart into its various components while in the door!), the window is programmed to fully close. The windows are frameless, so the glass drops a cm or two when the door is opened and fully closes when the door is closed. Why Tesla have it designed like this (why even have the lights and window on the same circuit? Why have the window close fully when power goes, as opposed to the closing height?) is a mystery to me, but it is what it is... 

 

Now, back to that scratch - any other ideas as to how to make it look slightly less heinous?!


Dingbatt
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  #2962358 2-Sep-2022 14:14
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Because it’s on the black trim rather than the main colour, I wonder how expensive it would be to get the trim professionally repaired? Being a matt black it might not be to difficult to blend. Or am I looking at it wrong and it has scratched the blue paint? (Difficult to tell on my phone). The reason I make the comment is how willing are you to look at a bodge job every time you approach your car?

 

Good to know about the puddle lights though. I guess I can cross them off my accessories list!

 

I wonder what the warranty status would be if the same thing happened and was caused by the oem lights.

 

 

 

Edit: and sorry to see your new car damaged.





“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996


FineWine
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  #2962390 2-Sep-2022 15:41
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There is the old 'Wifes' trick of finding a matte black nail polish

 

Have a look at this web site: Tips on Sanding Plastic.

 

I see after a quick google there are a couple of 3rd party Tesla spare part places here in NZ.





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jonathan18

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  #2962414 2-Sep-2022 16:11
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FineWine:

 

There is the old 'Wifes' trick of finding a matte black nail polish

 

Have a look at this web site: Tips on Sanding Plastic.

 

I see after a quick google there are a couple of 3rd party Tesla spare part places here in NZ.

 

 

Thanks for this; yeah, it'll be interesting to see if my wife has black nail polish!

 

I think that may be a good option for colouring, but it's also seeing if I can do anything to the surface itself. I'm yet to be (but am open to being) convinced it's plastic - but I imagine sanding of the specific area with a high-numbered sandpaper, as that page shows, may be an option whatever it's made of. @Dingbatt, given you own an M3, what are your thoughts on what the material is? 

 

Good idea having a look for spare parts, but I would be really surprised if many if any places have them in stock for the MY, given it's only been available NZ in any volume for three weeks. 


jonathan18

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  #2962418 2-Sep-2022 16:19
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Dingbatt:

 

Because it’s on the black trim rather than the main colour, I wonder how expensive it would be to get the trim professionally repaired? Being a matt black it might not be to difficult to blend. Or am I looking at it wrong and it has scratched the blue paint? (Difficult to tell on my phone). The reason I make the comment is how willing are you to look at a bodge job every time you approach your car?

 

Good to know about the puddle lights though. I guess I can cross them off my accessories list!

 

I wonder what the warranty status would be if the same thing happened and was caused by the oem lights.

 

Edit: and sorry to see your new car damaged.

 

 

Cheers - it is a shame, but I've convinced myself that it could have been far worse, and this is the kind of thing one has insurance for (thank god) so at least the glass is repaired. I guess an advantage of having laminate glass on the sides is that at least it didn't shatter - I just called into Novus and they said it'll be fine to be driven like it is until the replacement arrives (I can't even feel the crack on either side of the glass).

 

You're correct - there's no damage to the blue paint (I was surprised the glass even made it up that high!). As for whether I'm ok with seeing the wound every time - in some way it could well be a good reminder for me to not be a dick! I think you're right in that it's at least worth finding out what it would cost to repair; that way I'm making an active decision based on how much I'm willing to pay to get it back to looking decent.

 

What sort of place would I be best to try to see whether they'd be able to repair the trim? Are we talking panel beaters, wrap-type shops, or some other type of firm? 

 

The feeling from the Tesla 'gurus' on FB was that Tesla would certainly be expected to come to the party if the same thing happened with the OEM lights; if they didn't I imagine the MVDT would be an option.

 

 


Dingbatt
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  #2962436 2-Sep-2022 16:41
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jonathan18: @Dingbatt, given you own an M3, what are your thoughts on what the material is? 

 



 

I’m currently away from home, so can’t even go and have a look. But it wouldn’t surprise me if they are anodised aluminium to save weight but be durable. A paint and panel specialist would be who I’d ask (about a repair). The M3 had chrome trims until recently that some owners got a “chrome delete” done on. Maybe a similar thing could be done to perform a “scratch delete” on your car?

 

I know it’s easy for others to say “it’s only money” but I would be keen for my $80000 car to not have an obvious blemish from a cheap looking repair.

 

 





“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996


insane
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  #2962498 2-Sep-2022 21:16
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Dingbatt: ....I know it’s easy for others to say “it’s only money” but I would be keen for my $80000 car to not have an obvious blemish from a cheap looking repair.


 



I'm with you on this one.

@jonathan18, if you can buy a $80K car, just get it fixed properly and take the hit on the chin.

Being cheap and buying off Ali Express got you into this predicament, being cheap again isn't going to get you back on track.

After a few weeks/months you'll be glad you did, otherwise you'll always remember it and it'll grate on you each time you look at the patch.

eracode
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  #2962515 2-Sep-2022 22:54
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insane:

@Jono …..

 

 

You’ve linked back to the wrong user.





Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.


Bung
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  #2962516 2-Sep-2022 22:59
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It is black anodised aluminium. The US price for the upper trim is around US$185 plus fitting. Lots of similar damage on Tesla forum. Apparently manual release lever once opened door without dropping glass leading to closing impact.

Does window close on loss of puddle light or just fail to lower when door opens?

jonathan18

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  #2962529 3-Sep-2022 07:57
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Bung: It is black anodised aluminium. The US price for the upper trim is around US$185 plus fitting. Lots of similar damage on Tesla forum. Apparently manual release lever once opened door without dropping glass leading to closing impact.

Does window close on loss of puddle light or just fail to lower when door opens?

 

Thanks for this - I’ll follow up with the local Tesla technician to see what they’d charge, plus also at a panel shop.

 

Yep, the window rises to the fully closed position - I know this for sure as I had the windows venting prior to me arriving to cool the car so they were already lower than the ‘open door’ setting. 


Bung
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  #2962533 3-Sep-2022 08:23
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Some were saying the window motor grounded through the light. It must be more involved than that or else how does the motor work without the light in circuit. The usual reason for after market lights didn't seem to be cost rather the oem puddle lights didn't put out enough light.

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