Build Quality

So far, built quality is better then expected, but maybe I'm still blinded by the overwhelmingly positive impression of the car.

One small issue though. When I pull the driver's outside doorhandle, I need to pull quite hard to get the electric door lock release to get triggered. For all other doors, I just have to pull very gently to trigger the electric door lock release.
Anyone with the same issue?
Doesn't bother me too much. Not even sure if I should contact service about it.

3fiftynine said:

I haven't tried other doors, force I need to get out is normal to me. About doors, just noticed that if the car is stationary (haven't tried while it's in motion, should I try?) you can't stop passengers from opening the door (no physical lock to unlock like other cars), my son did that to me at traffic light stop which scared the hell out of me.

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The US version has the following, so see if the HKG version does as well:

Child-protection Lock
Model S has child-protection locks on the rear doors and liftgate to prevent them from being opened using interior handles. Use the touchscreen to turn child protection locks on or off. Touch Controls > Settings > Vehicle > Child Protection Lock.

(Page 6 of the NA 5.9 manual)

3fiftynine said:

I haven't tried other doors, force I need to get out is normal to me. About doors, just noticed that if the car is stationary (haven't tried while it's in motion, should I try?) you can't stop passengers from opening the door (no physical lock to unlock like other cars), my son did that to me at traffic light stop which scared the hell out of me.

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@3fiftynine, I mean the force to get in, not to get out :wink:

they should have double open like BMW cars so kids safety.

That is bad what if there a bug in the system and the lock did not work or the electronic child lock is fixed at lock and brakes down and all person in the real seat can not open from inside.
I think they should add the physical child lock for kids.
My kids are OK they are big so no need for this but many still have small kids and better be safe than sorry.
I hope tesla will put this in there next car.

Vmax said:

So far, built quality is better then expected, but maybe I'm still blinded by the overwhelmingly positive impression of the car.

One small issue though. When I pull the driver's outside doorhandle, I need to pull quite hard to get the electric door lock release to get triggered. For all other doors, I just have to pull very gently to trigger the electric door lock release.
Anyone with the same issue
Doesn't bother me too much. Not even sure if I should contact service about it.

Click to expand...

Coming from a BMW driver, there is a loooooong way to go before challenging the likes of a Lexus or Audi. the built quality is as good as a Chevy which is not saying much... check out the wiper blade arm, front quarter window, leaking sunroof, panel gap... Then again, I think this is the trade off for the awesome tech and performance packed into such an innovative car.

Whenever I consider interior build quality and design I think of the hideous clock in the center of the Lexus instrument panel and I know what I'd rather be driving! My car was delivered with no rattles and strange noises like my last Merc C class ( or my wife's prius V for that matter ) and is more open and comfortable than my friends A5. It's also much better than the quality of the demonstrator I drove earlier this year.

Vmax said:

So far, built quality is better then expected, but maybe I'm still blinded by the overwhelmingly positive impression of the car.

One small issue though. When I pull the driver's outside doorhandle, I need to pull quite hard to get the electric door lock release to get triggered. For all other doors, I just have to pull very gently to trigger the electric door lock release.
Anyone with the same issue?
Doesn't bother me too much. Not even sure if I should contact service about it.

Click to expand...

Just received a call from the Tesla HK assistant service manager. They saw my post and ask if they can help.
Outstanding pro-active customer service, like I never experienced from any other car manufacturer!

yes there service is No. 1 best in HK any day.
I complained about can not book a test drive to USA Tesla and the next days later I got a phone call from HK tesla asking me to test drive it, it was very quick response.
So far I only seen good news from owner about there service, unlike BMWHK.

so far very satisfied with build quality, exceed my expectation and is way better the the test drive car

3fiftynine said:

Hi all owners,

I got it last Friday, can't blame the delivery specialist she kept talking and I asked lots of questions as well. Who wasn't keen to quickly take it for a spin? I discovered a few things upon closing look.

1) stitches at the steering wheel don't look durable to me, pretty cheap for a car of this price tag.
2) the gap near the glove box switch is about 8mm compared to symmetric location at the hazard light switch of perhaps 1mm, that looks terrible.
3) ... keep looking ...

I'm going to write to service about 2) above, not sure if it's serviceable item but no harm trying.

If you took delivery recently I suggest you have a closer look now.

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About the steering wheel, for better or worse that is the exact same wheel that you get in a Mercedes. So if the stitching seems crappy then I would blame them. For what it's worth, I have had my car for 9 months and driven it 18k miles and the stitching is holding up very nicely. It is also not anything I recall reading about elsewhere with regard to any issues.

3fiftynine said:

I haven't tried other doors, force I need to get out is normal to me. About doors, just noticed that if the car is stationary (haven't tried while it's in motion, should I try?) you can't stop passengers from opening the door (no physical lock to unlock like other cars), my son did that to me at traffic light stop which scared the hell out of me.

Click to expand...

I don't know what setting I have turned on in my car, but as long as the doors are "locked" (you can tell by looking at the lock symbol either on the dash or by hitting the controls button and it should be in the bottom left (right for RHD cars I assume?) of the screen. Anyway, while the car is locked the rear doors on my car will not open from the inside. They only open when you place the car in park or hit the unlock button on the screen or otherwise cause the car to become unlocked (like opening a front door). This isn't the same as child locks (at least I don't think so) since when those are on you can't open any of the doors no matter what you try to do, unless you do so from the outside. So I assumed it was a standard setup in the car. It warrants further research and will happily post back my system settings when I get the chance to look at my car again.

Just called Tesla HK and they said that their body shop is not in Tsuen Wan but in Kwai Chung, so may need to go to Kwai Chung to get the cosmetics done.