Hey guys, Laurens here! Today, I want to share with you why I decided to take on a DIY repair on my Tesla Model 3 fender after it was recently damaged. It all started when my Model 3 had a little mishap with a concrete pillar in a parking garage, resulting in scratches, dents, and damage to the repeater camera on the driver’s side fender.
Initially, my first thought was to file a claim with my insurance and have the repair done at a Tesla-approved shop. However, after reading an article titled “Here’s What $7,000 of Damage Looks Like on a Tesla Model 3,” I started to reconsider my options. The damage on my car seemed worse than what was shown in the article, and I was worried about the cost and the time it would take to get my car back.
I remembered a similar situation with my Toyota Prius a few years back, where I was quoted between $700 and $900 for a similar repair, but ended up fixing it myself for much less. This experience, coupled with a less-than-ideal interaction with the estimator at the Tesla-approved shop, pushed me towards the DIY route.
The estimator suggested that my entire car would need repainting, which I knew wasn’t necessary given the existing dings and dents on my car. When I proposed using a pre-painted fender from Tesla to save money, the estimator was dismissive and even questioned my decision. This encounter left me feeling uneasy about the repair process and motivated me to take matters into my own hands.
I found a replacement fender on eBay for $200, which was significantly cheaper than buying it from Tesla. I also purchased factory-matched paint and 2K clear coat to ensure a seamless finish. While I initially considered painting the fender myself, I ultimately decided to have it professionally painted for $300. Additionally, I replaced the damaged repeater camera for $70.
In total, the DIY repair cost me less than $600, and the results were outstanding. The fender looks as good as new, and most people can’t even tell that it was repaired. I didn’t have to file an insurance claim, my insurance rates remained unaffected, and my car is back to its pristine condition.
The experience taught me the importance of asking questions and advocating for what I wanted in the repair process. If a shop is unwilling to accommodate your requests or address your concerns, it may be worth exploring other options.
I plan to share a video detailing the DIY steps for replacing the fender on my Tesla Model 3 soon, so stay tuned for that. If you have any questions about my repair process, feel free to drop a comment below. And don’t forget to like and subscribe for more great content coming your way. Thanks for tuning in, and until next time, take care!
