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My 3rd party HEPA filter was CUT after a few days at the Houston Service Center

poloXpoloX
edited August 2017 in Model X
I have a legal and/or moral question for you all. I purchased a few 3rd party Tesla model X HEPA filters on eBay. I installed the first HEPA filter about 3 months ago. It is worth mentioning that I don’t have PUP (so No BioDefense HEPA filter option). Over the weekend, I opened it up to see if it worked (without PUP) and if so, replaced a new filter. I was shock to see my filter was cut. It was a straight cut thru the thickness of the HEPA filter and as long as almost 3 feet (at least 28”) long. This is definitely an intentional and deliberate cut with intension to destroy my filter. It is no accident. And the ONLY folks who has access to my Model X is the few days I dropped it off at the Houston Service Center a few months ago.
I have been a big fan, actually a HUGE fan. Not only of the Tesla cars but also in EVERYTHING that Elon does. I am in shock over what the Houston SC did to my filter.
I am very curious as to why they did that? Do I have a legal case here (Not that I am planning to sue them or anything, just wanted to understand why they did that to me)? Is it even moral? I did not break and Tesla seals or anything like that. If I am wrong in installing the 3rd party HEPA Filter, then cool but please tell me about it and ask me to remove it. But to me, this is no different from adding a USB phone charger, or the air refresher, or tint the windows, or floor mats, or replacing my car tires/wheels…etc. Why did they cut my filter?
Thank you for your comments
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Comments

  • Silver2KSilver2K
    edited November -1
    If you can prove it, they owe you a filter. it's obvious you would have known there was a slice before installing it because you noticed the slice that's in it now. It seems someone is angry you decided you wanted to save some money by getting around Tesla's ridiculous prices on parts. Tesla is not to blame, it's the few losers they hire that will get weeded out eventually.

    I would contact the manager ASAP.
  • sp_tesla_93525376sp_tesla_93525376
    edited August 2017
    SilverP85plus | August 15, 2017
    Tesla's ridiculous prices on parts."

    Its called captured audience greed.
  • shkvalushkvalu
    edited August 2017
    There's always going to be bad appholes. Manager should know who had direct access to your vehicle. Why stop at the filter unless it was in the way of what they were trying to get to? Because it wasn't stock it is "in the way" and not in their scope to deal with? Just a guess or a reason why someone would intentionally damage it. Sorry to hear that though.
  • Uncle PaulUncle Paul
    edited November -1
    Before jumping to conclusions, might be a good idea to call your service center and see if they have an explanation.

    It is unclear that it is OK to install just the filter, without programing the system to recognize the change.

    It might be that there is some reason they cut the filter, and perhaps they can explain themselves.
    Maybe it causes additional air flow restriction that negatively effects the workings of other filters, temperature control, airflow throughout the cabin, sound, etc.

    Please post what they say, as many of us are interested to see if we can just install an aftermarket filter to get many of the healthy benefits at a lower cost.
  • BighornBighorn
    edited August 2017
    My first thought would be that a HEPA filter would have too high a resistance in a non-HEPA system. Could it have split because of that? I highly doubt sabotage and would never call a manager over such a trivial issue. Since you have a few, why not try another one if you don't care about voiding warranties by installing improper equipment? See if the same thing happens.
  • poloXpoloX
    edited August 2017
    @Silver85, I can prove it. But I would have to move mountain to prove it. I know for fact the car has been in my procession 100% of the time with the only exception of the few days it was at the Houston SC. It's a $80 filter. I would not bother to do it. Just vary mad and disbelief.

    @shkvalu, "...unless it is in the way of way...". Well, what if I had PUP and would have a Tesla filter there? They cut it too?

    @Uncle Paul, "...Maybe it causes additional air flow restriction that negatively effects..." so they could remove it and give it back to me and then explain it to me right? Why cut it and never told me about it for months? Beside, I never felt any airflow restriction, less cool or more noise or anything negative at all. If there were and my 3rd party filter should not have been installed, then they could have told me? Why would they be so unprofessional?
  • poloXpoloX
    edited August 2017
    @Bighorn,
    It does not look like it. The 3rd party filter goes exactly where the Tesla original BioDef filter goes. Why would it cause any high resistance? No additional noise and air flow is the same and AC is just as cold. No differences. Let me see if I can show you a picture. It is a CLEAN cut by even a very sharp knife. Not cause by air flow. You can have doubt that they sabotage. I was in shock too. But accusing me of lying here is not cool. I would not call them only because not over a $80 filter BUT real am disappointed. The second one was in already. Why did you think I would not do that? Now explain to me why installing a HEPA filter would void my warranties?
  • poloXpoloX
    edited August 2017
    I can't post with the flicker link to the photo. Does anyone know how to post photo?
  • burdoggburdogg
    edited November -1
    poloX - go to imgur.com. at very top, green box - New Post - click that. Then browse or drag image there. Once you do that, it will upload the picture.

    Copy the URL and past here. :)
  • poloXpoloX
    edited August 2017
    Thanks Burdogg,
    If I include the link, it won't let me post.
  • poloXpoloX
    edited August 2017
    http://imgur(dot)com/a/N0J1D
  • poloXpoloX
    edited August 2017
    Ok, that worked. Please change the "(dot)" to "."
  • poloXpoloX
    edited August 2017
    https://flic(dot)kr/p/XxVxbr

    Change "(dot)" to "."
  • burdoggburdogg
    edited November -1
    http://imgur.com/a/N0J1D
  • burdoggburdogg
    edited August 2017
    poloX - do you have owner privileges? Do you see the Flag as Inappropriate red at the bottom of each individual post?

    Also, I think you want us all to flag away your flickr one - it gives me access to several of the pictures on your flickr account, so I am seeing pictures of your family etc... at a party of some sort :)

    I will flag it but you will need help from others.
  • burdoggburdogg
    edited November -1
    I don't know how Flickr works, so you could just move photos out of that folder? so with that link, it only shows the one picture you want?
  • BighornBighorn
    edited August 2017
    First off, I never accused anyone of lying. Presumably a HEPA filter has a much smaller pore size and consequently higher resistance to air flow. Whatever fan that is forcing air through the filter is working harder and could fail as a result. If your car was in for service, typically they would replace the cabin filter as part of the included cost. Not sure why anyone would have it out for you--usually cooks don't spit on your meal unless they've been provoked somehow.
  • poloXpoloX
    edited August 2017
    @Bighorn, here you do it again. Usually, they don't do it to me unless I provided them. Well, thanks. And just so you know sir, I only promote Tesla, tweet them, even the boring company, Solar, battery...SpX launches...almost every mission. I was critical to Tesla when they first released AP for AP2 earlier this year because it was not safe to me.
  • poloXpoloX
    edited August 2017
    Provided = provoked
  • BighornBighorn
    edited August 2017
    So now I'm persecuting you?! Seems to be a common conclusion to which you jump. Certainly not my intent. Nothing about the main points? Why do you think they sabotaged you? It's the first example I've heard of in over 4 years so I'm trying to keep an open mind. What was it at the service center? Like I said, the filter gets replaced for free during a routine service, so financial motives are unlikely.
  • BighornBighorn
    edited August 2017
    What/Why
  • shkvalushkvalu
    edited August 2017
    @shkvalu, "...unless it is in the way of way...". Well, what if I had PUP and would have a Tesla filter there? They cut it too?

    No. that's kind of the excuse that I'm hoping as an example. It is not "factory" equipment. So, if say they had to access a filter in front of this filter, they would have to remove it (giving the access for a mistake given it's not factory) or perhaps it was restricting airflow like a number of people suggest. I also do not know the filtration staging. I certainly hope this is just a misunderstanding and hoping it gets resolved quickly. I wouldn't want anything aftermarket that I put into my vehicle messed with let alone rendered useless. The reality is there is more likely than not a logical reason. Somebody removed it and some else thought it was garbage and cut it so it wouldn't be used and then realized it wasn't factory. I'm not saying someone didn't do wrong. Just hoping it wasn't intentional, maybe someone new didn't want to eat an $80 filter. Lots of reasons other than a malicious deliberate act. Either way I hope you figure it out and it wasn't malicious.
  • Jhwjr1_98088208Jhwjr1_98088208
    edited August 2017
    To the extent you are asking a pure legal question, Tesla owes you the cost of repairing 3rd party products that they damage while performing a repair. I can probably fashion some exceptions to this rule, but you can very much rely on this statement. If, as you suggest, they intentionally damaged it, the statement is all the more clear.
  • lilbeanlilbean
    edited November -1
    Intentional or unintentional/accidental, I think Tesla is responsible for paying for it or replacing it if the damage occurred during the service.
  • burdoggburdogg
    edited November -1
    poloX - i would encourage you to go back and read Bighorns first response. I didn't see in there where he called you a liar. He was just trying to give other options as to what may have caused it. He just said he doubts they sabotaged it (his opinion though) and then gave you an option to see if by putting in another one, if the same thing happens to it. if not, then you can rule out what he is saying MAY have happened and then come back to someone at Tesla did it. It would be really weird for them to intentionally do this, someone made a mistake. I don't know, but just thought you jumped a little to fast on the calling you a Liar, I didn't read it that way :)

    Side note - we all just offering thoughts and opinions on this, as none of know, and again, we don't even see the whole picture you are seeing and know - we only get the glimpse you share :) Try to remember that as you read others giving ideas or even wondering if Tesla would have done such a thing. Of course, that is just my two cents :)

    I think also Bighorn's point on warranty is this - what if putting a third party filter in did affect air flow etc... and caused damage to a part - is Tesla liable for that under warranty? I wouldn't think so, as it was not their doing that caused the issue. I think that is all he was trying to point out.

    Ok, there is my novel not saying anyone is right or wrong and none of this solves the issue - but to me, being calm about it and simply going back to the Service Center and discussing it with them will accomplish a lot more and maybe help you understand what went on and possibly why.
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