Underbody Protection Panel damaged. Batteries and coolant lines need inspection. $72.5K replacement & labor cost. Dealership is Tom Wood in Indiana

[Maelstrom]

It does seem the HV tray is available as a separate part:

https://porsche.oempartsonline.com/oem-parts/porsche-protect-plate-9j1804097ay?c=Zz1lbGVjdHJpY2FsJnM9YmF0dGVyeSZsPTEwJm49QXNzZW1ibGllcyBQYWdlJmE9cG9yc2NoZSZvPXRheWNhbiZ5PTIwMjEmdD1iYXNlJmU9YmF0dGVyeS1ldi1ldi1iZXY=

Should be a straightforward swap. You can look at the coolant lines once it's off

That's the protection plate, not the underside of the HV tray - thanks for looking tho

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[satchurator]

Yes to all of the above - it's actually a very impressive system

Impressive indeed. You mentioned that you have put 1K of the 7K miles on the car. Did you purchase it CPO? Does the dealership have imaging history from the previous owner (if that person presumably was servicing at the same location) or from the CPO certification process?

 

[Maelstrom]

Impressive indeed. You mentioned that you have put 1K of the 7K miles on the car. Did you purchase it CPO? Does the dealership have imaging history from the previous owner (if that person presumably was servicing at the same location) or from the CPO certification process?

It's been into the dealership before for some warranty work and been through the UVEye system before with no issues

 

[satchurator]

It's been into the dealership before for some warranty work and been through the UVEye system before with no issues

Okay that fully settles that avenue of questioning. Back to the drawing board!

 

[Maelstrom]

The one thing that's sticking in my head is the dealership told me and the insurance company that the coolant line was 'crushed'. Honestly, how do they know that and how can such a small upward impact crush a line?? Surely if anything it would lift the line with it especially with it being such a small dent!
This estimate doesn't include the $4.5k already spent for the inspection - which isn't really an inspection, outside of the pictures you've seen they haven't visually seen any damage to the coolant lines
The bottom line item I'm arguing at the moment, I think they damaged it - but that's a different story and definitely more paletable lol

 

[T4S]

The one thing that's sticking in my head is the dealership told me and the insurance company that the coolant line was 'crushed'. Honestly, how do they know that and how can such a small upward impact crush a line?? Surely if anything it would lift the line with it especially with it being such a small dent!
This estimate doesn't include the $4.5k already spent for the inspection - which isn't really an inspection, outside of the pictures you've seen they haven't visually seen any damage to the coolant lines
The bottom line item I'm arguing at the moment, I think they damaged it - but that's a different story and definitely more paletable lol

@Maelstrom - Do you have an attorney involved yet? If not, have you at least contacted Porsche Customer Support?

I would say the dealer needs to prove to you that the dent is significant enough to cause safety/performance issues. $4.5k for "inspection" better come with a detailed report with data showing the decrease in performance/safety. A quick (but "risky") way to confirm would be to do a 10-80% DC fast-charging session, monitor the temperatures of each module and overall charing power, then compare it to a similar Taycan.

If your car performs similarly with no warning lights, then it doesn't sound as serious as the dealer is trying to push.

 

[T4S]

Hypothetical - Imagine you never took your car to the dealer for the initial camera issue, instead you encounter a critical battery error that requires replacing a couple of modules far from the location of the dent. Would the dealer claim that the dent caused those battery modules to fail? If so, how would they prove it?

What I am trying to say is that this issue goes beyond a pricey battery replacement. It is a slippery slope that could lead to many more problems.

 

[DerekS]

 

[Maelstrom]

Hypothetical - Imagine you never took your car to the dealer for the initial camera issue, instead you encounter a critical battery error that requires replacing a couple of modules far from the location of the dent. Would the dealer claim that the dent caused those battery modules to fail? If so, how would they prove it?

What I am trying to say is that this issue goes beyond a pricey battery replacement. It is a slippery slope that could lead to many more problems.

Oh, I'm with you and we're on the same page - so much speculation

 

[Maelstrom]

@Maelstrom - Do you have an attorney involved yet? If not, have you at least contacted Porsche Customer Support?

I would say the dealer needs to prove to you that the dent is significant enough to cause safety/performance issues. $4.5k for "inspection" better come with a detailed report with data showing the decrease in performance/safety. A quick (but "risky") way to confirm would be to do a 10-80% DC fast-charging session, monitor the temperatures of each module and overall charing power, then compare it to a similar Taycan.

If your car performs similarly with no warning lights, then it doesn't sound as serious as the dealer is trying to push.

Yes, when is an inspection not inspection?? Well in this case and to your point no error codes! Come on, these cars are sensored up the wazoo! I haven't seen anything that tells me or shows me that a coolant line is affected let alone crushed. I work in IT, I believe in data informed decisions and I'm definitely not feeling that's what's being given, pure speculation and BS!
No Attorney yet, but when I told them I could monitor the cells from an app they got very defensive and asked that I return my Maycan within 24 hours!

 

[DerekS]

I would counter demand they put the car back together before you return it.

It’s still your property and you are entitled to a second opinion.

Have they disassembled anything beyond removing the plate? Battery is still plugged in and attached to the car?

One thing I learned about Porsche service - far too late - is they are a profit generator just like the sales side of the house. I used to accept their suggestions without question but I started to push back a few cars ago.

 

[T4S]

Yes, when is an inspection not inspection?? Well in this case and to your point no error codes! Come on, these cars are sensored up the wazoo! I haven't seen anything that tells me or shows me that a coolant line is affected let alone crushed. I work in IT, I believe in data informed decisions and I'm definitely not feeling that's what's being given, pure speculation and BS!
No Attorney yet, but when I told them I could monitor the cells from an app they got very defensive and asked that I return my Maycan within 24 hours!

Data is key. The defensiveness is a red flag right there (amongst the many that have been brought up so far). I agree with @DerekS, have them put the car back together and get it back asap.

Let them threaten the warranty all they want, they will do what they want regardless. In my opinion, based on what your experience has been like, I wouldn't give my business to this dealer even if the insurance approves payment. They probably thought it would be an easy $72.5k. I would even push back against the $4.5k diagnostic fee. They didn't even bring down your battery, so why is it so high?

 

[DerekS]

I should probably add a caveat that I am not any kind of EV specialist or expert,
I’m just a dude on the internet who drives the same car, posts too much, and has opinions.

The safest course probably is battery replacement but I do think getting a second opinion and quote would be wise before proceeding with such an expensive repair (even if you towed it there out of caution.)

 

[Uknown]

Yes, when is an inspection not inspection?? Well in this case and to your point no error codes! Come on, these cars are sensored up the wazoo! I haven't seen anything that tells me or shows me that a coolant line is affected let alone crushed. I work in IT, I believe in data informed decisions and I'm definitely not feeling that's what's being given, pure speculation and BS!
No Attorney yet, but when I told them I could monitor the cells from an app they got very defensive and asked that I return my Maycan within 24 hours!

That is weird “return the loaner”… are they giving you back your car?

 

[Uknown]

$4,500 inspection seems strange. When I damaged the underside of my Taycan Westmont Porsche charged me $259.

They also rigged the windshield reservoir enough to hold fluid so I could use it mostly,

Wish I had done the service with them.

Their inspection was complete enough to list all the parts required to fix it, and estimate to get it going. Which required them to take parts off the car for sure.

Would be curious and might even push back on what the inspection involved.

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