Fobbed Off! Comparing Tesla and Electric Mini Service Costs

Picture this: You’re standing at your dining table, staring at two sets of car keys—one for a Mini Cooper SE, a zippy little electric car, and the other for a Tesla Model S, the electric behemoth.

Both key fobs are cactus. One took a dive in my teenager’s board shorts; the other became a chew toy for Turbo, the family dog.

Turbo (top dog)

Tesla vs Mini: A Showdown In Customer Service And Cost

You’d think Tesla, known for their premium prices, would charge an arm and a leg to replace their fob compared to the Mini, right? Hold onto your hats because Tesla didn’t just beat Mini on price; their customer service experience left Mini eating dust.

The Mini Saga: Unnecessary Services And Hefty Bills

The Mini Cooper SE insists on a ‘service’ every 12 months. It’s an electric car, so what’s there to service? Not much, but BMW still lured me to their Adelaide service centre.

And the cost? A cool $105 for the vehicle check, another $35 labour and $118.64 parts for a ‘microfilter service,’ and a couple more line items that’ll make you wonder if they also polished each individual air molecule in the cabin. All up, they’re just looking for excuses to swipe your card.

After a day’s work, I trudged back to BMW Adelaide and forked out $394.50. And the key fob? Another jaw-dropping $673.60, with another trip to pick it up.

Tesla’s Smooth Sailing

Tesla has never summoned me for a service. If there’s an issue, they sort it—no song and dance. To replace the key fob, I tapped ‘Request Service’ on the Tesla app.

A few days later, a technician showed up in my driveway and handed me a bill for $218.18. No fuss, no extra trips.

In this showdown, Tesla not only saved my wallet but also saved me time – an even more precious resource.

The Final Tally: EV Ownership Costs vs Customer Experience

Look, I get it. This is just one bloke’s experience in Adelaide, but when Tesla gets it right, they’re excellent.

They’ve not only embraced a future with electric vehicles, but modernised the entire customer experience to match. No needless trips, no upselling services you don’t need – just straightforward, honest service at a reasonable price; all through their app.

How long will people put up with overpriced ‘EV services’ from legacy automakers such as BMW? As electric vehicles become more mainstream, the old guard needs to rethink not just their tech but their customer service ethos.

Original Source: https://www.solarquotes.com.au/blog/ev-service-costs-tesla-mini/