JustCarsForum - Your Ultimate Automotive Community

My Model 3 was recently declared a total loss (Category S) following a lateral collision. I opted to retain the salvage, as it holds greater value with the FSD still installed, and I can transfer the FSD to the new Tesla I am ordering.
However, it prompted me to consider that the vehicle may well be reparable. It has been meticulously maintained from the outset.


Am I able to procure replacement parts directly from Tesla, specifically both passenger-side doors, and undertake the wheel arch repair as a DIY project?
Would a local garage be amenable to undertaking this task without exorbitant charges?
Should I transfer the FSD and sell the scrap to a dismantling firm?


Has anyone here already fixed a Cat S Model 3? I am eager to hear your opinions or experiences.

Generally, unless you are already involved in the industry, attempting to repair Cat S/N vehicles is likely not economically viable. The viability of this endeavour is contingent upon possessing contacts or being adept oneself. Attempting to engage as an end customer, so to speak, implies that you will incur "retail" costs for all items.


I would personally choose option 3, particularly because once Tesla becomes aware of it being written off, they will prohibit it from the supercharger network, requiring a high-voltage battery examination for reauthorisation, among other complications (e.g., nullification of any remaining warranty).

Consider reaching out to these individuals. They are seeking projects...

It is astonishing that this damage results in the total loss of a vehicle. Door skins and rear quarter panels are available, and the quarter panel does not require total replacement; Tesla permits the removal and replacement of portions.

It is unequivocally repairable.

I contemplate whether it is worthwhile to investigate Breakeryard or a similar platform for a comparable vehicle that has sustained damage from the opposite side or rear, in order to ascertain the possibility of acquiring color-matched doors directly from it. Would render such repair nearly effortless.

I purchase and repair crash-damaged or non-functional vehicles as a side endeavour for enjoyment. I would unequivocally submit offers for this if it were available for purchase. It appears to be a straightforward solution.

The majority of items are amenable to repair. It is merely the actual expense. It is also necessary to place it on a jig and verify its alignment. An experienced body shop is the sole establishment to which you would entrust it. Furthermore, if there is structural damage, has it penetrated any part of the battery area?

If it is equipped with FSD, I would just choose option 3. It is advisable to enquire with Tesla regarding the possibility of facilitating the transfer of FSD without the inconvenience of acquiring the salvage.


The structural damage to Cat S is severe. I believe few individuals would choose a repaired vehicle that had been deemed a total loss. Cat S presumably indicates that the B pillar is deformed, necessitating its rectification. It is not merely a straightforward matter of installing a few new doors.