They Said He Was Crazy for Buying a Used Tesla That Didn’t Run, But It Turned Out Fine

Buying a used electric car is still seen by many as a game of Russian roulette because of the battery (even though it doesn’t have to be that way if its condition is checked beforehand). And buying an electric car that doesn’t work is basically throwing money away, isn’t it? Unless you’re a YouTuber, of course.

A British YouTuber bought a first-generation Tesla Model S 70 for €5,200. Of course, at that price, the car simply doesn’t work. 

€5,000 for a Tesla that doesn’t work

The OGS Mechanics channel has gradually focused on electric models to repair. Audi e-tron, Mercedes EQC, BMW i3 or Porsche Taycan, all pass through its hands. Sometimes they’re real bargains, such as the i3 he bought for £1,000, about €1,200. Or, more recently, this Tesla Model S bought for €5,200 “blindly”.

First-generation Tesla Model S are the ones that sometimes allow access to a large sedan for little money, though they aren’t exactly a steal. 

That said, you must be aware of the risks involved with electronic or mechanical problems in vehicles of a type particularly complex to repair, especially for mechanics accustomed only to gasoline or diesel engines. This Briton, however, threw himself headfirst into buying a Model S at a derisory price, almost half the cost of a new Citroën Ami.

After an inspection and a teardown, he uncovered the issue: a discharged 12V battery and a rear drive unit that was unusable. It is the LDU drive unit from pre-2019 Model S, in both rear-wheel drive and high-performance versions, and it is now available as a spare in some specialized workshops. A stroke of luck for anyone who knows how to perform a motor replacement on an electric vehicle. 

And how much did the joke cost him? On top of the initial €5,200, you have to add the cost of the motor, with a modification to the cooling system, which had caused the original motor failure due to a leak. 

In the end, the car, the motor, the reprogramming, fixing the front suspension (which was already dangerous in its condition) and the labor, the total cost rose to €12,200. In the end he managed to get a Model S in very good condition—he fixed it himself—at a price below market value. Today, most good-condition Model S 70s are around €20,000.

It’s true the car has 296,000 kilometers, but in these models, the batteries are exceptionally durable, as are the motors, provided the rotor cooling is adjusted to prevent future faults. 

This repair, however, is not applicable to all electric cars. Modern, ultra-connected models can become a real headache when it comes to reprogramming parts after a component change. A problem that this YouTuber has already encountered in this Model S, but it pales in comparison to the challenges posed by the most modern electric vehicles.

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