Foundation Series Light Bar Waiting Room

[LivinLrge]

Want it, but mixed feelings until someone comes up with a more practical cover than blackout tape. Off-road would not be my idea of fun, perhaps a rare necessity, so the utility is limited for me, and not worth getting tickets for having it uncovered (depending on the state...and that small towns may ticket you for otherwise trivial things to make $$).

Has anyone actually saw or heard of a ticket being issues for this? I understand the law standpoint just wondering if this is really a reason you wouldn't want the lightbar bases on facts or just the assumption/risk it could happen

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[rlhamil]

Post in another thread says it has happened. And CTs being seen as controversial by some, it follows that given sufficient numbers of CTs with light bars, it would happen to them.

 

[rairforce]

Picked up my beast in July, no word on the light bar. But I'm in no hurry, as I'm not sure I actually want it.

If it was removeable, definitely. But glued to the windshield? Dunno 'bout that....

I'll buy it from you if you want to sell it.

 

[WWIII]

I was told last week during a service appointment it is tied to the VIN and will get and email and they can't put it on otherwise. Also, I was told they can only install the bar and can't connect the electrical and that the customer has to connect the electrical and has to test it works because they aren't allowed to do that part of it.
This lightbar thing has been very odd.

 

[xbeast]

Got my Beast in September. No light bar yet. I do not understand what is so difficult in producing a light bar They did not really produce that many trucks that come with the light bar.

 

[Guylouis]

Any of you who are in SoCal. I got you-

DM me and I’ll get it installed for you

 

[rlhamil]

I was told last week during a service appointment it is tied to the VIN and will get and email and they can't put it on otherwise. Also, I was told they can only install the bar and can't connect the electrical and that the customer has to connect the electrical and has to test it works because they aren't allowed to do that part of it.
This lightbar thing has been very odd.

The availability issue is odd. The restrictions are because a light bar is NOT legal for on-road use, and many states require that it be covered on-road, and Tesla doesn't want to get involved in the legalities.

Depending on which revision of the service procedure, they may do more of the work, up to at least the point of just plugging it in. They do have to have blackout tape on the light bar as a "cover", since there is no proper cover available for a triangle cross-section light bar glued to the windshield. I could imagine a design*, but I couldn't flesh it out or digitize it, and I don't have a 3D printer or any skills with that sort of thing.

* hinged bit that glues to the top, silicone friction grips on the sides to hold it closed, and clips back to itself to hold it open. Would need tweaking to definitely stay closed at high speeds; staying open at lower off-road speeds would be sufficient. Also implies it should be reasonably aerodynamically clean.

 

[jonesw67]

Took delivery in May 2024, still waiting on Lightbar. About to get wheel covers on Friday....
No rush on lightbar as I heard there was a new version coming out and that's why there may be a delay, so may be better to wait anyway

 

[Mal]

I'll buy it from you if you want to sell it.

If I ever get it and still don't want it, I'll let you know.

 

[YDR37]

Also, I was told they can only install the bar and can't connect the electrical and that the customer has to connect the electrical and has to test it works because they aren't allowed to do that part of it.
This lightbar thing has been very odd.

Two odd decisions by Tesla.

First, it was odd to provide an accessory that is illegal to actually use on public roads, which is probably where 99% of Cybertruck driving takes place. I don't think that any other auto manufacturer sells vehicles that come with auxiliary lights -- not even on offroad-focused vehicles like the Ford F-150 Raptor or Jeep Wrangler Rubicon.

Instead, other manufacturers offer auxiliary switches. The extra switches make it easy for the customer to install and operate electrically-powered accessories, like auxiliary lights or a winch. But the manufacturer has no liability for any potentially-illegal aftermarket accessory that the customer might connect to the switches after purchase. Tesla is apparently trying to avoid liability in a somewhat similar way, by requiring the customer to make the final connection after delivery.

Second, it was odd to provide a lightbar that cannot easily be covered or detached. In some states, the law requires auxiliary lights to be covered on public roads, so they don't blind other drivers even if turned on accidentally. So aftermarket auxiliary lights are normally designed so that they can be easily covered/uncovered or detached/reattached. But not Tesla's.

Feels like these odd decisions were made by someone who thought that the lightbar "looked cool", but who did not have any actual experience or understanding of off-road auxiliary light issues, and who did not bother to learn how other vehicle and accessory manufacturers handle those issues.

 

[JacksonLab]

I know the off road light Bar has been an ongoing topic here, but I want to collect some data to present to TESLA.

I took delivery of my Cyberbeast back in May 2024. It’s been 9 months and I have not yet received “the email” to come and get your light. Nine months is way to long to wait. I called “customer relations” today and was told its a “hurry up and wait game” and there is NOTHING they can do on their end to expedite the process.
I have a neighbor that recently took delivery of his truck and has his light bar.

Some here on the forums have had success by just making a service appointment and had the light bar installed without the email. This tactic has not worked for me at 2 different service appointments.

I have 2 other Tesla vehicles and this has been the worst experience with Tesla service so far.

Question for fellow Cyberbeast owners here. How many here have had their light bars installed and how long have you owned your truck?

I could have had a baby by now..9 months is ridiculous and unacceptable!

Received my Cyberbeast last September, requested a service for light installation in January. They are installing today. Could have installed earlier but waited for a local service center to do the work.

 

[CactusPilot]

Well, today was my service appointment for some other issues im having with the truck...

Before I went in today. I received this message...doesn't look like I'm getting the light bar this time either..

 

[MI2Y4U]

There might be a great reason to wait to get your lightbar installed when they want you to get it. Here is my experience so far…
Picked up CB on August 27, 2024.
Tried the various ploys to get the light installed in Houston. All tries led to naught.
Decided to visit relatives in Florida. There just so happens to be a Tesla Service Center in the town my relative lives in. Arrived in Fla on December 17. Decided to try the book appt and hope they had a light in stock. Was given a service appt for Jan 20 for installation. Jan 18 I sent a note to make sure light bar was in stock. SC sent a note back that there was a light waiting for me.
Arrived Jan 20 at noon for a 1 pm appt. Walked yup to service desk, said hello, I am here for my appt. Service assistant asked my name. Ah, you have an appt for installing a lightbar. We don’t have any. I showed him the memo I received saying they had one in stock for me. He excused himself and went in the back. 10 minutes later he came back and finished signing me in and getting me a loaner. Picked up the CB that night when I was told it was ready. On Jan 31 I was driving down I-75 when I started to hear a whistling sound that started only as a chirp at 50 mph. Once I hit 80 mph it was screaming. The next day, on Saturday Feb. 1 I stopped by the Service Center to see if there was something they could to to determine what was causing the noise. I took the shop manager for a ride and he pointed out the noise was from the light bar. He decided that they could fix it that day. Left the vehicle and waited for their msg that the CB was ready. Received the message about 5:30pm, went to pick it up at 6:30 pm. Today is Feb 11, I am again waiting for the message to come pick up my truck. When I brought back the truck two days ago, I noticed light between the light bar and the windshield on the passenger side. The whole light bar on the passenger side was loose. In their attempt to remove the light bar to fix it, they broke the windshield. Now I am hoping and praying they can find a quick windshield replacement so I can continue my trip to NJ, before returning to Texas!
Now I’m kind of wishing I should have waited for their light bar email. And I still love my truck!

 

[CactusPilot]

There might be a great reason to wait to get your lightbar installed when they want you to get it. Here is my experience so far…
Picked up CB on August 27, 2024.
Tried the various ploys to get the light installed in Houston. All tries led to naught.
Decided to visit relatives in Florida. There just so happens to be a Tesla Service Center in the town my relative lives in. Arrived in Fla on December 17. Decided to try the book appt and hope they had a light in stock. Was given a service appt for Jan 20 for installation. Jan 18 I sent a note to make sure light bar was in stock. SC sent a note back that there was a light waiting for me.
Arrived Jan 20 at noon for a 1 pm appt. Walked yup to service desk, said hello, I am here for my appt. Service assistant asked my name. Ah, you have an appt for installing a lightbar. We don’t have any. I showed him the memo I received saying they had one in stock for me. He excused himself and went in the back. 10 minutes later he came back and finished signing me in and getting me a loaner. Picked up the CB that night when I was told it was ready. On Jan 31 I was driving down I-75 when I started to hear a whistling sound that started only as a chirp at 50 mph. Once I hit 80 mph it was screaming. The next day, on Saturday Feb. 1 I stopped by the Service Center to see if there was something they could to to determine what was causing the noise. I took the shop manager for a ride and he pointed out the noise was from the light bar. He decided that they could fix it that day. Left the vehicle and waited for their msg that the CB was ready. Received the message about 5:30pm, went to pick it up at 6:30 pm. Today is Feb 11, I am again waiting for the message to come pick up my truck. When I brought back the truck two days ago, I noticed light between the light bar and the windshield on the passenger side. The whole light bar on the passenger side was loose. In their attempt to remove the light bar to fix it, they broke the windshield. Now I am hoping and praying they can find a quick windshield replacement so I can continue my trip to NJ, before returning to Texas!
Now I’m kind of wishing I should have waited for their light bar email. And I still love my truck!

Wow..what a story. Sorry for all of your troubles and thanks for sharing.

 

[JGTESLA]

I took delivery in March 2024. All quiet on the lightbar email front.

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