1,850 day wait with one major warning!

[Lalama]

After 1,850 days I finally received my R1S. Held out for max pack and live in Montana so not high on the priority list.

Quick takes:
1st electric vehicle I've owned
1st time in a Rivian, seen a few during travels
Getting used to regenerative braking

Love:
Finish and fit are honestly great for my delivery
Gear Guard
Immediate torque
Design
Spaces: frunk, front of seat pocket
7.4 cent kilowatt-hour electricity from a coop (while it lasts)

Not in love:
Software - prefer Apple over Alexa, bit glitchy but no major issues, should get better with updates
Occasional noises from air suspension
Battery for Fob was low upon delivery
Windshield wiper fluid went low immediately (would have been nice if it came topped off)
No glove box
Small buttons on turn signal for wipers/lights
No standard spare tire (I now realize you can order one) - an adventure rig should be prepared to get a flat. Do yourself a favor and get a tire plug kit since you have an onboard air compressor.
Not sure how to shuttle the vehicle for rafting (key card is not intuitive for strangers, key fob I'm told will not lock in vehicle)

Warning:
Appreciate this forum so I researched winter tires and finally found the Nokian LT3's (275/65/R20) studded. Went to the only tire center that carries Nokian and told them I printed off the instructions on how to remove the underbody panels to safely lift the rig for tire swap. Emphasized to call me if any questions or concerns. I'm told they've done plenty of electric vehicles, no problem.

Bottom line: They over torqued and broke one 10 mm nut as well as one of the T20 screws. Clearly used a high torque wrench with complete disregard. Two panels with broken hardware were rigged so they would just hang on and obviously nobody told me anything. The 10 mm bolt broke off in the frame (spent an hour trying to use an extractor to get it out but not luck). Haven't had the chance to discuss with the tire center since I picked it up just after close due to work. Tire centers don't care to crawl under a vehicle and remove panels to lift it. They want to four corner lift, swap tires and move on to the next vehicle.

Recommendation:
If you have creeper to get under you vehicle, remove the underbody panels yourself before taking to the tire shop. Replace when you get home. Reference page 296 r1s-og-en-us-20240108.pdf. Use common sense and gently hand torque the bolts and screws.

Dear Rivian - please come up with convenient lift points on the vehicle that are marked (like bright yellow) for shops to lift vehicle without removing panels, screws, bolts. The underbody panels are destined to get broken by busy (and oblivious/ignorant) tire technicians.

You thought of some cool and creative features but simple tire service was disregarded. These vehicles are heavy and hard on tires. Tires should be the most commonly serviced item on an electric vehicle. Tire service should remain simple. Don't complicate things.

PS. I realize I can buy jack pucks for the vehicle. But unlike the spare that you can buy from Rivian a tire jack puck is not available nor standard. I was hoping the tire shop had them - clearly they did not.

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[SoCal Rob]

After 1,850 days I finally received my R1S. Held out for max pack and live in Montana so not high on the priority list.

Quick takes:
1st electric vehicle I've owned
1st time in a Rivian, seen a few during travels
Getting used to regenerative braking

Love:
Finish and fit are honestly great for my delivery
Gear Guard
Immediate torque
Design
Spaces: frunk, front of seat pocket
7.4 cent kilowatt-hour electricity from a coop (while it lasts)

Not in love:
Software - prefer Apple over Alexa, bit glitchy but no major issues, should get better with updates
Occasional noises from air suspension
Battery for Fob was low upon delivery
Windshield wiper fluid went low immediately (would have been nice if it came topped off)
No glove box
Small buttons on turn signal for wipers/lights
No standard spare tire (I now realize you can order one) - an adventure rig should be prepared to get a flat. Do yourself a favor and get a tire plug kit since you have an onboard air compressor.
Not sure how to shuttle the vehicle for rafting (key card is not intuitive for strangers, key fob I'm told will not lock in vehicle)

Warning:
Appreciate this forum so I researched winter tires and finally found the Nokian LT3's (275/65/R20) studded. Went to the only tire center that carries Nokian and told them I printed off the instructions on how to remove the underbody panels to safely lift the rig for tire swap. Emphasized to call me if any questions or concerns. I'm told they've done plenty of electric vehicles, no problem.

Bottom line: They over torqued and broke one 10 mm nut as well as one of the T20 screws. Clearly used a high torque wrench with complete disregard. Two panels with broken hardware were rigged so they would just hang on and obviously nobody told me anything. The 10 mm bolt broke off in the frame (spent an hour trying to use an extractor to get it out but not luck). Haven't had the chance to discuss with the tire center since I picked it up just after close due to work. Tire centers don't care to crawl under a vehicle and remove panels to lift it. They want to four corner lift, swap tires and move on to the next vehicle.

Recommendation:
If you have creeper to get under you vehicle, remove the underbody panels yourself before taking to the tire shop. Replace when you get home. Reference page 296 r1s-og-en-us-20240108.pdf. Use common sense and gently hand torque the bolts and screws.

Dear Rivian - please come up with convenient lift points on the vehicle that are marked (like bright yellow) for shops to lift vehicle without removing panels, screws, bolts. The underbody panels are destined to get broken by busy (and oblivious/ignorant) tire technicians.

You thought of some cool and creative features but simple tire service was disregarded. These vehicles are heavy and hard on tires. Tires should be the most commonly serviced item on an electric vehicle. Tire service should remain simple. Don't complicate things.

PS. I realize I can buy jack pucks for the vehicle. But unlike the spare that you can buy from Rivian a tire jack puck is not available nor standard. I was hoping the tire shop had them - clearly they did not.

Congratulations on taking delivery! I hope you enjoy your R1S as much as we’ve been enjoying ours.

It’s really disappointing that the tire shop caused that damage. I would be really annoyed that they couldn’t handle the easiest and most familiar part of removing and reinstalling the panels: using threaded fasteners. Hopefully they did okay with the lug nuts and valve stem caps.

What colors and wheels did you get? If you have a chance please post a pic or two.

 

[COdogman]

The tire shop should be on the hook to repair what they did, but it’s on you for not verifying the shop you used had the proper equipment or knowledge to do the job. As soon as you heard the words “we do plenty of electric vehicles” you should have left and not come back. That was a huge red flag. They were overconfident and not interested in doing it the right way.

It’s not Rivian’s fault that you allowed that place to work on your brand new S. Plenty of other shops can handle the job, including Discount Tire.

 

[elfordon]

I've only had my R1T max pack a couple of months (and my plan is to have the local Discount Tire rotate the tires), but couldn't you buy jack pucks and show the tire center how to use those instead? Might be easier.

And wow on VSG's response...apparently he needed to quit drinking and go to bed. Overly harsh.

Enjoy your max pack! I only had to wait 1,202 days for mine.

 

[R.I.P.]

Day one looking under the vehicle I ordered a set of pucks in the case. When asking for tire service, I carry the case in, plunk them down on the counter & ask if their guys are comfortable with how to use these. It is a heads-up to the shop that I care, and they should too. I have had positive results doing this.

 

[ElGuapo]

total bummer. Tire shop has to pay for legit fix. I’d got to Rivian SC for a fix.

This is why I will only take my R1S to Rivian - even for a rotation. It’s super annoying, but I don’t trust any tire places.

I trust them all with my Tesla, but ten years ago, this is the same crap that happened with my Tesla so I only took it to SCs for about three years.

I’ve no interest in teaching a tire shop how to service my car. That’s supposed to be their job.

 

[Dark-Fx]

total bummer. Tire shop has to pay for legit fix. I’d got to Rivian SC for a fix.

This is why I will only take my R1S to Rivian - even for a rotation. It’s super annoying, but I don’t trust any tire places.

I trust them all with my Tesla, but ten years ago, this is the same crap that happened with my Tesla so I only took it to SCs for about three years.

I’ve no interest in teaching a tire shop how to service my car. That’s supposed to be their job.

I don't trust tire shops to lift my vehicles anymore. They just aren't interested in doing it correctly. If I need tires changed I bring the wheels in instead of the vehicle.

 

[Chewy734]

This is why I will only take my R1S to Rivian - even for a rotation. It’s super annoying, but I don’t trust any tire places.

My local SC said they can’t do tire rotations because they are slammed. The one exception is if you drop the car off for other SC work, they may be able to tack on tire rotation as well, but only if you ask them at drop off.

 

[ElGuapo]

They’ll do it but you have to be willing to wait three months + or so where I am. There’s always something else you can request and add it on, right? ? Suspension clicks too much, for example.

 

[rhumbliner]

Perhaps an overkill solution, but the reason I installed the DCE rock sliders instead of simple running boards was so that I didn’t need to mess with removing the underside panels or carrying around pucks. I can simply jack up one entire side when I rotate tires and if I need to go to Discount Tire they can pretty much place the lift pads anywhere.

 

[Lalama]

Day one looking under the vehicle I ordered a set of pucks in the case. When asking for tire service, I carry the case in, plunk them down on the counter & ask if their guys are comfortable with how to use these. It is a heads-up to the shop that I care, and they should too. I have had positive results doing this.

Ordering a set now. Thanks!

 

[CrazyOne]

total bummer. Tire shop has to pay for legit fix. I’d got to Rivian SC for a fix.

This is why I will only take my R1S to Rivian - even for a rotation. It’s super annoying, but I don’t trust any tire places.

I trust them all with my Tesla, but ten years ago, this is the same crap that happened with my Tesla so I only took it to SCs for about three years.

I’ve no interest in teaching a tire shop how to service my car. That’s supposed to be their job.

I don't trust tire shops to lift my vehicles anymore. They just aren't interested in doing it correctly. If I need tires changed I bring the wheels in instead of the vehicle.

This is why I tried to get Rivian to do rotation Even though Discount Tire does it for free. But SC was 4 months out and mobile service would cost 150+ 60 +tax. I gave up and went to DT. I did remove the spare kit before going, as someone mentioned in the forum that tire shop damaged their spare while getting in and out. Sure enough, the guy did not even know where the spare was.

 

[JackRussellRacing]

I did a tire rotation on my R1T this week. I have a two post lift, pucks, and every tool imaginable. It was still a gigantic pain in the arse. Having done it myself now, I'd be be more than willing to pay $80 for Discount Tire to do it ! Yes, I'll take my pucks and help the shop raise the vehicle. But I'm too old (or too weak?) to do it again.

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