I thought I’d start a thread where I collect and document my experience with our Model 3, items we purchase, charger installation, etc. This site has been so helpful. So I thought it might be nice to “give back” by sharing my information.
While there’s previous information mostly around purchasing and pricing that I’ve focused on up to now, I have finally switched to the ownership side and will hopefully be here for years to come (like it or not to members here, LOL).
I’m a vehicle enthusiast of sorts and have threads on most of my vehicles which are primarily VERY cheap old Mercedes Benz I enjoy working on when I get the time. I’m a bit of a gearhead with a best friend that literally lives at his 6000 square foot shop with a lift, lathe, milling machine, trans Jack, two loading docks, tire machines (for 18” and smaller wheels), etc. I think we are both middle-aged children. I e got a wife and kids of my own that fortunately are nearing self-sufficiency, but have some very expensive years ahead of me, and I am incredibly cheap, but also consider myself very fortunate. You may see me pinching Pennie’s in my topics, like purchasing. But every penny I save is one more we might either have for our own enjoyment, or perhaps to give to charity to help others.
So with that, I’m switching into purchasing “accessories.” Cheapest things I’ve decided I want because I think they will save me money:
- garage 100 amp sub-panel and coming 14-50 outlet. Smart to purchase/install first. Did trench and run wires to detached garage though.
- driveway 14-50 outlet attached to the house, so my wife doesn’t need to pull all the way up the driveway. These first two items are things I’ve spent a lot of time researching and planning for. My next step is to buy a few more small items before my Home Depot coupon expires 11/30/2023.
- mobile charger (provides charge rate as fast as my M3RWD will accept). Taking over a week to arrive. Probably should have purchased before the car.
- floor mats ($60 carpet) Taking over a week to arrive. Probably should have purchased before the car.
- Spare tire(s). Since my best friend is a drift-car driver, and because I want to be able to start hammering the pedals, and because I want a full-size spare, last night I purchased two gen1 18” Tesla wheels and some 8/32 read used tires that are identical to the ones on the car. As soon as I figure out the cheapest TPMS option, I will mount them up. The tires were under $60 each. I do this with all our vehicles grabbing cheap identical tires when I am due to replace one or two. It makes it so I never have to plunk down for a brand new set of tires. I can mount and balance myself at my friend’s shop. I consider myself fortunate because I believe I will have the ability to store these extra wheels. I also don’t anticipate anyone having the M3 too far from home where the spare would need to be in the vehicle. No compact spare needed (yet). I figure this spend I’ve put ~$340 into before TPMS will be justified in tire savings and also preventing the need to buy a brand new tire. (Tow would be covered by AAA.). On this topic, I learned difference between gen1 (2020 and earlier) and gen2 (2022-2023) wheels but that the wheel covers are interchangeable. So I just bought the cheapest, gen1. The cars are supposedly more efficient with the covers. So I’m going to keep them on.
- TPMS shopping. I’ve never had a car with Bluetooth TPMS.
Then there’s other “learning curve” stuff I’m learning as a new Owner.
- purchase and pickup experience. When to buy. What to buy ahead of time (charger and floor mats).
- Automatically resetting after time “circuit breakers” instead of fuses? Wow. Circuit breakers make sense, but automatically resetting is a weird one to me. Lighter powered vacuum seems like a no-no.
- supercharging (free for 6 months), and when to use it and when not to use it. Topping off to 100% sitting at Wawa seems like a real waste of time. That really requires a home charger I think. And Does high speed charging ruin the battery?
- FSD Full Self Driving that we also get for 3 months free with our referral. Take note as a new owner that this is “calibrating” or “learning” for the first few days or something. Maybe Tesla is just looking to learn from our driving habits or something. I have yet to even try the cruise control. This seems so far like something we have no use for (yet).
- location services and other app controls. Interesting that I can see exactly where my wife has the car. It’s also interesting that I can hit the horn and pop the trunk, etc. these are some reasons that you clearly want to be careful who you allow to control your vehicle. Our latest other vehicle is a 2007. Huge difference.
I plan to continue writing here, update the above with links to the other topics I’ve created, and generally document our ownership. Today is only Sunday, and we picked up on Wednesday.
Now to get off to work on things like that 14-50 installation and hooking up the new garage subpanel.
Thanks for all the help here!
Sincerely,
Mike
No charging risk with supercharging
RWD has LFP batteries, run the battery between 5 and 100%
For a planned long road trip, do and use a month subscription to FSD
Here is motörhead list:
--Soft leather quality head rest pillows
-3D mats plus Lazfit center console side protectors or Tuxmats full set of mats
-Magbak dual Display magsafe phone charging mount, they sell left, right and two port charger
-18 or 19” Uberturbine wheel covers, look great and protect the rims
Or
-Magbak Rimcases if you actually have Uberturbines wheels
-Front grill mesh protection
-Fanttik coreless USBC vacuum
-metal pedal racing covers
-Min front PPF bumper, fenders, hood, front pillars and mirrors, side rear quarter leading edges, rear bumper top edge, pro install only Xpel brand
-in trunk screw on book for securing bags
-window tint all including the front
-Windshield wiper fluid drop in Stainer
-All four door sill protectors, carbon fiber
-All four door pocket drop in protectors
-Rear seat pouch, clip on garbage bag
-Behind center console floor bin with cover
-center console and arm rest drop in trays, research current best brand
-rear pet seat cover if you have a pet or small children
-Four door stainless steel strike protectors
-Display protective tempered matte glass protector
-Behind display shelf
-Front and center console surface protective laminate
-Arm rest protective pad
-Ceramic entire vehicle outside, Pro treat Xpel
-Front and rear mud flaps
-Apple Watch Tesla app, BU key
-Under front seats, rear vent covers
-jack pads store in trunk
-Tesla tire repair kit
-CCS adpter
-CCS and J1772 case
-front drop in protective tray
-trunk mat
-center console drop in charging hub
-toll tag suction to windshield holder
Optional
-rear carbon fiber spoiler, have body shop install
-his and hers Tesla On the Road Vessels
-Under head rest hooks for hanging items
-Ceramic treat to protect interior seats, steering wheel, other vulnerable surfaces
-Inside PPF vulnerable surfaces
-Fronk motorized lid
-Display swivel mount
-Over steering HUD
I have the above list and some of the optional in our RWD
There are also many YouTube reviews of accessories
The M3RWD is an amazing vehicle
Enjoy