Feeling blue...[trouble finding door handle in the dark]

[quentinsf]

Have found a problem with my (otherwise fine) new blue Model 3 in the middle of a northern-European winter...

Black de-chromed door handles on a dark blue car are really hard to find on a dark night!

This was never the case on my previous cars which (a) didn't have such aerodynamically-flush handles and (b) had puddle lights and things which would give you some illumination when you walked up to it. With the Tesla, I'm in the dark until I can find the handle, and I can't find the handle in the dark.

Anyone else have the same problem?

I guess I could get a key fob which might allow me to turn on some illumination in advance, or use the watch app. But the magical automatic unlocking is spoiled a bit as both my wife and I have to grope around the wet door to find the way in...

 

[EVMeister]

Might be worth getting a small and compact torch to keep in your pocket? Annoying having to get it out to use it, but would solve the issue. Sometimes I can't see my chrome handles on my Model 3 if it's dark enough, either. But over time I've gotten quite used to their exact position so can usually find them without seeing them.

 

[Cybr.Myk]

Might be worth getting a small and compact torch to keep in your pocket?

Their cell phone will have a light on it. Just use that...also, this situation is a good excuse to always open your wife’s door for her...which will likely lead to increased action. Every cloud has a silver lining.

 

[one2many]

Might be worth getting a small and compact torch to keep in your pocket?

In the EU we use full sized, sorry free shots in lockdown til 11pm

 

[KenC]

I used to have a button LED on my keychain, back when I carried a keychain.

 

[Whitehawk]

My phone has a flashlight....

 

[TLLMRRJ]

If you use the app to remote unlock the car, does it turn on any lights?

 

[todd2fst4u]

Model 3 Auto Present Door Handle (4 Doors) | Hansshow

 

[TLLMRRJ]

Model 3 Auto Present Door Handle (4 Doors) | Hansshow

Those are cool. I wouldn't want to be the one doing the install of pulling all those doors apart to get them in.

 

[KenC]

Model 3 Auto Present Door Handle (4 Doors) | Hansshow

Now that’s tempting. Does Hansshow ever put them on sale?

 

[quentinsf]

If you use the app to remote unlock the car, does it turn on any lights?

Sadly, no - I just went and tried. Well, yes, it turns on the interior lights and the headlights but neither of these actually help you see the doorhandles :-(

Not, I'm sorry to say, as cool as my old i3 which did light up the doorhandles... and had cool blue interior LEDs until you opened the door!

 

[TLLMRRJ]

Sadly, no - I just went and tried. Well, yes, it turns on the interior lights and the headlights but neither of these actually help you see the doorhandles :-(

Not, I'm sorry to say, as cool as my old i3 which did light up the doorhandles... and had cool blue interior LEDs until you opened the door!



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You would think, with the interior lights on to frame the windows and B pillar, you could develop the muscle memory to figure out where the door handles are.

Maybe a dog trainer could help in this case, and as a bonus, you would get a treat every time you successfully find the handle!

 

[quentinsf]

Yes, perhaps you're right.

On the other hand, if I have to take my phone out to unlock, it would be much quicker just to turn on the flashlight!
Unlocking on my watch is much quicker though; perhaps I'll do that.

For now, it can go on the (admittedly fairly short) list of things I miss from the i3...

 

[Kat Jacks]

When the light burned out in my garage, I had that problem of not finding the handle easily. I practiced going from the door post to the handle a few times, now I can find it if needed, even without getting out my iPhone first. Too bad the lighting is not better where ever you are parking in such darkness.

 

[quentinsf]

Ha! It’s on my own driveway! But I live on the edge of a field - not much ambient light around here. There’s even a light on the garage but it’s directly behind the car, so it illuminates the boot nicely but leaves the door handles in darkness.

You’re right, though: if I follow the line of the back of the window glass down, it takes me to the door handle!