Made in China Model 3: Build Quality / Hardware Differences

[Llama.]

From Reuters and seems to suggest the LG batteries are not LFP and in fact are NMC as @Glan gluaisne states:
Tesla battery supplier LG Chem shares jump 10% on upbeat outlook

From the article:

LG Chem said its batteries have an edge over the cheaper, LFP batteries from Chinese rival and Tesla supplier CATL, saying the latter’s lower energy density makes it difficult to be used for longer-range, large cars.

“The LFP batteries can be used in relatively short-range cars which are sensitive to prices... We believe that our nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) batteries can be mainstream globally,” said Chang Seung-se, senior vice president at LG Chem, referring to its nickel-based batteries.

Thanks, that’s a useful article which very strongly suggests LFP batteries will only be used in the SR+. Which is what most were suggesting.

I do think that if I had ordered a SR+ I would actually prefer the ability to regularly charge a car with shorter range to 100% all of the time. And I would be crossing my fingers that Tesla offers a software update to improve the LFP Supercharging speeds beyond the reported 70kw for these cars.

But it would have been easier if Tesla could just tell me what battery is going to be in the LR AWD car I ordered. And why have they told some of us that the LR China made cars have an LFP battery, when it looks like the don’t.

Anyway. I’m excited to collect my car in a few weeks!

 

[BigBoy]

Do we think this incoming batch are likely to have a heated steering wheel? Really would like one!

 

[Terinante]

Thanks, that’s a useful article which very strongly suggests LFP batteries will only be used in the SR+. Which is what most were suggesting.

I do think that if I had ordered a SR+ I would actually prefer the ability to regularly charge a car with shorter range to 100% all of the time. And I would be crossing my fingers that Tesla offers a software update to improve the LFP Supercharging speeds beyond the reported 70kw for these cars.

But it would have been easier if Tesla could just tell me what battery is going to be in the LR AWD car I ordered. And why have they told some of us that the LR China made cars have an LFP battery, when it looks like the don’t.

Anyway. I’m excited to collect my car in a few weeks!

The staff don't know what batteries are in them, they are guessing like the rest of us.

 

[Cardo]

Do we think this incoming batch are likely to have a heated steering wheel? Really would like one!

Anecdotal evidence would suggest they will. Even US models delivered in the last couple of weeks have a heated steering wheel.

 

[808?]

I have had my MIC SR+ for two days now and so far, so good.

Fit and finish is fine, not 100% German perfection, but perfectly fine, paint and trim is good.

No heated steering wheel in mine (not that we really need it here).

 

[subsy]

I have had my MIC SR+ for two days now and so far, so good.

Fit and finish is fine, not 100% German perfection, but perfectly fine, paint and trim is good.

No heated steering wheel in mine (not that we really need it here).

how did you manage that?
Tesla were supposedly holding all MIC car deliveries back til March 1st.

Mind sharing some pics?

 

[GeorgeSymonds]

how did you manage that?
Tesla were supposedly holding all MIC car deliveries back til March 1st.

Guessing because they're in Hong Kong

 

[808?]

Mind sharing some pics?

What would you like to see?

 

[Kilmac]

Thanks for that. Useful video. The build quality looks good. Getting delivery of SR+ on 5th March in Dublin

I noticed in comments that in response to question on heated steering wheel he says.

" Heated steering wheel does not come as standard for Standard Range plus model 3, but you can pay for this function in the coming future by software update. Heated steering wheel is standard for long range model 3."

I hadn't seen this elsewhere

 

[GeorgeSymonds]

I've seen someone post a screenshot from a MY but not a M3 with a heated steering wheel, but the logic is probably right just like rear heated seats in a M3 SR+ are a paid for extra

 

[browellm]

I guess all will be revealed by the first intrepid collectors come Monday afternoon!

 

[Chiily]

Counting the sleeps until Tuesday, 2nd, 1000...M3 LR pickup time

When I get the car how would I check which battery it has?

 

[Llama.]

Counting the sleeps until Tuesday, 2nd, 1000...M3 LR pickup time

When I get the car how would I check which battery it has?

Apparently there is a print out in the glove box on collection that includes the hardware specification. So you’d be looking for the battery code.

 

[Bobcat2112]

As my delivery has been delayed a week (LR M3 in red)I thought I’d call just to confirm and clarify a few things. On the phone they told me the LR version has a 73kw LG battery and that they didn’t think it comes with a heated steering wheel. Hmmm we shall have to wait and see.

 

[Llama.]

Sorry to hear your delivery is delayed. I got a confirmation call today for delivery in 7 days.

Did they say why delivery was delayed?

Hmm.... The heated wheel...

 

[subsy]

What would you like to see?

in all seriousness any detail, shots of the interior, panel gaps etc

haven’t heard of anyone except you having a MIC M3 yet

EDIT: I’ve realised you’re not in the UK :facepalm:

 

[justinhow]

in all seriousness any detail, shots of the interior, panel gaps etc

haven’t heard of anyone except you having a MIC M3 yet

EDIT: I’ve realised you’re not in the UK :facepalm:

Have you seen this

 

[subsy]

in all seriousness any detail, shots of the interior, panel gaps etc

haven’t heard of anyone except you having a MIC M3 yet

Have you seen this

Yeh just watched it thanks!

 

[Chiily]

MIC Teslas in bristol...

View media item 122332
From a quick look this morning they looked pretty well built.

 

[ParHunter]

I’ve watched a German YouTube video on the charging issue with the Chinese battery pack. There were problems with it (in a previous videos they only managed some low figures) but a software update has fixed that it seems. He got about 130kW when he charged the car (driven down to 15% with partial conditioning - they didn’t use Superchargers).