Model 3 Performance - 4 year review (The good, the bad and the ugly)

[MattC]

Bought my 2020 Model 3 Performance new and took ownership in August 2020.

I documented my delivery experience in another post back around that time. The car came with a few minor issues, nothing concerning and were dealt with quickly.

I've done 47,000 miles, which is likely pretty average for a 4 year old car. I moved house 9 months ago and i'd say i've done more mileage in the last 9 months than I normally would - probably closer to 14.000 in the last year than my normal 10-11k.

Note: I also own a Model Y LR (bought in 2022 new).

The Good

• I've owned Ford, Audi, BMW, Porsche, Range Rover previously. This is the best driving experience and fun car i've ever owned. I think we can all appreciate how Tesla have redefined the driving experience.
• From a reliability standpoint I've had zero issues.
• The acceleration of this car and handling is truely remarkable. More fun that a Porsche, McLaren or Aston Martin. I feel the upgrade to Performance was worth it (although expensive - see below).
• Range wise, i've not had any issues driving in the UK. My Porsche (Cayenne) broke down at home and I had to take the M3P to the Lake District on a family holiday. I had concerns about range and charger availability. I had zero issues and it made me realise I didn't need the Porsche anymore - we went with the Model Y for family use to replace the Cayenne.
• Charging - I now have a 12KW charger at home, I feel like this is important if you have 2 EVs. Also have solar, so I can charge during the day whenever its sunny.
• Upgrades - The software updates have been much appreciated. Autopilot is much improved and feel like they may have finally addressed the issues with the windscreen wipers (let see what the winter brings). Updates to the UI and functionality are always solid.
• Interior - the car has held up even though I two active kids being ferried around.
• Enjoyed not being impacted by lines at the petrol station or flooding
• Super charging on trips - 3-6 hour trips I'll stop once or twice for a food or bio break. The charger locations are plentiful, never queued and charging is often complete by the time i've finished my break. Sad to see all the "other EV" owners having to queue at non Tesla chargers.
• Sound system and audio/media functionality is awesome.
• Seats are still super comfortable.
• Spent pretty much zero on services/servicing (outside of tires etc)
• Boot space and frunk are perfect - even for a family of 4 going on a weeks hols.

The Bad

• Tire wear is rough, i'm going through rear tires every year.
• Automated windscreen wipers are the worst i've ever experienced. How can this be? Lol. Its very annoying. Feels like the last update may have improved things.
• Suspension is completely worn after 4 years and parts need replacing - I would get this checked out prior to your warranty expiring.
• Headlamp alignment - when i first picked it up it was too low. Having it calibrated it was too high. Just annoying.
• The sentry / dashcam footage access is super patchy. Used to work well, now it takes ages to review any footage in the car.
• Have a minor intermittent rattle on the left side door - suspect its related to worn suspension - getting that fixed shortly.
• Floor mat on driver side doesn't stay in position and needs replacing.
• Phantom breaking back in the old days - haven't experienced this though in a long time.
• The shiny center console flip lid(s) is easily scratched.
• Had a slight dent on rear left panel (someone backed into me) and it required both the panel and rear bumper replacing. Obviously covered by insurance, but it took about 6 weeks to get the replacement parts.
• The options for carrying bikes are not great. The official Tesla options are ridiculously expensive.
• I moved twice since 2020... each time I've had to pay for a charger to be installed. So i've paid for 3 charger installs. You can take your charger with you, but for various reasons that wasn't an option. The pain of being an early adopter I guess. I don't plan on moving anytime soon!

The Ugly

• 20in wheels and the low profile tires are just not compatible with UK roads. I've gone through 3 wheels and 10 tires in 4 years due to pot holes, punctures etc. Love the look, but I think any savings on fuel have been spent on new tires and wheels...
• Tracking, alignment and tire rotation are critical due to how quickly the tires can wear on this car. I wish I'd paid more attention. I think if you hit any potholes, you should get the tracking and alignment redone asap - and its not cheap from Tesla.
• Failed its 4 year MOT due to worn suspension (front and back) - this is covered by the warranty, but still worrying.
• UK Service Centers (in the south) have very little availability of slots or parts. I've had to wait weeks for a slot and weeks for a part as common as a wheel.
• I'm current waiting 3 weeks+ for new suspension parts. No ETA on new parts is pretty bad. Its required to meets it MoT and Tesla are refusing to offer a courtesy vehicle.

Any other M3P owners experiencing similar? Any advice on wheels/tires etc? Happy to answer any questions too.

"2021 Tesla Model 3, front 11.10.21" by Kevauto is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Admin note: Image added for Blog Feed thumbnail

 

[M1tch]

My M3P is nearly 3 years old and also love it.

You go through a lot of tyres!! I’ve Done 36k miles and not yet changed a set of tyres. I do a summer winter swap and the summers will likely need changing after this use.

 

[Chimpy McChimp]

Not got a model 3 (it's a MYLR)but I can second the tyre wear. I've had mine just over 2 years and had to get 2 tyres changed (not for wear but 1 had a slow puncture and the other had a massive nail in it). They weren't illegal but based on how much they had worn I reckoned another few months and they would have needed replaced. I'm not super high mileage (currently 13.5k) so was a bit surprised by how much wear they had (I forget what they were at but the tyre place said I should keep an eye on them in the next few months)

 

[Gatsojon]

Had mine 4.5 years now, and absolutely love it. The performance still gives me a buzz when I want it. My average efficiency has come down from that first year, which tells a story, I guess. I have had no real issues except a rear light cluster swap early on and a spoiler swap just before the warranty end.

I'm a low mileage user since Covid (I picked her up 2 weeks before the first lock-down). 32k in 4.5 years so my suspension was fine at the MOT and I specifically asked them to look at that. Tyre wear has been fine but then I have a set of winters on 19" rims, so wear is shared between two sets and the preferential wear one experiences in winter running (essentially) summer tyres is not an issue for me. I have come to prefer the extra rubber afforded by the 19" wheels - a good balance I feel. Both sets are original but then only around 15k on each, so you'd hope so. Front and rear seem to wear evenly, though I end up rotating each swap just because I might as well.

I have a couple of minor rattles creep in over the last year, just as I have had with previous BMWs and Audis. Only my wife's Skoda Fabia has stayed rattle free for any length of time.

No plans on changing anytime soon. Not sure what I would get. Perhaps the Highland 3P or Ioniq 5N but then the price to change doesn't really justify either. Slightly tempted by a nearly-new Taycan given the price crash they have experienced. Don't fancy the Porker service bills though!

 

[yessuz]

mine is 2.5 years old with 54k miles.
I love driving it even it was plagued with minor issues with interior (rattles)... however looks like most of them are sorted now...

it is very fun car to drive, but I can feel that suspension will need repairs soon and I am out of warranty...

I can only recommend people to do the full brakes service after 2 years as my car had set of new callipers due to issues which resulted of SC being unable to service them (unable to "unbolt"...)

 

[spooksman]

I've had my M3P since May 2020, and in general I'd agree with everything. There were some comments I was going to add, but I don't want to jinx anything, as I've got mine until May next year....

 

[Whyone]

......
[*]The acceleration of this car and handling is truely remarkable. More fun that a Porsche, McLaren or Aston Martin. I feel the upgrade to Performance was worth it.
.....

I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on McLarens in particular...I've driven a couple and your opinion is certainly at odds with mine!

 

[phil4]

I had a couple of the wing cameras fail, and a light replaced due to being full of water.

Other than that tyres were replaced when punctured instead of worn out, did that twice in 4 years.

Now moved onto Highland P, and a hell of a lot of things that weren't great have been improved, including some I didn't originally see as an issue.

 

[MattC]

I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on McLarens in particular...I've driven a couple and your opinion is certainly at odds with mine!

Maybe it was just my experience (and lack of driving talent!) Had the Aston Martin DB9 for a day and the McLaren 570S for a track day. Both felt sluggish, sure higher (scary) overall speed and McLaren is super light but just not as fun for me. Again, I'm sure in the hands of a better driver, the McLaren is a lot of fun. It sounds better that's for sure, its looks better no doubt, the brakes actually work and has better high speed cornering... but I couldn't forget the M3P launch, ease of driving and responsiveness. The Aston could be a daily driver, but sluggish. The McLaren for track sure, but not as a daily drive. M3P has more bang for its buck too.

 

[rincewind]

I'm current waiting 3 weeks+ for new suspension parts. No ETA on new parts is pretty bad. Its required to meets it MoT and Tesla are refusing to offer a courtesy vehicle.

at 4.5 years (so out of warranty) mine needed the o/s front lower control arm replacing. Tesla wanted nearly £900 (and they charged £230 for the diagnosis), and it was to take 3 weeks to get the part. I took it to a place I know well from the past, they sourced the arm the same day and the total cost was £250 inc. fitting. So, out of warranty, I wouldn't use Tesla for suspension parts.

 

[as400]

at 4.5 years (so out of warranty) mine needed the o/s front lower control arm replacing. Tesla wanted nearly £900 (and they charged £230 for the diagnosis), and it was to take 3 weeks to get the part. I took it to a place I know well from the past, they sourced the arm the same day and the total cost was £250 inc. fitting. So, out of warranty, I wouldn't use Tesla for suspension parts.

Where did you take it?

 

[Durzel]

Performance wise there isn't really much that can touch it, as you note. You have to be north of 100k really to be able to start to notice a perceptible difference, and at that level you get commensurate running costs and an implied expectation that those costs are par for the course for the performance you're getting.

It's quite surreal that you can buy a car that has supercar acceleration and have negligible running costs (tyres notwithstanding). In that respect it truly is a game changer.

I've had a couple of supercars that were faster on paper but in practical terms due to gearing and pickup they weren't. I got left for dead in one of them by someone in a Model S (I hope it was a P100DL) which is what piqued my interest in Teslas to begin with.

I haven't done enough mileage to really talk about rattles, but I have had the usual suspects suspension components changed that were spotted on an end of warranty inspection. My car has done less than 10k miles, so that aspect of it is inexcusable really - it is really just a weak point of the car. I don't know if there is any aftermarket solution that is more robust?

Regards the centre console being shiny and attracting scratches etc... I got mine PPF'd straight after buying the car, which prevented that, but I did also grow a bit tired of the construction of it. The panels look great... when they are immaculate, and they are closed. Once you start opening them up, as you need to do to charge your phone, it loses a lot of the visual appeal. I retrofitted the newer console to my car and felt that it was a significant aesthetic upgrade. It feels more premium and in practical terms just works better, in my opinion. It is a simple retrofit too.

I've had also been contemplating a Highland 3P but am a bit miffed about the performance difference between the US and Euro version (I don't really care about efficiency, charging speed, etc - I am 100% interested in performance) and am hoping it might be addressed in a "mid-cycle refresh".

 

[m3p_uk]

Bought my 2020 Model 3 Performance new and took ownership in August 2020.

I documented my delivery experience in another post back around that time. The car came with a few minor issues, nothing concerning and were dealt with quickly.

I've done 47,000 miles, which is likely pretty average for a 4 year old car. I moved house 9 months ago and i'd say i've done more mileage in the last 9 months than I normally would - probably closer to 14.000 in the last year than my normal 10-11k.

Note: I also own a Model Y LR (bought in 2022 new).

The Good

• I've owned Ford, Audi, BMW, Porsche, Range Rover previously. This is the best driving experience and fun car i've ever owned. I think we can all appreciate how Tesla have redefined the driving experience.
• From a reliability standpoint I've had zero issues.
• The acceleration of this car and handling is truely remarkable. More fun that a Porsche, McLaren or Aston Martin. I feel the upgrade to Performance was worth it (although expensive - see below).
• Range wise, i've not had any issues driving in the UK. My Porsche (Cayenne) broke down at home and I had to take the M3P to the Lake District on a family holiday. I had concerns about range and charger availability. I had zero issues and it made me realise I didn't need the Porsche anymore - we went with the Model Y for family use to replace the Cayenne.
• Charging - I now have a 12KW charger at home, I feel like this is important if you have 2 EVs. Also have solar, so I can charge during the day whenever its sunny.
• Upgrades - The software updates have been much appreciated. Autopilot is much improved and feel like they may have finally addressed the issues with the windscreen wipers (let see what the winter brings). Updates to the UI and functionality are always solid.
• Interior - the car has held up even though I two active kids being ferried around.
• Enjoyed not being impacted by lines at the petrol station or flooding
• Super charging on trips - 3-6 hour trips I'll stop once or twice for a food or bio break. The charger locations are plentiful, never queued and charging is often complete by the time i've finished my break. Sad to see all the "other EV" owners having to queue at non Tesla chargers.
• Sound system and audio/media functionality is awesome.
• Seats are still super comfortable.
• Spent pretty much zero on services/servicing (outside of tires etc)
• Boot space and frunk are perfect - even for a family of 4 going on a weeks hols.

The Bad

• Tire wear is rough, i'm going through rear tires every year.
• Automated windscreen wipers are the worst i've ever experienced. How can this be? Lol. Its very annoying. Feels like the last update may have improved things.
• Suspension is completely worn after 4 years and parts need replacing - I would get this checked out prior to your warranty expiring.
• Headlamp alignment - when i first picked it up it was too low. Having it calibrated it was too high. Just annoying.
• The sentry / dashcam footage access is super patchy. Used to work well, now it takes ages to review any footage in the car.
• Have a minor intermittent rattle on the left side door - suspect its related to worn suspension - getting that fixed shortly.
• Floor mat on driver side doesn't stay in position and needs replacing.
• Phantom breaking back in the old days - haven't experienced this though in a long time.
• The shiny center console flip lid(s) is easily scratched.
• Had a slight dent on rear left panel (someone backed into me) and it required both the panel and rear bumper replacing. Obviously covered by insurance, but it took about 6 weeks to get the replacement parts.
• The options for carrying bikes are not great. The official Tesla options are ridiculously expensive.
• I moved twice since 2020... each time I've had to pay for a charger to be installed. So i've paid for 3 charger installs. You can take your charger with you, but for various reasons that wasn't an option. The pain of being an early adopter I guess. I don't plan on moving anytime soon!

The Ugly

• 20in wheels and the low profile tires are just not compatible with UK roads. I've gone through 3 wheels and 10 tires in 4 years due to pot holes, punctures etc. Love the look, but I think any savings on fuel have been spent on new tires and wheels...
• Tracking, alignment and tire rotation are critical due to how quickly the tires can wear on this car. I wish I'd paid more attention. I think if you hit any potholes, you should get the tracking and alignment redone asap - and its not cheap from Tesla.
• Failed its 4 year MOT due to worn suspension (front and back) - this is covered by the warranty, but still worrying.
• UK Service Centers (in the south) have very little availability of slots or parts. I've had to wait weeks for a slot and weeks for a part as common as a wheel.
• I'm current waiting 3 weeks+ for new suspension parts. No ETA on new parts is pretty bad. Its required to meets it MoT and Tesla are refusing to offer a courtesy vehicle.

Any other M3P owners experiencing similar? Any advice on wheels/tires etc? Happy to answer any questions too.

Just had my 5 year MOT which passed fine and never had any suspension issues.
Tyres have lasted about 25k miles before changing.
Interested to hear what issues you had which meant it failed the MOT for the front and rear suspension?

 

[MattC]

Interested to hear what issues you had which meant it failed the MOT for the front and rear suspension?

The MoT failure was for "excessively worn arm pin or bush" on the offside rear upper. However, when Tesla did the diagnostic (£49), they stated that all four suspension arms were showing excessive wear and parts needed to be replaced. I don't know what specific parts they are referring to. Its just about under warranty, but they have still haven't given me an ETA on replacement parts...

 

[CountvonC]

Where did you take it?

I took mine to Cleevley in Cheltenham when mine failed it's 4 yeat MOT on the same issues ( and rear brakes) .

 

[rincewind]

Where did you take it?

A Place in East Ham, london called Red Star exhaust and tyre centre. I used to work near there and for many years got my tyres and suspension parts there. Chris and Norman are great, customer service excellent.

 

[MattC]

Quick Update:

Tesla have come through and were able to get my car into a service slot to repair the suspension issue. Took some complaining, but appreciate they went above and beyond to get something sorted.

 

[m3p_uk]

Quick Update:

Tesla have come through and were able to get my car into a service slot to repair the suspension issue. Took some complaining, but appreciate they went above and beyond to get something sorted.

Would be interested to hear what they replace?

 

[GRiLLA]

Not got a model 3 (it's a MYLR)but I can second the tyre wear. I've had mine just over 2 years and had to get 2 tyres changed (not for wear but 1 had a slow puncture and the other had a massive nail in it). They weren't illegal but based on how much they had worn I reckoned another few months and they would have needed replaced. I'm not super high mileage (currently 13.5k) so was a bit surprised by how much wear they had (I forget what they were at but the tyre place said I should keep an eye on them in the next few months)

Somethings not right there. For comparison my first M3LR did 25K before it was better value to trade than replace the tyres , the current one has done about 18K and has 5mm left on the rears, about 6mm on the fronts. PS4 on 18" wheels.

 

[gottagofast]

Does suspension wear out more on the performance or are all 3 trims suspension wear the same