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Why we nonetheless love our Mannequin 3 after 5 years and ~138,856 miles
October 21, 2024, would be the 5-year anniversary of our dual-motor Tesla Mannequin 3 Lengthy Vary (see our 2019 supply day image above). As of October 14, 2024, the odometer reads: ~138,856 miles. Please discover beneath a evaluate of my upkeep and restore prices throughout these 5 years. Don’t cease studying earlier than you get to the elephant within the room. My editor, Zach Shahan, just lately reviewed his Mannequin 3 Normal Vary Plus, additionally on its 5th anniversary. You should use this text as one other information level on the reliability of Tesla Mannequin 3s and what you possibly can count on it to price you as time goes on. In my price estimate, I haven’t included gas prices, curiosity prices, insurance coverage prices, or resale worth.
The bodily look of the automotive continues to be good, however not nice. I like the look of the automotive’s entrance facia (bumper, and many others.), and I by no means put in the entrance license plate, which might destroy that look. Nonetheless, that good, practically flat white floor collects bugs like loopy, particularly in moist Wisconsin. It additionally has some small dings that appear like bugs the place the paint has chipped. I must have put in an unsightly front-end bra to keep away from these chips. Nonetheless, a brand new entrance facia for $650 would give me a brand-new entrance floor. I’ve the usual black vegan leather-based seats, which nonetheless look good. The automotive has two USB charging shops beneath the entrance console that are not working. Luckily, it has two at the back of the automotive which nonetheless work, so we plug our telephones in there. Subsequent time I must go in for service, I’ll ask for the value to restore the entrance ones.
A giant plus! No new service bills within the final 20 months.
I’m an enormous proponent of inexperienced know-how, and specifically electrical autos. I’m additionally an enormous Tesla fanboy! Though, Elon Musk is doing his greatest to drive me away. I nonetheless get an enormous kick out of my Tesla Mannequin 3. Purpose #1: the super acceleration. Purpose #2: it now has “Full Self Driving.” FSD makes my automotive drive completely robotically — a minimum of beneath ultimate circumstances, as described beneath.
Full Self Driving (FSD) Supervised V12.5
I’ve the spectacular Full Self Driving (Supervised) bundle, now on V12.5.4, which can completely drive my automotive to any location I put within the navigation nearly in addition to human driver. Nonetheless, sadly, it nonetheless screws up often, so I must be ready to intervene instantaneously. If I didn’t intervene on these events, I may have been in a critical accident. Additionally, it’s a little bit too timid at cease indicators and in heavy visitors. I want to offer it somewhat assist with the accelerator pedal at intersections. FSD has been improved quite a few occasions during the last 2 years. For instance: 1) It now navigates rotaries correctly. 2) It goes round automobiles and obstacles protruding into your lane. 3) It now responds correctly to building barrels closing a lane of visitors on a 4-lane freeway. 4) It slows down for velocity bumps. 5) Nonetheless, it nonetheless ignores 20-mph college zone indicators and the double flashing lights.
My upkeep prices (I haven’t had any new upkeep prices since my report at 90,000 miles, nearly 50,000 miles in the past).
I do know that in principal EVs are a lot much less complicated than automobiles with inside combustion engines. An inside combustion engine is way more complicated than an electrical motor, they usually seldom run over 200,000 miles with out a very costly rebuild or alternative (rebuild price ~$9000). As well as, ICE automobiles have very complicated transmissions (alternative price ~$5000). You even have exhaust and emission management methods, radiator/cooling methods, and many others., and many others., and many others., which EVs don’t have.
Nonetheless, an EV has a really costly battery, do I must be anxious about changing it? I’m treating mine with child gloves and count on it to final over 10 years and over 500,000 miles. I nearly by no means cost over 80%, and a minimum of ¾ of my charging is completed on the Degree 2 fee in my storage. Nonetheless, I’ve used Tesla’s fabulous Degree 3 Supercharger community usually for lengthy cross-country highway journeys. The EPA vary of my automotive was given as 310 miles when new. When your Tesla is charging, you possibly can set the cost restrict to 100% and your automotive offers you a battery vary estimate. Mine is studying 271 miles now. Performing some fast calculations, 310 − 271 = 39, and 39/310 = ~12.5% battery loss at 138,856 miles. At 112,000 miles, I had misplaced ~8%. Which means I’ve misplaced ~4.5% within the final 26,856 miles. That’s not nice. I had hoped that battery degradation could be slowing down at greater mileage.
The drive system and battery guarantee on my Mannequin 3 ran out at 130,000 miles. Subsequently, I’m on the hook for something that goes mistaken going ahead. I’ve photo voltaic panels on my roof, so when at my Utah dwelling, I’m driving on sunshine. Driving cross nation utilizing Tesla Superchargers, your electrical energy price might be just like driving a fuel automotive. Very fortuitously, a lot of our readers have used my referral code (see final paragraph), so, for the final yr, I’ve been getting free charging at Superchargers. Nonetheless, the heavy EV battery and fabulous acceleration trigger tires to wear down extra shortly than for an ICE automobile, so that’s an elevated price for EV upkeep.
In ~138,856 miles, the entire price of the tires and unforced out of guarantee repairs for my Mannequin 3 have been $5,290.15. For 3 of the 4 units of tires, I purchased financial system tires, which labored out simply nice. Nonetheless, I needed to pay ~$1,200 for my third set of tires as a result of I had a tire go flat on the freeway and I simply barely made it to the closest tire retailer. I had no likelihood to buy deal. Thus, my complete price is greater than I anticipated, however most likely no more than what I’d have paid driving a fuel automotive with prices for repairs, tires, oil adjustments, emission inspections, brakes, different miscellaneous gadgets, and better price for gas. The large financial savings will come going ahead, when the fuel automotive will see these prices repeated, plus the prices of a timing belt, muffler, exhaust and emission management system alternative, and ultimately transmission and engine rebuild. If I reside lengthy sufficient, I count on to drive my Tesla over 500,000 miles. It isn’t unrealistic to count on the electrical drive system and battery to final that lengthy.
In Determine 2, we see my spouse with our canine Zuni, our Tesla Mannequin 3, and my e-bike on again at Zion Nationwide Park. We spend a great deal of the winter at our daughter’s dwelling in Saint George, Utah, solely 40 miles away.
Under, see my itemized service prices by way of 138,856 miles. Aside from needing one other set of tires earlier than too lengthy, I’ve had no extra service prices since 90,000 miles.
Conveniently, I used to be capable of acquire the dates, mileage, and precise price of my Tesla repairs from the Tesla app on my cellphone. Not conveniently, it seems to return solely 2 years. Discover beneath what I paid for unforced points with my automotive not coated by the guarantee.
- I needed to substitute the tires 4 occasions. The fourth set ought to take me to 150,000 miles. Nonetheless, with winter approaching, I would get tires earlier in order that I don’t get caught on my manner up the canyon to go snowboarding. I’ve paid $578.93 + $565.44 + $1252.23 + $644.15 = $3,040.15 for the 4 units of tires.
- I additionally changed the cabin air filter for $29.00. The cell service man didn’t cost for the set up. Additionally notice: the cabin air filter comes as two items. I watched the cell service man do it and I wouldn’t advocate doing it your self except you’ve got the fitting instruments and are very helpful with DIY repairs.
- ~April 2020 and April 2021: 4 wheel alignment twice ~$280.
- November 3, 2021 (54,131 miles): Resealed proper entrance higher management arm ball joint (was squeaking) — $49.
- November 3, 2021 (54,131 miles): 4 wheel alignment — $90.75.
- July 22, 2022 (73,149 miles): Eliminated and changed Superbottle (battery and drive system cooling valve) as a result of the automotive wouldn’t go over 50 mph — $672.75.
- February 2, 2023 (88,705 miles): I had the cell service man substitute the windshield wipers for $23.00. This was a easy operation which most anybody may do themselves.
- February 20, 2023 (90,029 miles): Eliminated and changed PTC/cabin heater (automotive wouldn’t go into drive) — $1,148.00.
- March 2024: Changed the automotive’s ground mats. The unique material floormat would not keep in place by the driving force’s left foot. The Velcro was not working. I purchased a set of rubber ground mats on Amazon for $49. These look significantly better, clear simpler, and keep in place. Nonetheless, they cowl the rear trunk nicely, which makes it somewhat tougher to make use of. Additionally, there’s a slight buckle in one of many mats, however in any other case I’m glad I didn’t pay extra.
Be aware: Satirically, despite all of the excessive tech, my Mannequin 3 has an old school 12-volt lead-acid battery that’s used in addition up the electronics when my automotive begins up. This battery is meant to final 4 to five years. Mine continues to be working nice, however I’m questioning whether or not I ought to change it proactively. I imagine newer Teslas are utilizing lithium-ion batteries for this perform. Lithium-ion batteries are lighter, are extra sturdy, and will final a minimum of 10 years. [Editor’s note: Tesla has a notification pop up on your touchscreen when it’s time to replace your 12V battery. It tells you to do this before your battery actually dies. —Zach]
Restore/Upkeep Value Summation
- 4 units of tires: $578,93 + $565.44 + $1252.23+ $644.15 = $3,040.15
- 4-wheel alignment × 3: $370.75
- Substitute Superbottle: $672.75
- Substitute PTC: $1,148
- Substitute cabin air filter: $29.00
- Substitute windshield wipers: $23.00
- New ground mats: $49
- Getting choosy: 4 bottles of windshield wiper fluid at $2.50 every for a complete of $10.00
- TOTAL: $5,290.15
Different Prices
The annual registration in Utah for my 2019 Tesla Mannequin 3 is $318.25. A part of that is the electrical automobile price of $188. Utah has levied this price on EV drivers to make up for the truth that we don’t use gasoline and due to this fact don’t pay the highway use tax. Utah presents a mileage-based price which saves cash for low-mileage automobiles. Mine is excessive mileage, so I paid the fastened $188 price.
The Elephant within the Room
I simply checked on the price of my Bear River Insurance coverage coverage on my Tesla. Up to now, Bear River Insurance coverage was all the time low price. I used to be shocked to be taught that I’m paying $3,089 per yr recently. Subsequently, for 5 years, my insurance coverage price could possibly be as excessive as $15,000. This dwarfs the ~$5,200 I paid for tires and out-of-warranty repairs by a big margin. It’s clear that if I believed shopping for an costly electrical automotive could be saving me cash, I’ve be sadly mistaken.
Please add your experiences with repairs in your Tesla autos within the feedback part beneath.
Referral Program: If you’re shopping for a brand new Tesla, Tesla has reactivated its referral program. When you discover any of my articles useful to you, please use my referral hyperlink: https://ts.la/arthur73734 (be sure you use it once you make your order). If you’re shopping for a brand new Tesla and use my hyperlink, I imagine you’ll obtain $1,000 off the acquisition worth of a Mannequin S or X, or $500 off the value of a Mannequin 3 or Y. Additionally, you will get 3 months of Full Self-Driving (Supervised). Simply be ready to intervene instantly if it screws up.
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