Buying a used Tesla Model 3 over 100k miles

[Danzelp]

Aside from battery degradation & being close to the battery warranty any major considerations?

Any votes of confidence or experience of buying/having one with high mileage?

Cheers

[ashenfie]

Older Teslas are know for poor build quality, so it worth a check for all the normal things.

[ConnectionError]

ashenfie said:

Older Teslas are know for poor build quality, so it worth a check for all the normal things.

How many have you owned?

[thebraketester]

I would say unless it's dirt cheap that a brave pill will be required.

[paradigital]

I’d only entertain one that had been properly data logged with TeslaMate, Tessie or Nikola so that you could be certain it hasn’t spent its entire life on DC rapid charging, and you have a good understanding of the degradation curve endured.

[C.A.R.]

If something has made it to 100k miles then you have to assume any questionable build quality has been rectified during that lifespan or at least it's not so terrible as to make the car terrible to drive.

I understand that the Made in China cars were slightly better put together, but who really knows. Certainly in my opinion the chrome window trims and door handles looked better but they were only on the American made models.

As long as it's been looked after then there's very little to go wrong mechanically. Presumably something like a Tesla Model 3 is still really only purchased from a dealership, rather than privately?

[SWoll]

ashenfie said:

Older Teslas are know for poor build quality, so it worth a check for all the normal things.

It's a Model 3, so not going to be an "old" Tesla as only avaialble since 2019.

As with any car of that kind of mileage, and especially heavy ones. suspension would be an area I'd focus on. if it's not had work done already then likely it will need it at some point soon and unlikely to be cheap.

[Smiljan]

Danzelp said:

Aside from battery degradation & being close to the battery warranty any major considerations?

Any votes of confidence or experience of buying/having one with high mileage?

Cheers

I’d say the usual for young, high mileage cars. Probably less stressed than a low mileage one same age that’s been stuck in stop start traffic all of its life, it has to be cheap though (and I mean cheap) else it’s not worth bothering as it’ll be harder to sell on when it comes time to move it on.

Early cars certainly had some issues, the interiors of the Chinese ones feel better put together and less creaky but I’m not sure there have been that many other changes along the way.

You got an advert of the one you’re looking at? There’s a few dodgy ones on Autotrader that have sat there unsold for a long time so far.

[SWoll]

Smiljan said:

I’d say the usual for young, high mileage cars. Probably less stressed than a low mileage one same age that’s been stuck in stop start traffic all of its life, it has to be cheap though (and I mean cheap) else it’s not worth bothering as it’ll be harder to sell on when it comes time to move it on.

Early cars certainly had some issues, the interiors of the Chinese ones feel better put together and less creaky but I’m not sure there have been that many other changes along the way.

You got an advert of the one you’re looking at? There’s a few dodgy ones on Autotrader that have sat there unsold for a long time so far.

Dodgy, or just overpriced?

[Smiljan]

SWoll said:

Dodgy, or just overpriced?

Not sure, it's hard to say what is overpriced these days. Used car prices, at least asking prices, are nuts.

Just had a run through on Autotrader, there are 856 used Model 3 for sale on there now. Plenty of pickings to walk away from anything that isn't 100% right.

[Smiljan]

Danzelp. I can't message you back as your PH account is set no to receive message but the one you sent me is well priced for sure.

It did have an MOT Oct 21 @ 62134 miles then another April 21 @ 92273 miles and another Oct 22 @ 116689 miles. To me that April one I can only see that a dealer may have had it and wanted to sell it with 12 months on it. All of them passed.

Its probably worth doing a car check using an app like carvertical just in case but the only red flags for me are that the seller is private, it's owing finance and the seller has hidden their number on Autotrader. Worth treading carefully. If anything the price seems a little low for a 20 plate LR Dual Motor even with the high miles.

Drivers seat looks well used, the rest look brand new so I don't suspect its been a taxi or such.

I won't post up a link so the PH vultures don't swoop in before you but maybe you could once you've been for a look or buy it.

Nearly 60k miles added in a year is going some!

[SWoll]

Smiljan said:

Nearly 60k miles added in a year is going some!

Always intigiues me to consider that kind of mileage.

That's 1250 miles per week for 48 weeks of the year (assumes 4 weeks hoiliday). Divide by a 5 day working week and that's 250 miles per day or less with weekend use. Had it been a consistent commute across those 12 months it would have been possible to complete it all on an overnight 7kW setup between 8pm and 7am, charging 5 nights per week with no pubic chargng required.

[Danzelp]

Smiljan said:

Danzelp. I can't message you back as your PH account is set no to receive message but the one you sent me is well priced for sure.

It did have an MOT Oct 21 @ 62134 miles then another April 21 @ 92273 miles and another Oct 22 @ 116689 miles. To me that April one I can only see that a dealer may have had it and wanted to sell it with 12 months on it. All of them passed.

Its probably worth doing a car check using an app like carvertical just in case but the only red flags for me are that the seller is private, it's owing finance and the seller has hidden their number on Autotrader. Worth treading carefully. If anything the price seems a little low for a 20 plate LR Dual Motor even with the high miles.

Drivers seat looks well used, the rest look brand new so I don't suspect its been a taxi or such.

I won't post up a link so the PH vultures don't swoop in before you but maybe you could once you've been for a look or buy it.

Nearly 60k miles added in a year is going some!

Really appreciate this buddy, will take a look

[DMZ]

I don’t know what you can do about it in terms of checking it out but I would be more concerned with the drivetrain end of things as opposed to the chrome handles falling off. I know an alarming number of people with hybrids where the electric side of the house has caused eye wateringly expensive problems. Obviously stuff breaks eventually but I think it’s the cost involved that is really problematic. We’re talking things like inverters and battery cooling systems which are very much present on EVs also.

[Fore Left]

Smiljan said:

It did have an MOT Oct 21 @ 62134 miles then another April 21 @ 92273 miles and another Oct 22 @ 116689 miles. To me that April one I can only see that a dealer may have had it and wanted to sell it with 12 months on it. All of them passed.

Don't minicabs need an MOT every 6 months? Certainly in London I think they do.

[Smiljan]

You are totally right, TFL require two MOT's a year for cars older than 12 months.

Dan, matches your thoughts. Perhaps it's had covers on the seats. Good question to ask the owner when you go see the car.

Doesn't come up on the TFL checker though.

https://tph.tfl.gov.uk/TfL/SearchVehicleLicence.pa...

Edited by Smiljan on Monday 24th October 08:52

[SWoll]

DMZ said:

I don’t know what you can do about it in terms of checking it out but I would be more concerned with the drivetrain end of things as opposed to the chrome handles falling off. I know an alarming number of people with hybrids where the electric side of the house has caused eye wateringly expensive problems. Obviously stuff breaks eventually but I think it’s the cost involved that is really problematic. We’re talking things like inverters and battery cooling systems which are very much present on EVs also.

Hybrids are very much the worst of both wordls for this though. Often compromised by packaging, inconsitently used hybrid systems (in many cases almost not at all as only bought for tax saving purposes) and having to deal with the large amount of heat generated by the ICE engine when in use. A completely different scenario to pure Ev drivetrains I'd suggest and a lot more likely to fail?

Smiljan said:

You are totally right, TFL require two MOT's a year for cars older than 12 months.

Dan, matches your thoughts. Perhaps it's had covers on the seats. Good question to ask the owner when you go see the car.

100% been a taxi, but does it really matter? Unlike ICE lots of short trips really make very little difference to an EV surely, and as long as it's in good cosmetic condition and the battery isn't buggered due to so much charging would you care?

Edited by SWoll on Monday 24th October 08:53

[DMZ]

Yes your question mark is relevant. But the main problem is the repair cost which would be similar for a similar part and stuff like inverters have had many recalls on EVs and I’m sure they will fail in the normal course of usage. I don’t know what’s so special about them mind you. I’d imagine the motors will fail too over time. The motor in my washing machine (a not unrelated piece of machinery) fails with some regularity.

I think the problem is that we have no idea how to predict failure. It’s not like it’s misfiring or smokes. Well hopefully not anyhow. None of this is serviceable. It either works or doesn’t.

So unclear longevity coupled with very expensive repairs is not a fabulous starting point. I guess with time we’ll know more.

[Smiljan]

SWoll said:

100% been a taxi, but does it really matter? Unlike ICE lots of short trips really make very little difference to an EV surely, and as long as it's in good cosmetic condition and the battery isn't buggered due to so much charging would you care?

Edited by SWoll on Monday 24th October 08:53

Interiors tend to get battered, areas of paintwork around the door handles get scratched up and cab drivers often get into minor bumps and scrapes to a greater extent than a high mileage photocopier salesman cruising the M5 would.

I'd tread more carefully with a 2nd hand minicab than I would with a motorway mile cruncher - EV or ICE.

[SWoll]

Smiljan said:

SWoll said:

100% been a taxi, but does it really matter? Unlike ICE lots of short trips really make very little difference to an EV surely, and as long as it's in good cosmetic condition and the battery isn't buggered due to so much charging would you care?

Edited by SWoll on Monday 24th October 08:53

Interiors tend to get battered, areas of paintwork around the door handles get scratched up and cab drivers often get into minor bumps and scrapes to a greater extent than a high mileage photocopier salesman cruising the M5 would.

I'd tread more carefully with a 2nd hand minicab than I would with a motorway mile cruncher - EV or ICE.

As above, very easy to check for wear and tear though? The main issue with ex-taxis has always been the short distance, stop start nature of the work they do which is much less of an issue for an EV than ICE. No gearbox, clutch, DPF, cold running etc. to worry about in comparison. Suspension would be what I would be most careful with as with any heavy high mileage car, especially if riven around town a lot over speed bumps etc. regularly.