520d to Tesla

[MOMACC]

Looking for a little direction.

Current Driving Profile:

Commuting to Office: 9,000 miles per year if driven but currently commute by train to Birmingham city centre.

Client Visits: 0 - 10,000 miles per year (varies; some weeks are virtual, others up to 500 miles)

Current Commute:
Train Usage: 2 times per week instead of driving
Cost: £52 over two days, totaling £2,300 annually
Experience: Unpleasant 2-hour daily journey- 1hr each way

Client Visits:
Mileage reimbursement at 14p per mile, with tax relief claimed on the difference

Car Allowance:
£500 per month, subject to 40% tax

Current Vehicle:
2018 BMW 520d, purchased with a bank loan in 2024
Loan repayment: £330 per month
Considering selling to clear the loan

Considerations for Switching to Tesla Model 3:
BMW Fuel Costs: £1,500 annually if driven to the office
Tesla Charging Costs: £160 annually for overnight home charging
Space Needs: Campervan available, so BMW's space is unnecessary and the 520d is a boat, a nice boat to be fair.

Financial Implications:
Switching from train to BMW saves £800 annually but adds 9,000 miles, increasing wear and tear
Switching to an EV saves over £2,000 annually

Tesla Model 3 Purchase Options:
21 Plate Tesla (60,000 miles): £20,000
PCP Option: £350 per month for 48 months, 15,000 miles per year, 15p per excess mile

New Tesla Model 3:
15,000 miles per year: £442 per month
20,000 miles per year: £465 per month

Option 1: Buy the 21 plate Tesla outright
Option 2: PCP
Option 3: Lease a new Tesla directly

Buying outright avoids PCP interest but requires upfront capital in form of bank loan.
PCP offers flexibility with lower initial costs but has mileage limits and potential excess charges.
Leasing a new Tesla provides the latest model with predictable costs.

Am I daft for considering driving into Birmingham centre twice a week? I think so.

I like the bimmer but it's too big for my needs and I fancy a Tesla for some pure white goods driving.

What would you be leaning towards?

Edited by MOMACC on Tuesday 28th January 19:45

[WarnieV6GT]

I've just gone from a mercedes E220cdi to a 71 plate model 3 long range in red with the white interior on 20k. I paid £24900 for it.

I do around 28k a year. Most days are around 150-240 miles. I'm 3 months in and the only things I miss from the Merc are the build quality and the ride comfort.

I was using around £70 a week in diesel on average. I now use £2.52 a day in electric. It's been nearly 3 months now. No service costs also have to be factored in.

As white goods go it has been bloody amazing for me. Speed is obviously a major plus, as is the 4wd. But I've mainly been impressed by the interface. Once you get used to it it's brilliant imo.

I work in sales on a 3 weekly cycle. So every morning I get in a toasty warm car, press the navigation box and pretty much every time it will correctly have the address waiting. The long range stereo is also the best I've heard.

I personally wouldn't hesitate. But then again I have my motorbikes for my ice fix...

[Snow and Rocks]

Worth pointing out that despite the oft quoted "no servicing costs" and little to go wrong, an out of warranty Tesla is easily capable of generating some serious bills. Our Model Y has had ~£5k of work since the warranty expired 30k miles ago. £3k of that was just because of a failed inverter that resulted in the car completely bricking itself and locking my parents inside on a local High Street. The rest was replacement rear knuckles and hubs and various front suspension arms. Some fairly long waits for parts too.

[Cristio Nasser]

Snow and Rocks said:

Worth pointing out that despite the oft quoted "no servicing costs" and little to go wrong, an out of warranty Tesla is easily capable of generating some serious bills. Our Model Y has had ~£5k of work since the warranty expired 30k miles ago. £3k of that was just because of a failed inverter that resulted in the car completely bricking itself and locking my parents inside on a local High Street. The rest was replacement rear knuckles and hubs and various front suspension arms. Some fairly long waits for parts too.

I understand Tesla don’t make it easy to go outside of official channels for repairs, or to DIY things. And it’s easier to get an appointment with your GP than at a service center.

The lack of independent out of warranty support is, amongst other things, a pretty big turnoff, and a guaranteed way to tank used values.

[Martyn76]

Cristio Nasser said:

Snow and Rocks said:

Worth pointing out that despite the oft quoted "no servicing costs" and little to go wrong, an out of warranty Tesla is easily capable of generating some serious bills. Our Model Y has had ~£5k of work since the warranty expired 30k miles ago. £3k of that was just because of a failed inverter that resulted in the car completely bricking itself and locking my parents inside on a local High Street. The rest was replacement rear knuckles and hubs and various front suspension arms. Some fairly long waits for parts too.

I understand Tesla don’t make it easy to go outside of official channels for repairs, or to DIY things. And it’s easier to get an appointment with your GP than at a service center.

The lack of independent out of warranty support is, amongst other things, a pretty big turnoff, and a guaranteed way to tank used values.

Easy way to find you neatest EV trained garage https://hevra.org.uk/

Cleevely EV are the most well known and have mobile mechanics across the UK https://www.cleevelyev.co.uk/

[Dunclane]

I don't know where you live but I'm from Hagley near Stourbridge and drive into B'ham everyday and it's miserable. Roadworks everywhere and the driving standards are appalling.

It takes me minimum 1 hour and more often 1hr 15 to get 15 miles home.

I'd much prefer the train however it just doesn't work for me.

[VeeReihenmotor6]

I have made a similar switch from a 2.0 TDI Audi to a Tesla Model 3. The fuel savings were the main attraction and I also got a car with half the mileage, 3 years younger and still under manufacturer warranty for only £4k extra on the value I got for my old Audi.

Drivetrain and battery under warranty until it is 8 years old. I don't doubt I may have to pay for suspension-type repairs at some point, but that is the same as my Audi.

I like the model 3 so much that I decided to get rid of my wife's Q2 and we have a new Model Y coming next week. Overall, with our usage and an EV electric tariff I am at least £500 better off monthly, perhaps a little more. Go for it I say, at the moment I have no regrets.

[Chris Peacock]

The Tesla will be a big step forward in most ways coming from a 520d but it wont be anywhere near as comfortable. The ride quality on the Model 3 is.. just about acceptable, whereas the 5 series is about as good as it gets in a modern car.

[SWoll]

Dunclane said:

I don't know where you live but I'm from Hagley near Stourbridge and drive into B'ham everyday and it's miserable. Roadworks everywhere and the driving standards are appalling.

It takes me minimum 1 hour and more often 1hr 15 to get 15 miles home.

I'd much prefer the train however it just doesn't work for me.

Public transport always seems a great idea until you have to live with it. Expensive, packed carriages, delays, cancellations, strikes, obnoxious other commuters etc.

Did it for years into B'ham, London and Bristol and if I never have to again it'll still be too soon..

[MOMACC]

Thanks for the input folks.

5 series comfort is outstanding.

I think I'll drive to the office on Monday as a test run as currently leave home at 7.15 for a 7.45 train arriving into New St at 8.45. The cross country service is horrendous and my back can't cope with their concrete like seats for much longer.

If I chose to continue with the train I'll look at dropping to one day per week in the office.

I think I'm edging towards the Tesla just need to decide on purchase style.

[B5mike]

Snow and Rocks said:

Worth pointing out that despite the oft quoted "no servicing costs" and little to go wrong, an out of warranty Tesla is easily capable of generating some serious bills. Our Model Y has had ~£5k of work since the warranty expired 30k miles ago. £3k of that was just because of a failed inverter that resulted in the car completely bricking itself and locking my parents inside on a local High Street. The rest was replacement rear knuckles and hubs and various front suspension arms. Some fairly long waits for parts too.

Any car can throw up unexpected costs, but Tesla's don't require oil changes, regular brake servicing, new exhausts, dpf, cats, radiators, etc.
In your case, that's 90k miles with one £3k repair and some suspension wear and tear stuff. I expect the TCO is below ICE norms, even excluding the massive fuel savings. A guy local to me runs a '22 Model Y as a taxi and has done over 150k with minimal issues - some wear and tear suspension arm work required.
We have two Tesla's (S and Y) and I would have no hesitation in buying another. Later MIC Model 3 with heat pump is probably a good s/hand bet.

[Snow and Rocks]

I agree, just pointing out the fallacy of believing that there's little to go wrong and that the drivetrain warranty doesn't actually cover very much. Ironically, the battery and motors are the one bit I probably wouldn't worry about!

It replaced a long line of E classes dating all the way back to a 1992 300E and despite them all being run to over 100k and 5+ years old before being traded in, I can't remember any of them going wrong on anything like the same scale, they certainly weren't routinely having suspension issues.

We've now found a friendly independent who's willing to work on it but even he is frustrated by the crap parts supply. Waiting weeks for suspension arms on a fairly run of the mill and very common car isn't great. All part of the reason why we recently bought a Suzuki Across (Rav4 clone) instead of another Tesla. It's actually turned out to be a much better car too in my mind but I appreciate tastes vary.