2021 or 2022 Tesla M3LR

2021 or 2022 Tesla M3LR

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Liam_92

Original Poster:

27 posts

54 months

Saturday 28th September
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Morning All,

Been doing some research on the Tesla Model 3 offerings for a little while now, looking to purchase used with the intention of keeping for 4-5 years (aligned to the battery warranty, ideally).

Routine is 3 x 200mile round trip commutes per week, all year round. There is a Supercharger off the M1 en route I could use but ideally would avoid. Route is almost exclusively motorway/dual carriageway.

Initial plan was for a 2021 Long Range but realised only very recently that in 2022 Tesla upgunned the battery to 75kwh usable from circa 72kwh (if anyone could confirm that, that would be great!).

Question is, is the extra outlay for a 2022 worth it? Likely be an extra couple of thousand on the purchase, but would the extra 10 or so miles of range make a difference in the depths of winter?

I'd be more than happy with a 2021 (21/71 plate) but I'll kick myself a touch if I the 2022 is worth the extra convenience and I don't opt for it.

Gone fishing

7,469 posts

131 months

Saturday 28th September
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No change in HV battery that I’m aware of on the LR, the Standard range cars did get a couple of bumps with the LFP batteries. Tesla also switched to hairpin windings on the motors but I can’t recall exactly when, but that gave a few more miles range.

The big changes that came in over 2022 were the Lithium Ion low volt battery (aka 12v battery although it’s now about 16v) and a different MCU chip (big screen), that switched to Ryzen.

2022 also eventually saw the removal of parking sensors, at least on the MY but I think the M3 was the same. The camera based replacement is now out so no great loss but the sensors are more predictable

I’d personally look for a Ryzen processor car (not that I’d ever buy a Tesla again while Musk is there), assuming the M3 changed around the same time the MY did in 2022,


annodomini2

6,913 posts

258 months

Sunday 29th September
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Late 22 got an 82kwh battery, vs the 77kwh of the 21.

Lost the Radar late 21, speculation as to whether it is being used or not, it was removed, but unclear if it's been restored.

And parking sensors, shortly after. But these get the HW4 computer.

The durability on the 77kwh NCM packs from Shanghai is looking better than the earlier NCA packs from Freemont. But data is limited on the 82kwh packs.




Gone fishing

7,469 posts

131 months

Sunday 29th September
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annodomini2 said:
Late 22 got an 82kwh battery, vs the 77kwh of the 21.

Lost the Radar late 21, speculation as to whether it is being used or not, it was removed, but unclear if it's been restored.

And parking sensors, shortly after. But these get the HW4 computer.

The durability on the 77kwh NCM packs from Shanghai is looking better than the earlier NCA packs from Freemont. But data is limited on the 82kwh packs.
The BT43 (which is the LG Chem M50 79kWh battery with 2170 NMC cells, also coded 5L) was used from mid/late 21 and is still the current battery in LR. The BT42 battery is US production (which have never shipped to UK) and some early China M3 Performance.

M3 only shifted to HW4 with the highland cars.

Zcd1

494 posts

62 months

Sunday 29th September
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The refreshed version (‘22 in the US) has the aforementioned larger battery which makes an appreciable, noticeable difference in range, plus a heat pump, which noticeably improves range in colder weather.

It also includes better sound insulation and is clearly quieter, especially on textured road surfaces.

If the refreshed version is in budget, I’d definitely get one over the original.

Gone fishing

7,469 posts

131 months

Sunday 29th September
quotequote all
Zcd1 said:
The refreshed version (‘22 in the US) has the aforementioned larger battery which makes an appreciable, noticeable difference in range, plus a heat pump, which noticeably improves range in colder weather.

It also includes better sound insulation and is clearly quieter, especially on textured road surfaces.

If the refreshed version is in budget, I’d definitely get one over the original.
Heat pump arrived at the end of 2020 so 2021 and 2022 cars will have it